Maharashtra's Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare announced plans to expand the scope of the Manodhairya Scheme, aimed at supporting victims of sexual violence and acid attacks. She emphasized that counseling efforts must also include men, particularly young men, to effectively reduce crimes against women.
Speaking at an interaction program jointly organized by the Maharashtra Legislative Council’s Deputy Chairperson's office and the State Women’s Commission, Tatkare called for increased male participation in the Commission’s initiatives. The event focused on strengthening the operational efficiency and outreach of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission. The discussion was organised after opposition strong criticism against State women commission functioning and its non active chairman Rupali Chakankar who failed to take action in Vaishnavi Hagawane death case.
Minister Tatkare highlighted key steps taken to bolster the Commission’s effectiveness. "The Commission’s budget has seen a substantial increase—from Rs 3.11 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 10.60 crore for 2024-25. For the first time, a permanent IAS-ranked woman officer has been appointed as Member Secretary to the Commission," she said.
Tatkare also announced that all vacant posts of District Women and Child Development Officers have now been filled, and pending employee issues have been resolved. She confirmed that under new central guidelines, the state government will now directly operate the One-Stop Centers, previously managed by NGOs. This change will result in an increase in the number of centers across Maharashtra.
State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar elaborated on the Commission's activities, stating that over 150 social organizations are currently collaborating with the body. "The Commission is committed to acting swiftly on complaints to ensure justice for women," she said. Responding to recent criticism, Chakankar remarked that most detractors were sidelined women leaders post-elections seeking publicity.
Deputy Chairperson Dr. Neelam Gorhe noted that the State Women’s Commission, established in 1993, remains a crucial instrument in implementing women-related laws. However, she stressed the need to strengthen the Commission’s systems and infrastructure. "We must involve legal consultants and NGOs and ensure sufficient independent funding for the Commission to tackle legal and social issues effectively," she said.
Dr. Gorhe also advocated for establishing counseling centers at the taluka level and a unified mechanism for coordinating multiple legal proceedings involving women. She proposed a joint meeting between the Women’s Commission, Home Department, Women and Child Development, and the Law and Judiciary departments to discuss improving conviction rates in crimes against women.
In a related development, a delegation of opposition leaders met the Governor to raise concerns about the perceived inaction of the State Women’s Commission. The delegation included Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader Sushma Andhare, former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Rohini Khadse, and Congress MLA Jyoti Gaikwad, among others.
According to Sushma Andhare, the delegation discussed several pressing issues, including:
Vaishnavi Hagawane case – Demanded CID investigation due to alleged police-political nexus and called for inquiry into properties of involved officers Jalandar Supekar and Shashikant Chavan.
Ladki Bahin Scheme – Called for dedicated funding without diverting resources from Social Justice or Tribal Welfare departments.
Missing Women and Girls – Called for a dedicated special cell to track and investigate these cases.
State Women’s Commission Reforms – Urged appointment of non-political, legally qualified individuals to the Commission, immediate filling of vacant posts, and opening of divisional offices to enhance accessibility and impartiality.
