Complaints & Investigation Cell
Legal Cell
PMR Cell
Non Resident Indians Cell
North East Cell
NCW Cells AllWho's Who
- Hometown: Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Maharashtra
- Education: Bachelor of Science (Physics) & Master of Arts (History), both from Pune University
Overview-
Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar has dedicated over 30 years to Indian politics and social work, beginning her journey at the grassroots level as a Municipal Corporator. She passionately advocates for social and economic development and women-led development. She has assumed various electoral offices and leadership positions at social welfare organisations.
- Chairperson of Maharashtra Commission for Women: During her tenure as a Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (2016 to 2020), she spearheaded various initiatives to address social, financial, domestic and safety issues of women in Maharashtra. Her leadership brought about policy changes and strengthened institutional support for women across the state. As Chairperson, her leadership over impactful campaigns raised awareness about women’s issues and strengthened legal and social protections for women across Maharashtra. Some highlights of her tenure can be noted above-
- Rehabilitation of Acid Attack survivors through the initiative of "Sakshama" and "Confidence Walk".
- Enforcement of POSH via 'Training of Trainers' impacting and training at least 10,000 trainers, as well as enforcement of compliances in hundreds of corporate offices.
- "Nirmal Wari"- The awareness campaign on the Commission's authority and accessibility to help women with their various issues, which included filing complaints, hygiene and sanitation.
- "Prajwala"- Initiative for financial empowerment and support through Self Help Groups for rural and urban women, also provided vocational training.
- "Suhita"- initiated 24x7 helpline number for women.
- Anti-Women Trafficking- Prevention and rescue- Held several discussions and made policy recommendations on prevention and rescue in women trafficking through the "International Conference on Women and Child Trafficking".
- Policy Recommendations for legislative reforms- Led efforts to draft policy recommendations through discussions with experts and several interest groups like NGOs to make policy recommendations to the appropriate government. Some of the topics for policy recommendations were POCSO, NRI Marriage Cell, Triple Talaq, and Anti-Human Trafficking.
- Digital literacy- Campaigns across more than 200 Tehsils to empower women with digital literacy.
- Initiated constant efforts to make the Commission easily accessible to all women in the remotest part of Maharashtra with various initiatives like "Mahila Aayog Aplya Daari", aiding the redressal and intervention of women's issues.
- Conflicting NRI Marriage Cell- helped rescue and support Indian married women in other countries who faced harassment on the domestic and familial front through dedicated channels and deliberations at the National Conference.
- "Saad"- started publishing the Commission's official magazine, covering various informative topics.
- Delivering Justice- Disposed of thousands of cases and complaints registered and pending at the Commission, ensuring timely justice. Improved ways to reach and raise complaints at the Commission via technology-aided various platforms and door-to-door awareness campaigns.
- Collaborations- Expanded efforts for women's welfare with various collaborations with NGOs and international organisations.
- Mayor of Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar): As the Mayor (2007 to 2010), Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar worked tirelessly to transform her hometown. She improved infrastructure, healthcare, slum development, and education while actively ensuring more MNCs and IT companies invest in Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) to generate more revenue and employment for the city. She also made efforts to empower women in various aspects. She gained cultural and tourism recognition in the City, and increased revenue and tax recovery as Mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhjinagar, earning recognition for transforming the city’s urban development.
- She was also the Vice-President of the National Mayors' Council and President of Maharashtra Mayors' Council during her tenure as Mayor.
- She was an elected member of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation from 2000 to 2010 and held other offices like Chairperson of Zonal Committee, etc.
- Advisory Director, All India Institute of Local Self-Government
- Chairperson and Mentor, Anandi Empower Foundation- Her non-profit organisation which focuses on the education and empowerment of girls and women in the Marathwada region; supports surviving women family members of farmers who have committed suicides; provides marketplace to small women entrepreneurs; conducts free of cost vocational courses and provides free placement and counselling services.
Awards and Recognitions-
- National Law Day Award 2017- given by the International Council of Jurists for a unique contribution to the field of Women's Empowerment.
- Savitribai Phule Award- given by Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Parishad for conservation of cultural and literary work.
Authored Books-
- “Agnishikha Dhadadu Dya”- based on the crucial issue of Female Foeticide (Year 2011)
- “Aurangabad Leading to Wide Roads”- based on the town planning and development of Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) City. The book has been recognised as a Case Study and Reference Book by the Government of Maharashtra (Year 2012)
- “Magic of Blue Flame”- based on the real stories of beneficiaries of the Ujwala Scheme.
- “Vidhi Likhit”- Edited series of books covering topics POCSO, Laws related to Domestic Violence, Family Laws, NRI Marriages, PCPNDT, The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, Triple Talaq, Laws and Schemes for Working Women.
- “Kanoon Aapke Liye”- based on laws relating to Indian women.
