What is the news-

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) signed a MoU to combat human trafficking within the Indian Railway network.

About National Commission for Women (NCW)

• The NCW is the Statutory Body generally concerned with advising the government on all policy matters affecting women.
• It was established on 31 January 1992 under the provisions of the Indian Constitution as defined in the National Commission for Women Act, 1990.
• The first head of the commission was Jayanti Patnaik.
• The Indian Constitution doesn’t contain any provision specifically made to favor women intrinsically.
• Article 15 (3), Article 14 and Article 21 protect and safeguard women. They are more gender-neutral.

Objectives

• The objective of the NCW is to represent the rights of women in India and to provide a voice for their issues and concerns.
• The subjects of their campaigns have included dowry, politics, religion, equal representation for women in jobs, and the exploitation of women for labor.
• They have also discussed police abuses against women.

Composition of the NCW

The Commission shall consist of:

• Chairperson: To be nominated by the Central Government.
• Five Members: To be nominated by the Central Government from amongst persons of ability, integrity and standing who have had experience in law or legislation, trade unionism, management of an industry potential of women, women’s voluntary organizations (including women activists), administration, economic development, health, education or social welfare;
• Special Representations: At least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively;

Powers of NCW

• Provide consultation on all major policy matters that affect women.
• Issuing summons for the examination of documents and the witnesses.
• Requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office.
• Receiving evidence on affidavits
• Discovery and production of documents
• Summoning and enforcement

Functions of the NCW

• Submission of Annual Reports: Table reports should be submitted to the Central Government every year, when deemed appropriate by the commission. These reports focus on the functioning and working of the safeguards.
• Investigation and Examination: Proper investigation and examination are conducted under the Constitution and other laws, primarily aimed at protecting the rights of women.
• Review and Scrutiny of Laws: Constant review and scrutiny of all laws are undertaken, with necessary amendments and alterations made to meet the needs of the current world.
• Prevention of Violations: Ensuring there is no violation against women and taking due care of such cases to protect their rights.
• Handling Complaints and Suo Motu Matters: Handling complaints and addressing suo motu matters about the deprivation of rights of women, with a focus on implementing laws favoring women’s welfare.
• Assessment of Development and Progress: Assessing the development and progress of the women community at both the Center and State levels.
• Identification and Mitigation of Systemic Limitations: Understanding the limitations in the system and devising strategic plans and mechanisms to address them effectively.

Issues faced by NCW

• Limited Enforcement Power: The NCW is only recommendatory and lacks the power to enforce its decisions, often taking action only when issues are brought to light.
• Lack of Constitutional Status: The Commission lacks constitutional status, resulting in no legal powers to summon police officers or witnesses.
• Dependency on Grants: NCW’s functions are heavily dependent on grants offered by the central government, with insufficient financial assistance to cater to its needs.
• Limited Autonomy in Member Selection: The Commission does not have the power to choose its own members, impacting its autonomy and effectiveness.

PYQ:

Q.Is the National Commission for Women able to strategize and tackle the problems that women face at both public and private spheres? Give reasons in support of your answer. (2017)

Q.According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following?

1. The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission
2. The Report of the Public Accounts Committee
3. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
4. The Report of the National Commission for the Scheduled Castes

Select the correct answer the using the codes given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Practice MCQ:

Which of the following does not constitute to the powers of National Commission for Women (NCW)?

1. Issuing summons
2. To make any record public
3. Receiving evidence on affidavits
4. Enforcing legal action against individuals

Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024

Attend Now