Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, Former BJP Women's Wing Chief, Appointed as New NCW Chief

New Delhi: Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, who is the former Chief of the BJP Women's Wing, has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Commission of Women succeeding Rekha Sharma. 

A government notification issued on Saturday said the appointment made under Section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, will be for a period of three years or until she reaches the age of 65, whichever comes first. 

Rahatkar's tenure will begin with immediate effect. The announcement will also be published in the Gazette of India. 

In addition to Rahatkar's appointment, Archana Majumdar has been officially named a member of the NCW for a three-year tenure, as per a notification issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. 

The NCW, a statutory body, is empowered to work towards the advancement of women's rights. Its mandate includes reviewing the constitutional and legal safeguards provided for women. 

According to a statement issued by the Women and Child Development Ministry, Rahatkar has demonstrated leadership skills across various political and social responsibilities. 

During her tenure as the chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (2016-2021), she spearheaded initiatives like "Sakshama" (support for acid attack survivors), "Prajwala" (linking self-help groups to Central government schemes), and "Suhita" (a 24x7 helpline service for women). 

She also worked on legal reforms focusing on issues like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), anti-triple talaq cells, and anti-human trafficking units. 

Rahatkar also introduced digital literacy programmes and launched a publication named "Saad" dedicated to women's issues. 

As the mayor of Chatrapati Sambhajinagar from 2007 to 2010, Rahatkar implemented significant developmental projects related to healthcare and infrastructure. 

She holds a bachelor's degree in physics and a master's degree in history from the University of Pune. 

Rahatkar also authored several books, including "Vidhilikhit" and "Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads". 

Her contributions to women's empowerment have earned her several recognitions, including the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award from a national literary council. (with PTI inputs)