Ms. Delina Khongdup was born and raised in Lyndem village, Pynursla Block, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya. She completed her primary education at DCLP (Govt.) School Lyndem and her 10th and 10+2 education at CHME Society, Vidya Prabodhini Prashala, Nashik, and Bhonsala Military College, Nashik, Maharashtra, respectively. She graduated from Deccan Education Society, D.E.S. Law College, University of Pune and earned her Master's degree from New Law College, Pune, Bharti Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune. Ms. Khongdup has held the position of Headmistress at the newly upgraded Upper Primary School, Jingkieng Ksiar U.P. School in Lyndem village, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya. She practiced in Meghalaya courts, including the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Court, established under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to safeguard the rights and customary practices of the indigenous Khasi tribal community. She is an active member of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) as Legal Aid Counsel (LAC) and was appointed as a Protection Officer (PO) under MSLSA for the Pynursla and Mawphlang C & Rd Blocks. Ms. Khongdup is also associated with the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute (MATI) as a Trainer and Trained Resource Person. Furthermore, she is the Founder Member and Assistant Director of Asorphi Education Society, Pynursla, and established the first and only Science academy in the region.
Social Work
Ms. Khongdup is a strong advocate for the basic human rights of citizens and runs a Self-Help Group (SHG) in her village to provide easy access to information technology and (CSC) Common Service Centre services at the doorstep. She serves as a free legal adviser to numerous women's organizations in Pynursla Block and is an active member of the indigenous faith organization Seng Khasi, which aims to protect, promote, and safeguard the customary practices of the Khasi people. Additionally, she is associated with various social organizations such as Seva Bharati Meghalaya and Vidya Bharati Meghalaya. She also attended the National Workshop for Tribal Research - Identity, Rights, and Development, organized by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) in New Delhi.
The lack of education, awareness about their rights and opportunities, and poverty have left women behind and subject to discrimination. Ms. Khongdup ultimate aim is to empower women by spreading awareness of their rights and basic human rights. She believes that women must be aware of their constitutional, social, and legal rights.
To promote skill development among women and make them self-reliant, Ms. Khongdup started a training center for women at Pynursla in association with Shubham Charitable Association, a Shillong-based NGO, under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). The center trained women in tailoring, embroidery, computers, handicrafts, bamboo craft, and more. During the pandemic, masks stitched at the training center were distributed free to various sections of society. The center is now running in partnership with (JSS) Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Meghalaya.
Ms. Khongdup is associated with various NGOs and women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) at the village level. She has provided free legal advice to women and others on matters related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, and the registration of birth and death certificates in rural areas. Additionally, she runs a school in a village that previously had no educational facilities.
Ms. Khongdup filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Meghalaya High Court to recognize the Hindu, Niam Khasi, Niam Tre, and Songsarek (indigenous faith followers) as minorities in the Christian-majority state of Meghalaya, enabling them to avail of various benefits and policies for minorities.
Her desire is to uplift the deprived and vulnerable in society at large. She works hand in hand from the grassroots level to the top, empowering, educating, and encouraging individuals to fight for and stand up for their rights. Ms. Khongdup assumed the role of Member of the National Commission for Women on March 1, 2023.
Smt. Mamta Kumari ji assumed charge as a member of the National Commission for Women on 10 March, 2023. She has a long experience of working in various fields. Since childhood, Smt. Mamta has been fighting for the freedom and rights of half the population at every stage. She even fought within her family for her education. This girl, born in Podaiyahat village of Podaiyahat block of Godda district in Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand, has been struggling against superstition, poverty and illiteracy. This struggling student, a graduate in Sociology, received all her education in government educational institutions. She got her education by taking tuition from 9th class onwards and wrote a new story of self-reliance. She never got a new book. This educated girl from a prosperous family tried to bring harmony in the society by marrying inter-caste. Later this harmony got attached to the stage itself. As a teacher, she contributed to many institutions. On the basis of her own efforts, she established Veena Bharti Residential School and Janardan Bhai Educational Institute and made continuous efforts to attract children and women from poor, tribal and backward families into the field of education and provide them modern education.
Because of Smt. Mamta ji's great love for environmental protection, about thirty thousand fruit trees planted in her area is a sacred proof of this. Before joining the Commission, she was a reputed government teacher. During the Corona period, she also did the amazing work of taking the distant migrants to their destination with ease. Struggle has become a habit for the flood victims. The regional society whole heartedly praises the work done by them during the Covid period. She whole-heartedly made arrangements for the medical treatment and food items for the affected people.
As an important member of the Commission, she studied the situation and condition of women in different states. Understanding the plight of women living in national border areas, inside jails, hospitals and old age homes, she has dedicated a detailed report to the Commission. She studied the applications and complaints received on tragic incidents like dowry death, gender discrimination, acid attack, rape, sexual harassment and became an ally in providing them justice. Even after holding public hearings, they successfully try to solve the problems quickly.
In order to advance women from Panchayat to Parliament or even beyond, they do the incredible work of studying the obstacles that come in the way and presenting them before the Commission. Even today, it continues to work towards improving the equality of the society by providing training in tree plantation, bio-fertilizer production and leadership as per the need and time. Their ultimate goal is to empower women, provide them with necessary legal advice and empower them by becoming their voice.
