Finally after a year, state women panel gets a head

After a gap of over a year, the state government on Wednesday appointed Vijaya Rahatkar as the chairman of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women.

Government pleader A B Vangyani informed the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that a government resolution to the effect has been issued. Besides the chairperson, the government has also appointed six other members, he said.

The court was informed about the development while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Vihar Durve. It was mentioned in the PIL that after the last chairperson, Susiben Shah, resigned to contest the assembly elections in September 2014, no one was appointed. Dhurve said even though the state tops the list of crimes against women, no serious effort was made to appoint the office bearers of the women's commission.

The commission was constituted in 2006 to take up issues related to women, to protect their rights and take steps to curb practices that are derogatory to them. Dhruve also informed the court that there was a severe shortage of infrastructure and the government had done nothing to meet its needs. To which, the court directed the government to provide all necessary infrastructure and keep the commission functional.