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.
https://t.co/kEi0O3YXP4 pic.twitter.com/PhyzFpfdCC
— Vijaya Rahatkar (@VijayaRahatkar) October 19, 2024
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Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (PTI): Police teams have been formed to apprehend the man who allegedly called a Latur resident "Pakistani" and assaulted him, an official said on Monday.
Amir Gafur Pathan (30), a resident of Latur city in central Maharashtra, allegedly hanged himself on the evening of May 4. His wife claimed that an unidentified person had accused him of being "Pakistani" and assaulted him a day before the incident.
Based on a complaint, the police have registered a case of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said.
"We are searching for the accused, and the police have sent teams to apprehend him," he said.
The deceased man's wife, Samrin Amir Pathan, who works as a deputy manager with a private bank in neighbouring Dharashiv, has stated in her complaint that he usually picked her up on a scooter when she returned by bus in the evening.
On May 3, when she got down in Latur city and called her husband, she overheard Pathan pleading with someone, asking the other person not to hit him.
Later, she found Pathan at Samvidhan Chowk with his shirt torn, she said in the complaint.
He told her that while he was waiting for her, an unknown person alighted a car, accused him of being from Kashmir and Pakistan, and assaulted him, the woman said.
The assailant claimed to be a journalist and threatened to make her husband's photos and videos viral on social media while labelling him as a Pakistani national, the woman further claimed.