Hunger strikes won’t help women in getting justice: VIJAYA RAHATKAR

Hunger strikes won’ t help in administering justice to women, that’s what Vijaya

Rahatkar, chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women, shared during an in-depth interview with Narsi Benwal. Rahatkar, who also heads the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national women’s wing, explained how the Commission had been lying defunct under the Congress regime in Maharashtra. She also talked about how the Commission was working day-in and day-out to ensure women were not deprived of their rights. It may be noted that this year, the Commission has completed 25 years. Excerpts from the interview:

Recently, the chairperson of Delhi State Commission for Women—Swati Maliwal—wasonhunger strike for nearly 10 days demanding stringent laws to deter rapists. What is yourviewonthis?

( Bhook hadtal par baithke kaam nahi hoga...) There is no point in resorting to hunger strikes. This would not ensure justice for women. I believe the Commission has many powers and authorities, so one can use the same and work for the betterment of women. Instead of going on hunger strikes, one can make women aware of their rights. I would like to clarify that the recent amendments providing stringent punishment for rapists were made because of the public outcry and not because of any bhook hadtal.

Do you support capital punishment that has been introduced through the recent ordinance?

Yes, I do. But more than that I welcome the amendments made to the extent that trial in cases of rape of minor girls will now have to be completed within 8 to 10 months. This, I believe would help in administering justice. I think similar amendments must be brought in respect of section 376 of IPC which penalises rape on an adult woman.

But there are also cases where women misuse the law and use them as tools to settle scores with inlaws ...

No doubt there are such cases. Even the Supreme Court had taken cognisance of such incidents and recently issued guidelines in respect of proceedings under section 498 A of IPC. I believe that such in- stances would continue unless there is complete gender equality in the society.

Coming to Maharashtra Commission for Women, it is a general perception that the Commission is defunct and not proactive. How do you see this?

Here, I don’t want to sound political, but yes the Commission was almost defunct for nearly four years. This was during the time when Congress was ruling in Maharashtra and had not appointed any chairperson for the Commission for four years. But since the last two years, the scenario has changed a lot. We are working tirelessly to reach out to women in rural and urban areas. I must say that till date the Commission has never gone out of Mumbai, but I initiated the ‘Mahila Ayog Aapke Dwaar’ — a programme to reach out to women in rural areas and make them aware of their rights and resolve their grievances. We are working day-in and day-out to remove the negative perception against the Commission.

What about the hundreds of posts lying vacant ...

It is not in dispute that several posts are lying vacant. We have taken remedial measures by making appointments on ad-hoc basis till the time the posts aren’t filled permanently. Meanwhile, the process for recruitment of permanent employees has been started.

You said the Commission is working continuously for women. Can you elaborate on some of initiatives, which you think have been implemented?

Our Commission has come up with several initiatives over the last two years. The most important is the training of internal committees to oversee sexual harassment at workplaces. We have trained committees formed in government offices and also in nearly 3,500 colleges all over the state. Further, we propose to sensitise such committees formed in corporate offices. Another programme is the first ever helpline (Suhita) in India to guide women in litigations and counsel them. We have also started an online selftest programme where one can ascertain if s/he is a paedophile. This was started to bring down sexual offences against children. We have framed a first-of-its-kind guideline for operations of creche and child care units. Also, we have provided jobs to hundreds of acid attack victims. The list goes on.