The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, today inaugurated the 9th National Consultation on Law Relating to Women in Prison at Sri Vijaya Puram. The consultation focused on the need for systemic reforms to safeguard the rights, welfare, and dignity of women inmates across the country.

In her inaugural address, the NCW Chairperson stated that the consultation aims to identify urgent reforms required to strengthen the correctional ecosystem for women prisoners. She highlighted that the Commission receives a large number of complaints and also takes suo motu cognizance of cases to ensure speedy justice for women.

During the consultation, Smt. Rahatkar underlined the multiple challenges faced by women inmates and stressed the need for gender-sensitive and humane correctional systems. She noted that many women prisoners are victims of structural gender inequality, which affects their lives both during incarceration and after their release.

In the open session, participants deliberated on key themes to prepare recommendations for submission to the Government. Discussions focused on improving medical and mental-health support in prisons, safeguarding the rights of incarcerated mothers and their children, ensuring secure accommodation for transgender inmates, strengthening legal aid mechanisms, and addressing issues related to inadequate facilities such as poor hygiene, unsanitary conditions, and insufficient healthcare. Participants also urged the Government to ensure timely issuance of essential documents to enable women inmates to access welfare schemes including Ayushman Bharat, e- Sanjeevani, etc,. Many intellectuals and experts also joined the consultation through virtual mode.

Shri H.G.S. Dhaliwal, IPS, DGP, A&N Islands, Shri Sudeep Jain, Member Secretary, NCW, Dr. Archana Mazumdar, Ms. Delina Khogdup, Smt. Mamta Kumari, members of NCW, DGPs, IGPs, and ADGPs from various States, legal experts and academicians attended in this meeting.

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TV/RJ

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