REACHING OUT

COMPLAINTS AND COUNSELLING UNIT

This cell is the " Core" unit of the commission and processes the complaints received oral, written or suo moto under Section 10 of the NCW Act.

The complaints received relate to domestic violence, harassment, dowry, torture, desertion, bigamy, rape, refusal to register FIR, cruelty by husband, derivation, gender discrimination and sexual harassment at work place. During 1999, the Commission received 4329 complaints related to the above types of crimes against women.

The complaints are tackled as below:-

Investigations by the police are expedited and monitored.
Disaggregated data are made available to various state authorities to facilitate action.
Family disputes are resolved or compromised through counselling.

As per the 1997 Supreme Court Judgement on Sexual Harassment at Workplace, (Vishakha Vs. State of Rajasthan) every employer is required to provide for effective complaints procedures and remedies including awarding of compensation to women victims. In sexual harassment complaints, the concerned organisations are urged to expedite cases and the disposal is monitored.

For serious crimes, the Commission constitutes an Inquiry Committee which makes spot enquiries, examines various witnesses, collects evidence and submits the report with recommendations. The implementation of the report is monitored by the NCW.
The State Commission, the NGOs and other experts are involved in these efforts.
Between July to December, 1999, the Commission received the following complaints :- Dowry Death-232, Rape-93, Murder-69, Harassment-591, Property disputes-132, Desertion-66, Kidnapping-36.

This gives the trend of crimes against women and suggests systemic changes needed for the reduction in crimes.

The complaints are analysed to understand the gaps in routine functioning of government in tackling violence against women and to suggest correctional measures.
The complaints are also used as case studies for sensitization programmes for the police, judiciary, prosecutors, forensic scientists, defence lawyers and other administrative functionaries.

URL- http://socialwelfare.delhigovt.nic.in/ncw.htm