New Delhi, Oct 19: Former head of Maharashtra State Commission for Woman Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed the ninth chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) succeeding Rekha Sharma, according to an official order.

The appointment made under Section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, will be for a period of three years or until she reaches the age of 65, whichever comes first, a government notification issued on Saturday said.

Rahatkar's tenure will begin with immediate effect. The announcement will also be published in the Gazette of India.

Reacting to her appointment, Rahatkar said in a post on X, "I sincerely thank the Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi, National President @JPNadda, and Union Home Minister @AmitShah for appointing me as the Chairperson of a constitutional and legislative body like the National Commission for Women (NCW)."

"I will faithfully carry out this very important responsibility. The goal is to steer towards women-led development by enhancing women's capacity, opportunities, and quality of life in various dimensions such as education, health, employment, and social participation," she added.

In addition to the appointment of Rahatkar, Archana Majumdar has been officially named a member of the NCW for a tenure of three years, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The NCW, a statutory body, is empowered to work towards the advancement of women's rights. Its mandate includes reviewing the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women.

According to a statement issued by the Women and Child Development Ministry, Rahatkar has demonstrated leadership skills across various political and social responsibilities.

During her tenure as the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021, she spearheaded initiatives like "Sakshama" (support for acid attack survivors), "Prajwala" (linking self-help groups to Central government schemes), and "Suhita" (a 24x7 helpline service for women).

She also worked on legal reforms focusing on issues like Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), anti-triple talaq cells, and anti-human trafficking units.

Rahatkar also introduced digital literacy programmes and launched a publication named "Saad" dedicated to women's issues.

As the mayor of Chatrapati Sambhajinagar from 2007 to 2010, Rahatkar implemented significant developmental projects related to healthcare and infrastructure.

She holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in history from the University of Pune.

Rahatkar also authored several books, including "Vidhilikhit" and "Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads".

Her contributions to women's empowerment have earned her several recognitions, including the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award from a national literary council.

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New Delhi (PTI): Actor Nora Fatehi on Thursday appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with a controversy surrounding the song 'Sarke Chunar' and apologised, saying there was "no intention to offend anybody."

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Fatehi said she had been put in a situation unintentionally but acknowledged her responsibility as an artist.

"It was just a situation that I was put in, and there was no intention to offend anybody. But of course, I have to be responsible as an artiste. I definitely apologise, we have done everything in writing. They have been so kind and helpful," she said.

The actor also said she has decided to sponsor the education of a few orphan girls.

"It's really important for us to give back to society. So, I decided that we should sponsor a few orphan girls, their education, so that is the goal after this matter," she said.

Earlier, Fatehi distanced herself from the Hindi version of the song, saying she had shot the Kannada version and that her permission was not taken for its use in Hindi.

The Hindi version of the song, released on March 15 on YouTube, triggered outrage among a section of the public over its allegedly explicit lyrics.

Following the backlash, the makers removed the Hindi version from YouTube, though it continued to circulate across platforms. The lyricist, singer and director have also issued apologies.

'KD The Devil' is a Kannada film, dubbed in four languages, including Hindi.