Despite the fact that women empowerment and gender mainstreaming has captured the imagination of our policy-makers and women-centric programmes have gained attention in our governance, the National Commission for Women (NCW), which empowers women, feels disempowered at present due to depleted strength. 

NCW has been witnessing a complete vacuum as all five posts of member are lying vacant. Three posts have been vacant for more than a year whereas two fell vacant in August and October leaving Mrs Rekha Sharma alone as its Chairperson. This too could have fallen vacant but NaMo administration gave Mrs Sharma a fresh lease of life beginning 04 August 2018. Her tenure was supposed to have ended on August 03.

It may be mentioned that NCW was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990. It reviews the constitutional and legal safeguards for women, recommends remedial legislative measures and facilitates redressal of grievances and advises the government on all political matters affecting women.