Times of India: Pune: Friday, 14 February 2025.
Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) had 5,840 complaints pending at the end of 2022-23 financial year, according to information obtained through an RTI query by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve.
The data, sourced from the
principal accountant general's office inspection report, reveals improvements
and persistent challenges in the commission's operations. While it improved its
case disposal rate from 40.5% in 2020-21 to 63.53% in 2022-23, it struggled to
manage the high volume of complaints. As many as 10,146 new complaints were
added in 2022-23, besides the 5,866 cases carried forward from the previous
year.
"The commission's inability to maintain age-wise data of pending complaints makes it impossible to identify cases older than three years," Durve said. "With Maharashtra topping the list for crimes against women, these pending complaints require immediate intervention."
Durve had on Jan 23 filed the application, seeking a copy of inspection reports from 2022 to 2025. MSCW it its reply on Feb 11 furnished him a copy of its latest inspection report from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The reply also said an audit for from April 1, 2023, till date had not been carried out yet.
The audit report for 2022-23 also highlighted additional concerns beyond case management. The commission had not acted on 152 research studies conducted between 2017 and 2020, which were carried out at a cost of Rs 2.22 crore. These studies were meant to recommend ways to enhance women's representation and identify barriers to their advancement. No new research has been initiated since 2020.
The commission's website security also raised red flags, operating with a prohibited domain name since 2016 and lacking security audits since 2017-18. Financial management issues were evident, with Rs 165.40 lakh being surrendered at the end of fiscal year 2022-23, indicating inefficient budget utilisation, the RTI reply showed.
MSWC chairperson Rupali Chakankar, when contacted, told TOI that the rising number of complaints reflected increased awareness among women of their rights and the commission's support to help hear out these cases.
"In the cases that come to the commission, efforts are made to provide justice and relief to women through counselling, police assistance, legal assistance, and hearings if needed. While most cases are resolved quickly, family-related complaints often require multiple counseling sessions, extending the resolution timeline," she said.
At the end of 2023, as many as 5,840 cases were pending but in many of them the applicants did not appear despite repeated correspondence by the commission, Chakankar said.
Chakankar said recent actions had addressed the backlog. "In our board meeting held on Feb 14, 2024, we closed 3,805 inactive cases where complainants did not respond to repeated correspondence, reducing the pending cases to 2,035."
The commission offers multiple channels for complaints such as in-person visits, email, postal mail, and a dedicated helpline (155209). Officials suggest implementing remedial measures such as legal aid clinics to improve case resolution efficiency.
Complainants who approached MSWC feel there should be a timely clearance method and that they should have a mechanism to reach out to the complainants on a scheduled day for hearing. "There is lot needed to be done," a complainant told TOI.
Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) had 5,840 complaints pending at the end of 2022-23 financial year, according to information obtained through an RTI query by Pune-based activist Vihar Durve.
"The commission's inability to maintain age-wise data of pending complaints makes it impossible to identify cases older than three years," Durve said. "With Maharashtra topping the list for crimes against women, these pending complaints require immediate intervention."
Durve had on Jan 23 filed the application, seeking a copy of inspection reports from 2022 to 2025. MSCW it its reply on Feb 11 furnished him a copy of its latest inspection report from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. The reply also said an audit for from April 1, 2023, till date had not been carried out yet.
The audit report for 2022-23 also highlighted additional concerns beyond case management. The commission had not acted on 152 research studies conducted between 2017 and 2020, which were carried out at a cost of Rs 2.22 crore. These studies were meant to recommend ways to enhance women's representation and identify barriers to their advancement. No new research has been initiated since 2020.
The commission's website security also raised red flags, operating with a prohibited domain name since 2016 and lacking security audits since 2017-18. Financial management issues were evident, with Rs 165.40 lakh being surrendered at the end of fiscal year 2022-23, indicating inefficient budget utilisation, the RTI reply showed.
MSWC chairperson Rupali Chakankar, when contacted, told TOI that the rising number of complaints reflected increased awareness among women of their rights and the commission's support to help hear out these cases.
"In the cases that come to the commission, efforts are made to provide justice and relief to women through counselling, police assistance, legal assistance, and hearings if needed. While most cases are resolved quickly, family-related complaints often require multiple counseling sessions, extending the resolution timeline," she said.
At the end of 2023, as many as 5,840 cases were pending but in many of them the applicants did not appear despite repeated correspondence by the commission, Chakankar said.
Chakankar said recent actions had addressed the backlog. "In our board meeting held on Feb 14, 2024, we closed 3,805 inactive cases where complainants did not respond to repeated correspondence, reducing the pending cases to 2,035."
The commission offers multiple channels for complaints such as in-person visits, email, postal mail, and a dedicated helpline (155209). Officials suggest implementing remedial measures such as legal aid clinics to improve case resolution efficiency.
Complainants who approached MSWC feel there should be a timely clearance method and that they should have a mechanism to reach out to the complainants on a scheduled day for hearing. "There is lot needed to be done," a complainant told TOI.
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