Context
Recently, the National Commission for Women(NCW) has been in the news for its response to an RTI query, stating that it has no information on the political affiliation of its Chairperson and Members.
Details
- The educational role of the National Commission for Women is to be an unbiased entity, which remains completely impartial about domestic political activities and does not interfere in any domestic political processes.
- Beyond this, some leaders were known to have had their allegiance to the party questioned, with some of the party officials claiming at times to be on the same side as such leaders.
- In the year 2022, the RTI activist gave a request to make public the information concerning the People’s Mischief of the NCW Chairperson and Members.
- Related to this, the NCW reaffirmed its lack of knowledge on the existence of a political authority concerned in the country as a whole where its male members and chairman hold positions.
Reasons for Lack of Information
The NCW has cited several reasons for its lack of information on the political affiliation of its Chairperson and Members. These include:
- No formal declaration: Political preference declaration is not required, but the Northwest Commission positions do ask for present political preference from the Chairperson and Members.
- No records maintained: The NCW has not maintained itself concerned about the records of the CONGRESS Party President and Party Members.
- Autonomous body: NCW is a non-partisan body, meaning that the national down the Chairperson, and Members are not affiliated with any political party.
Implications
The NCW’s response to the RTI query has several implications:
- Lack of transparency: The only thing that remains unclear concerning the NCW is whether its Chairperson and Members represent any political party as it seems to be silent on that matter and seriously hamper its transparency and accountability.
- Political bias: While the suggestion of NCW on the issue is somewhat valid, the way it gives the direct clue about political bias in the work of NCW may make it inefficient in dealing with issues that concern women’s rights and gender equality.
- Credibility: The reaction of NCW has raised the alarm about its authority as well as its capacity to enter into and resolve such a dicey political dilemma on its own.
Concerns and Criticisms
The NCW’s response has been criticised by several stakeholders, including:
- RTI activists: The stand taken by the RTI activists against the NCW did not go well with them as it was unacceptable for the body to not have on its records political affiliations of its Chairperson and Members set in public view in a case of old age adults living in poverty.
- Women’s rights organisations: Women rights proponents have raised issues on the NCW’s continued denial to fully address the matters that can support women rights, and gender equality being still issues that lack transparency and accountability.
- Political parties: Political parties too have blasted the NCW’s position, which says that it threatens future recruitment processes of the NCW chairperson and members as they might have political ties.
Conclusion
The NCW’s response to the RTI query has raised several concerns about its transparency, accountability, and credibility. The NCW’s lack of information on the political affiliation of its Chairperson and Members raises questions about its ability to function independently and address issues related to women’s rights and gender equality. To address these concerns, the NCW must take steps to ensure transparency and accountability in its functioning.
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Q. Which of the following is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the rights of women in India?
a) National Human Rights Commission
b) National Commission for Women
c) National Commission for Minorities
d) National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Ans- “b”
.png)
