Excellent Work by Bharosa Cell and Damini Squad in Nandurbar District – Maharashtra State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar

Strict Action Must Be Taken in Cases of Child Marriage, Female Foeticide, and Dowry Deaths

Nandurbar : Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission, Ms. Rupali Chakankar, commended the effective functioning of the Bharosa Cell and Damini Squad in Nandurbar district, operated by the district police. She also directed that strict action must be taken in cases related to child marriage, female foeticide, dowry deaths, and domestic violence.

Ms. Chakankar was addressing officials at a review meeting held at the District Superintendent of Police’s office to assess the performance of the Bharosa Cell. Present at the meeting were District Collector Dr. Mittali Sethi, Superintendent of Police Shrawan Datt S., Additional Superintendent of Police Ashit Kamble, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sanjay Mahajan, District Women and Child Development Officer Vinod Valvi, and Deputy Education Officer (Primary) Dr. Yunus Pathan, among others.

She stated that all cases forwarded by the Women’s Commission have been resolved by the district police administration through counseling centers and Bharosa Cells. She appreciated the swift action and emphasized that no pending cases from the commission remain unresolved in the district. She underlined the importance of taking domestic violence complaints seriously and suggested that the District Legal Services Authority and police play a proactive role in resolving such cases.

Ms. Chakankar also emphasized that in cases where courts have ordered compensation to women but payments are not made regularly, such matters must be brought to the court’s attention and immediate legal action should be taken. “Those who try to evade responsibility through legal loopholes must also be treated as offenders and punished accordingly,” she added.

She issued directives for immediate action against private sonography centers involved in illegal sex determination, urging district officials to act swiftly on such violations.

She also instructed the administration to verify whether Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) have been established in government, semi-government, and private organizations to handle sexual harassment at the workplace. The Deputy Commissioner of Labour must verify and submit a detailed report to the Commission within 15 days.

Ms. Chakankar noted that the Commission has been conducting statewide public hearings for women’s grievances in every district, and with the cooperation of Collectors, Police, and Legal Services Authorities, several issues have been resolved. Domestic violence remains the most reported grievance, but many families have been reconciled through counseling.

Calling dowry deaths a social evil, she urged society to unite as human beings to combat such practices. She stressed that women must be aware of their constitutional rights and legal protections, and encouraged them to stand against female foeticide and child marriage.

She advised women facing domestic violence to file complaints with the Family Court and approach the Bharosa Cell for resolution. If issues remain unresolved, they can escalate the matter to the State Women’s Commission, which is committed to ensuring women’s safety and empowerment.

During the event, District Collector Dr. Mittali Sethi provided updates on district-level efforts to tackle child marriage, maternal deaths, dowry deaths, and other women-related issues. Superintendent of Police Shrawan Datt briefed the Commission Chairperson on how the police are using social media, Dial 112, legal awareness campaigns, and the Bharosa Cell to support women.

Inauguration of Women’s Counseling Center

Later, Ms. Rupali Chakankar inaugurated a Women’s Counseling and Dialogue Center at the City Police Station. This center, operated by the Sanskriti Multipurpose Service Board in collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, aims to support women through counseling services.

The event was attended by SP Shrawan Datt, SDPO Sanjay Mahajan, WCD Officer Vinod Valvi, local police officers and staff, and representatives from the Sanskriti Service Board.