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Women up in arms against SCW chairperson

Bhubaneswar: A group of women activists on Wednesday staged a demonstration here demanding immediate halt to acceptance by the State Commission for Women (SCW) of petitions alleging torture of men by wives and resignation of its chairperson Namita Panda.

The women activists, led by the State secretary of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), Tapasi Praharaj, held the demonstration at the SCW office and raised slogans against Ms. Panda who, however, remained firm on her stand.

“We demand Ms. Panda’s resignation because she is interested in taking up cases involving alleged torture of men instead of solving women’s issues,” said the AIDWA leader.

In a memorandum to the Women and Child Development Minister, the activists opposed the SCW accepting petitions from males allegedly tortured. They objected to such action by the chairperson of the women’s panel.

“While the commission is unable to clear pending women torture cases, how can it entertain male harassment cases?” said Anuradha Mohanty, another activist finding fault with the commission.

The AIDWA activists also objected to a statement made by Ms. Panda where she accused women of misusing the Dowry Prevention Act and other laws for protection of women.

The activists demanded immediate resignation of the women’s panel chairperson on these grounds.

Ms. Panda, who did not attend the office as she was away in Cuttack, said: “I have not done any damage to women’s interest by accepting petitions alleging torture of men.”

While probing women torture cases, she had come across instances of men being tortured, she told the PTI over phone.

The SCW chairperson ruled out stepping down in the face of opposition from a section of women activists. “I am here to give justice to distressed women. Therefore, there is no question of resignation,” the chairperson said. _ PTI

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