Arunachal okays Bill to empower women

NAHARLAGUN, March 26 ? The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly adopted The Arunachal Pradesh Commission for Women Bill 2002 on Thursday, facilitating the empowerment of women and for their allround development. ?The basic purpose of the Bill is to provide for the constitution of women?s Commission in the state of Arunachal Pradesh to improve the status of women and to enquire into unfair practices affecting women and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto,? Tadak Dolum, Minister incharge for Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, said. ?This Bill of it becomes an Act will go a long way to protect the rights of the women ? especially curb unfair activities against the women,? Mukut Mithi, State Chief Minister said, while taking part in the discussion. ?It would protect the rights and privileges of women in the State? he said, adding, ?This is the first time the State Government had initiated a step to uplift the status of women.? Former Chief Minister and leader of the Opposition, Gegong Apang, said that it is the right time to constitute the Commission, which would help the women of the State to overcome all sorts of injustices. However, he cautioned that the Commission should not be politicized and the chairperson of the Commission should be the person who have the courage and ability to guide the destiny of women. A chairperson, a member secretary and three other women members belonging to APST would head the Commission. The tenure of the Commission will be for three years. The Commission for women has been vested with the power equivalent to a civil court while trying a suit under the code of civil procedure, 1908 and would function in the areas of safeguarding the interest and privileges of the women guaranteed under the Constitution. According to the Bill, the State Government has been made mandatory to respond to the Commission?s recommendation within 60 days ? matters, which affects the Constitutional rights and injustices against the women. The other functions of the Commission include, recommending disciplinary action against negligent or indifferent authority in discharge of duty towards women?s interest, welfare measures, removal of discriminative legislation, formulates schemes to secure equal opportunities to women and to recommend prosecution proceeding to appropriate authority.