Agartala: National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar on Thursday said the Centre aims to eliminate child marriages in the country by 2030. She said a target had been set to reduce reported child marriage cases by 10 per cent by 2026.
She also informed the media that Tripura would constitute internal and local committees under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act), within the next three to four months.
Addressing a press conference here, Rahatkar said the commission had organised programmes on child marriage, anti-human trafficking, cyber stalking and workplace safety for women during her maiden visit to Tripura after assuming charge as NCW chairperson.
“We have organised events on child marriages. The Government of India has decided to put a full stop to child marriages by 2030, and at least 10 per cent of cases would be reduced by 2026,” she said.
On the implementation of the POSH Act, Rahatkar said, “The POSH Act has to be implemented across the country. We are organising a workshop in the state for the effective implementation of the Act and the formation of internal and local committees as provided under the Act. In the next three to four months, POSH-related internal and local committees would be constituted for the effective implementation of the Act.”
She said she met Chief Minister Manik Saha during the visit and discussed policy-level measures for women’s welfare.
“I met Chief Minister Manik Saha as well. During the meeting, we had constructive discussions on policy-level interventions essential to ensure women a dignified life,” she said.
Marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Rahatkar said women and children continued to be the worst victims of trafficking.
“Women and children are the worst victims of trafficking. Trafficking is primarily carried out for sexual exploitation, under the pretext of marriage, and for various other purposes. We have conducted a workshop in collaboration with the BSF on human trafficking. I believe this workshop will prove effective in handling trafficking-related cases, especially in the border areas of the state,” she said.
She said another meeting was held with the Chief Secretary and senior officials to review women-centric welfare policies of the state government.
“In this meeting, all the policies of the state government rolled out exclusively for the welfare of women were reviewed. The work of SHGs, Village Organisations and Cluster Level Federation members was also reviewed,” she said.
Rahatkar said she also met Lakhpati Didis and visited an all-women Panchayat Samiti in Gomati district.
On cybercrime, she said the nature of stalking had changed with the increasing use of online platforms.
“We have also organised an event on stalking. Stalking is no longer only a physical threat. Offenders are now using online platforms as well to stalk women,” she said.
Referring to complaints received by the commission, Rahatkar said Tripura had recorded comparatively fewer complaints than many other states.
“Wherever the commission goes, a public hearing is conducted. But in Tripura, we have received a very small number of complaints, which is why the police have been directed to act on them. We appeal to women to come forward and report such incidents,” she said.