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In
August 1990 the Parliament of India had passed the National Commission for
Women Act in response to the demand of women's organizations and social
workers. Accordingly on 31st January, 1992, the National Commission for
Women was set up. On 24th November, 1993 on the occasion of Women's Day
during the "Quami Ekta" week the Assam Government also promulgated an
Ordinance for constitution of the State Commission for women. Finally on
25th January, 1994 the State Government had passed the Act in the State
Legislative Assembly and the State Government constituted a nine member
Committee for a period of three years under the Chairpersonship of Smt.
Mridula Saharia. Hence the Assam State commission for women came into
existence in the year 1994.
The present Committee was formed on 4th July, 1994
The Assam State Commission for Women was
constituted as stated above under the status of the State assembly. It has
a wide ranging mandate and has been empowered with the powers to have a
say on any maters related to the women specially in the fields of
education, health, socio-economic aspects, legal justice and so on aiming
at economic and social upliftment of women setting the goal of raising the
status of women.
Some of the mandates, under State Commission for Women's Act, 1994 are as
follows :-
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a) |
To investigate and
examine all matters relating to the legal safeguards provided for
Women under the Constitution. |
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b) |
To present and
report upon the state Govt. upon the working of these Safeguards. |
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c) |
To review existing
provisions of the constitution and other laws affecting Women and
recommended amendments to meet any lacunae, inadequacies in such laws. |
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d) |
To look into
complaints and take suo moto notice of matters
relating to deprivation of women's rights, non-implementation of law
relating to women and to take up issue with appropriate authorities to
achieve the objective of equality and development. |
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e) |
To look into
non-compliance of policy decisions, guidelines on instructions aimed
at mitigating hardships and ensuring welfare and providing relief to
the women and take up such issue with appropriate authority. |
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f) |
To participate and
advise on the planning process of Socio-economic Development of Women
and evaluate the progress made. |
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g) |
To inspect Jail,
remand home etc. where women are kept under custody and seek remedial
action, where necessary from time to time and the matter is still
under process in the Social Welfare Dept. though queries were met from
time to time. |
The Commission
constituted a Legal Advisory Committee for counseling and to give legal
advice to the various complaints received in the office of the Commission.
In many cases it is observed that proper guidance and legal assistance to
the distressed women have helped the complainant to settle and reconcile
their cases without going through legal procedures. |
