The 3rd Monitoring Committee Meeting for Special Cells for Women in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir under the project titled “Violence Free Home – A Woman’s Right” was chaired by Rekha Sharma, Chairperson National Commission for Women at Leh on June 13.

Commissioner/Secretary Social Welfare Department, UT Ladakh Padma Angmo attended the meeting organized by the National Commission for Women, in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare, UT Ladakh, Ladakh Police, and Tata Institute for Social Sciences (TISS).

 Aarthi Chandrasekhar, Coordinator, RCI-VAW TISS through a presentation, gave a preview of ongoing works in both the Union Territories since November 2022, while also highlighting the challenges and outcomes of interventions made by the Special Cell for Women.

For Ladakh, the meeting deliberated upon means and measures for achieving maximum outreach of the Special Cells, with a focus on the farthest villages of Ladakh. In this regard, methods such as organising special camps in far-flung villages periodically were deliberated upon.

 DIG Ladakh, Junaid Sheikh said that the Special Cells in Ladakh are already working in close collaboration with Ladakh Police and assured all required assistance in achieving maximum outreach.

 The Chairperson stressed the need for all stakeholders - Special Women’s Cell, District Administration, One Stop Centre, Social Welfare Department, Police Department, and Health Department to work closely and in a coordinated manner to achieve maximum results, while also ensuring that there is no duplication in data compilation. She also directed the concerned officials to prepare a calendar of events for 6 months and share it with all stakeholders for their participation and contribution.

 Commissioner Secretary Padma Angmo informed the chair that the Shakti Sadan/ Working Women’s Hostels are under construction in both districts of Ladakh and stated that the hostels will prove vital in facilitating victims in distress.

 Commissioner Secretary requested NCW to provide training for members of the Internal Complaints Committee on ‘the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013’. She also requested NCW for the training of the Police and the Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) who have been appointed as Nodal Officers under ‘the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005’, and as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, under ‘the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006’ on various aspects of the two Acts.

 District Magistrate, Leh Shrikant Suse stated that he will periodically review the functioning of the Special Cell to ensure smooth convergence between various departments involved in the welfare and safety of women.

 Special Cell for Women is supported by the National Commission for Women, Government of India, and is being implemented by Tata Institute of Social Sciences, RCI-VAW. Two women Cells have been operationalized in Ladakh, one each in Leh and Kargil districts.

 Member Secretary, NCW, ADGP Jammu, Commissioner Secretary Jammu & Kashmir, Sheetal Nanda, and other participants joined online while Suman Beniwal, Director Social Welfare Department Ladakh, Dr. Trupti Jhaveri Panchal Project Director, RCI-VAW, TISS, and other senior officials from Ladakh attended the meeting in person.