BJP spokesperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam appointed as new NCW chairperson

Weeks after the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry's proposed amendments to the National Commission of Women (NCW) Act, 1990, was held up by the law ministry, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi today announced BJP spokesman Lalitha Kumaramangalam as the new chairperson of the women's body.

Fielding a question on the proposed amendments during a press conference held by the ministry on completing 100 days in office, Gandhi made the announcement, and said that the appointment was made yesterday. "I am happy to announce that the new chairperson of the NCW is Lalitha Kumaramangalam," said Gandhi.

After the previous chairperson Mamata Sharma remitted office on August 1, the NCW has been headless for more than 45 days. NCW officials, however, said that they had received no intimation from the ministry on the appointment.

Gandhi said that with the draft proposal of the NCW Act "stuck in limbo" because of the law ministry, she had no inkling of the objections of the ministry. "We have sent several reminders to the law ministry for a reply, but have had no communication from them. I will be in a position to answer only if I know their objections," said Gandhi.

The proposed changes sought to bring the NCW on par with rights bodies like the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and give it the powers of a civil court to deal with cases. Currently, it only has the rights of summoning.

On asked what made her chose Kumaramangalam as the chief, Gandhi said that the appointment was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This has been decided by the government and the Prime Minister. I know her, I have met her and she is very strong, very forceful in her advocacy of women's needs. I am sure she will be a great asset to the NCW," said Gandhi.

Gandhi also added that Kumaramangalam runs an NGO called Pakriti, and that she has comes from an "illustrious" family. "She comes from Tamil Nadu. She has a very illustrious lineage, she is Mohan Kumaramangalam's daughter," said Gandhi.

Kumaramangalam's father was a communist idealogue, while her grandfather, P Subbarayan, was the Chief Minister of (then) Madras. Kumaramangalam was also the national secretary of the BJP, and its current spokesperson. Despite her bid to keep the post away from political appointments, Gandhi looks like she had to give in to the party's demands. However, she said that Kumaramangalam had no notable political affiliation with the BJP. "She does have affiliations. She has stood for elections twice, but that's about it," said Gandhi.