Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Bai has sought more powers for the commission, including powers to prosecute police officers who violate women’s rights or ill-treat them.
At a seminar on women’s issues organised at the Visvesvaraya Technological University, she felt equipping the commission with additional powers would ensure better protection of women victims of crime and other cases. “I know how women suffer at the hands of abusers and those in power. If this has to stop, there has to be a systemic process that has punitive powers and women should have free access to it. Conferring such powers to the commission is a good idea.”
She said that patriarchal mindset among men who head families, groups or even government offices, had ensured that women were not getting justice. This has to change first. The commission will organise awareness among women’s rights for all stakeholders, including police personnel and government officers.
She hoped the seminar would prove to the world that women were capable of achieving success in all fields.
Minister for Women and Child Welfare Umashree urged women to move ahead, without being slowed down by various obstacles. Men consider themselves physically stronger. But women are mentally stronger. This may be the reason why they are expected to sacrifice for the welfare of their family. However, this should not hold women back. They should develop while helping others to grow, she said.
State Congress women’s wing president Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Bal Bhavan president Anjali Nimbalkar, VTU Vice-Chancellor Karisiddappa and others were present.
