By Our Staff Reporter
DEHRADUN, 11 Nov: On the occasion of the 19th foundation day of the Uttarakhand State Women’s Commission, the Chairperson, Kusum Kandwal, addressed the media at the Media Center Secretariat, and highlighted the achievements and ongoing work of the Commission.
In her address, the Chairperson extended her greetings for the Commission’s 19th foundation day as well as for the festival of Igas.
She presented a detailed account of the Commission‘s activities, listing the significant steps taken for women’s welfare. Kusum Kandwal shared that the Commission had conducted inspections of all the prisons in the state, evaluating the conditions of female inmates and the basic facilities provided to them. The Commission has also directed the IG of Prisons to provide skill-based training to female inmates in all jails. Furthermore, inspections were conducted at One-Stop Centers, Women’s Hospitals, hostels, Women’s Helplines, and Help Desks. She noted that district-level reviews were conducted with departmental officials to monitor the implementation of various government schemes for women.
The Commission has also sent letters to all District Magistrates, directing them to form Internal Complaint Committees (ICC) in departments with four or more female employees to address any mental or physical harassment. Additionally, the Commission is actively reaching out to women in remote and rural areas, raising awareness about their rights and assisting women in distress to ensure they receive justice.
Kusum Kandwal expressed her gratitude towards the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya, acknowledging that it is a major achievement for the Commission that the state government has accepted the final draft of the State Women’s Policy. The policy, once implemented, will empower women in all spheres of life, whether they are working women, single women, women from rural or remote areas, or those living in urban centers.
Addressing the issue of rising unethical practices, Kusum Kandwal condemned the increasing instances of young women being forced into unethical sex work in spa centers and massage parlors across the state. She emphasized that once a woman is trapped in such a situation, it becomes extremely difficult for the Commission and government to rehabilitate her.
To address this, the Commission has developed a new set of guidelines (SOPs) for spa centers, massage parlors, and physiotherapy centers. These guidelines mandate that women should only be massaged by female therapists and men by male therapists. Additionally, employees should be duly trained with a degree or diploma, and their verification should be carried out by local police stations.
These guidelines have already been sent to the government for approval and implementation.
Kusum Kandwal affirmed that the Uttarakhand State Women’s Commission is fully committed to ensuring women’s safety and addressing various issues related to women’s rights. The Commission‘s objective is to empower women so that they can participate equally in all areas of life.
She also expressed her gratitude to the media personnel for their continued support in promoting the Commission’s work, ensuring that women across the state are becoming aware of their rights through the media.
During the press briefing, the Chairperson also launched the Annual Report for the year 2023-24.
The briefing was attended by the Commission‘s Secretary, Urvashi Chauhan; Legal Officer, Dayaram Singh; and Aadhar Verma.
