The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Statutory status for SCW hailed

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Statutory status for SCW hailed

Ramya Kannan

Women’s rights activists have welcomed the government move as necessary

“It will give us powers of a
civil court”
Vasanthi Devi expresses happiness

CHENNAI: A long-pending demand to confer statutory status on the Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women has finally come through with Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan announcing that a Bill to this effect will be introduced in the Legislature during the budget session.

Women’s rights activists have claimed for years that the SCW, which was set up in 1993, was “toothless” because of restrictions in its functioning: it is unable to summon witnesses while investigating crimes against women or issue anything more than “recommendations.”

These activists have now come together to welcome the government’s move as necessary, even if belated.

Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna had said last year that the government was favourably considering a move to grant statutory status to the State Commission for Women in a meeting to discuss the Civil Court Powers of the Commissions organised by the National Commission for Women.

NCW chairperson K.M. Ramathal said: “This is a very good move. It will give us the powers of a civil court. The members of the Commission are thankful to the Chief Minister for this decision.” Being conferred with the powers of a civil court, the State Commission will now be able to summon and enforce the attendance of any person, require the discovery and production of any document; receive evidence on affidavits; requisition any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; and issue commissions for the examination of witnesses and documents.

Long-pending demand

Former Chairperson, State Commission for Women, Vasanthi Devi, expressed her happiness at the realisation of a long-pending demand. “After so many people trying so hard, but successive governments reneging, we are indeed happy that it has become a reality,” she said. Dr. Vasanthi Devi has been campaigning that to be effective the SCW should be treated on a par with the National Commission for Women and the National Human Rights Commission.

“Even when I was Chairperson, 19 of the 21 State Commission for Women had statutory status. I am confident that it will be able to respond better to women victims.”

Mythili Sivaraman of the All India Democratic Women’s Association, which has been fighting for statutory powers for the State Commission for Women, said “I am very happy that the government at long last has made it a reality,” as women in the State would benefit from it.

“However, I feel very strongly that had this authority been given earlier, many issues would have been settled and clarified, many more women helped out.”

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