National Commission for Women (NCW) today criticised Maharashtra Government for failing to appoint Chairperson of the State-level panel and said it was high time to fill the long-vacant post if it felt committed about the welfare of women.
She also lamented that poverty, lack of education and awareness had resulted in exploitation of women in the State.
"The Government of Maharashtra has not cared to appoint Chairperson of the State Commission for Women since 2007. It was high time the Chief Minister made the appointment if his Government really feels it cares for women, their rights and safety," NCW member Nirmala Sawant Prabhavalkar.
Prabhavalkar, who was here as part of her tour to Vidarbha, was addressing the media at Press Club. She said condition of women in some parts of Vidarbha was "appalling".
"I met around 100 women at Jhari Jamni village in Yavatmal before coming here and the situation is simply appalling. A majority of them belonged to Kolam tribe and were physically exploited and subjected to domestic violence. It was also surprising to note that the police had not received a single complaint in this regard.
"All that they get is judgements from the village Panchayat, headed by tribal leaders, and continue to live with the men responsible for their exploitation," she said.
The NCW member informed she visited Women's Cell in the Chandrapur District Jail where she met 19 undertrials waiting for justice for various crimes ranging from murder to abetting suicide.
"Many of these undertrials are languishing in the jail for three years or more in absence of justice. Indifferent attitude of police has resulted in they not getting proper legal aid," Prabhavalkar said.
NCW plans to launch awareness programmes through Anganwadi and health workers in the near future to highlight the issues related to women undertrials, she said.
