The Jammu and Kashmir government established the J&K commission for women on Wednesday to protect women’s rights in the union territory.
The government has approved the constitution of the Jammu and Kashmir Commission for Women with powers to investigate and examine all matters related to safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws, review existing provisions of the Constitution, and take suo-moto notice of various issues related to women’s rights according to an order issued.
The Commission, which will be led by a woman chairperson who will be a woman committed to the cause of equal sex, will have five members who will be nominated by the government and have at least ten years of experience in the fields of women’s welfare, administration, economic development, health, education, or social welfare.
At least one member of the Commission must be from a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, and the member secretary must be a member of the Civil Service of the Union Territory or an All India Service with the rank of Special Secretary to the Government, or an expert in the field of management, organisational structure, or sociological movement.
From time to time, the Commission will review existing provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommend amendments for remedial legislative measures to address any gaps, inadequacies, or shortcomings in the legislation,according to official sources.
The Commission may also request special studies or investigations into specific problems or situations arising from discrimination and atrocities against women, in order to identify constraints and recommend strategies for their removal.
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The panel will conduct promotional and educational research to suggest ways to ensure equal representation of women in all spheres and identify factors impeding their advancements, such as a lack of access to housing and basic services, a lack of support services, and technologies for reducing drudgery and occupational health hazards while increasing productivity.
It will inspect a jail, remand home, women’s institution, or other places of custody where women are kept as prisoners or otherwise and, if necessary, will file a complaint with the appropriate authorities. The commission will fund lawsuits involving issues that affect a large number of women.
