NCW Chairperson to Visit West Bengal for Women's Safety Initiatives

NCW Chairperson's Upcoming Visit to West Bengal

Kolkata, August 4 - The National Commission for Women (NCW) has announced that its chairperson, Vijaya K. Rahatkar, will embark on a three-day visit to West Bengal starting August 5. During her visit, she will engage in various programs focused on women's safety and grassroots outreach.

The visit will kick off on Wednesday with the Campus Calling program at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), where Rahatkar will discuss women's rights, constitutional values, and legal awareness with students. Following this, she will meet with women’s self-help groups at the Dhanodhan Auditorium and participate in the She Serves program at the National Library Auditorium, which aims to highlight women's roles in public service and leadership.

On Thursday, Rahatkar will inaugurate the Bengal Women Development Conference 2026, themed 'Nari Naitrik Ujjanto Bangla', at the Biswa Bangla Convention Center in Kolkata. This conference will bring together policymakers, senior government officials, academics, entrepreneurs, and women leaders to discuss a roadmap for women's development and leadership in the state.

Additionally, on the same day, the NCW chairperson will lead a high-level review meeting with the Director General of Police and senior officials to assess institutional responses to crimes against women and review safety measures. A significant aspect of the visit will be two public hearings for women, the first on August 6 at the Police Training School (PTS) auditorium in Kolkata, and the second on August 7 at the District Magistrate's office in Howrah.

The NCW stated, 'This will be the first time the chairperson conducts public hearings for women in West Bengal, providing a platform for women across the state to present their grievances directly to the commission, ensuring timely resolutions through coordination with relevant authorities. Complaints will also be accepted on-site.'

On Friday, Rahatkar will preside over a training and workshop on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) at Sharat Sadan in Howrah. She will also evaluate the implementation of women-centered initiatives in a review meeting with district administration and police officials. Furthermore, she will address an anti-human trafficking workshop at the BSF South Bengal Frontier headquarters in New Town, Kolkata. The commission emphasized that this visit reflects its commitment to strengthening institutional mechanisms for women's safety, improving access to justice, enhancing legal awareness, and ensuring effective implementation of laws and policies related to women's security and empowerment.