The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Vijaya Rahatkar, conducted a high-level “Jan Sunwai” (public hearing) and administrative review in Moga on Wednesday. During the session held at DM College, Moga, the Chairperson personally heard over 100 complaints and issued strict directives to the police and civil administration to resolve the issues promptly.

Rahatkar instructed the police and concerned departments to take immediate, appropriate action on the complaints received during the public hearing.

“A detailed action-taken report must be submitted to the Commission within three days,” she ordered.

Noting that the majority of the complaints pertained to domestic violence, she directed the police department to handle these sensitive matters with utmost empathy and diligence to ensure speedy justice for the victims.

To ensure safer working environments for women, the Chairperson issued a strict mandate: All workplaces (schools, hospitals, industrial units, government, and private offices) with 10 or more employees must form Internal Complaints Committees under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, she said.

The administration must ensure these committees are fully functional within one month to bolster security and confidence among working women, she directed.

Examining the impact of increasing drug addiction on women, the Chairperson highlighted the silent suffering of women. She emphasised that drug abuse does not just ruin the addict but devastates the entire family, with homemakers bearing the worst emotional and physical brunt. She rallied the attendees with the slogan: “Say No to Drugs and Yes to Life,” urging the community to raise widespread awareness

In a review meeting with administrative officers, Chairperson Rahatkar stressed the effective ground-level implementation of various central and state-sponsored women-centric schemes. She said that there should be increased participation and employment of women in MGNREGA, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programs to strengthen them and grassroot implementation for girls’ education and survival.