Kolkata, 04 August (H.S.) : National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar will undertake a three-day visit to West Bengal from August 5 to 7, during which she will participate in a series of programmes in Kolkata and Howrah aimed at strengthening women's safety, improving access to justice, enhancing institutional accountability, promoting legal awareness, and advancing women's empowerment. She will also hold review meetings with senior police and administrative officials.

The visit will begin on August 5 with the 'Campus Calling' programme at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), where Rahatkar will interact with students on women's rights, constitutional values, and legal awareness. Later, she will meet members of women's self-help groups at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium to discuss economic empowerment and community participation. She will also attend the 'She Serves' programme at the National Library, focusing on the role of women in governance and leadership.

On August 6, the NCW Chairperson will inaugurate the 'Women-Led Prosperous Bengal – Bengal Women's Development Conclave 2026' at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Kolkata. The conclave will bring together policymakers, senior government officials, experts, industry representatives, academicians, and women leaders to discuss strategies for promoting women's leadership and development in the state.

The same day, Rahatkar will chair a high-level review meeting with the Director General of Police (DGP) and other senior police officials. The meeting will assess measures to prevent crimes against women, review the effectiveness of the state's safety mechanisms, examine grievance redressal systems, and evaluate institutional responses to women's security concerns.

On August 7, she will participate in a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace) training programme and workshop in Howrah Sadar. This will be followed by a review meeting with district administration and police officials to assess the implementation of women's safety initiatives. She will also attend an Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) workshop at the BSF South Bengal Frontier Headquarters in New Town, where discussions will focus on strengthening efforts to combat human trafficking.

During her visit, the NCW Chairperson will conduct two women's public hearings (Jan Sunwai). The first will be held on August 6 at the Police Training School (PTS) in Kolkata, while the second is scheduled for August 7 at the Howrah District Magistrate's Office. Women will be able to present their grievances directly before the Commission, which will coordinate with the concerned authorities to facilitate prompt resolution. Online complaints will also be accepted.

According to the National Commission for Women, the primary objective of the visit is to reinforce the institutional framework for women's safety, improve access to justice, enhance legal awareness, and strengthen coordination among government agencies to ensure the effective implementation of policies related to women's protection and empowerment.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh