'Police and society equally responsible,' says the Chairperson of Maharashtra Women Commission

Shocked at the increasing trend of crime against women, Maharashtra State Commission for Women (SCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar feels that both the police and society need to become more sensitive towards women to curb crimes against women.

However, Rahatkar added that the government's awareness programme has created an impact and the police have started taking women's complaints seriously which earlier used to be ignored. "It is a good sign that the women have started raising voice against the crime which was not the case earlier. However, the onus is now on police and government to act swiftly and punish the perpetrators."

She said, "Apart from the police and the government, it is also the responsibility of the society to be more sensitized and cautious about women. Women are always seen as a secondary sex and should be treated equally. In most of the cases, their voices are being ignored which should not happen."

The SCW has started an initiative called the 'Women Commission at your doorstep' which was implemented extensively across the State by organizing public hearings, with the primary objective to give a platform to resolve ther issues of women who fall victim to crimes.