This story is from May 25, 2016

Appoint active woman leader, activists to CM

Women's organisations in the state have have written to chief minister J Jayalalithaa, requesting her to appoint a 'proactive, gender sensitive' chairperson for the state women's commission.
Appoint active woman leader, activists to CM
Chennai: Women's organisations in the state have have written to chief minister J Jayalalithaa, requesting her to appoint a 'proactive, gender sensitive' chairperson for the state women's commission. They have also created an online petition to gather more signatures.
The appeal has 17 signatories from 12 organisations. The letter states that individuals and organisations working on gender equality and women's empowerment in the state look forward to the "revival of the Tamil Nadu State Women's Commission."
They also hoped the commission 'will work in consultation with civil society, especially women's organisations, in the state.'
AIADMK veteran Dr Visalakshi Nedunchezhian, 92, is the chairperson of state commission for women at present.

One of the signatories, R Renuka of the Centre for Women's Development and Research said many activists and organisations feel the commission is "not very effective now. It does not have the powers to act as an autonomous body and take firm decisions. "
Bimla Chandraseker, director, Ekta Resource Centre for Women, said, "The commission has to pro-actively engage with civil society in promoting women's rights."
"If the women's commission starts questioning, everyone will be alert. In cases of sexual harassment at the workplace, for example, the commission has to be able to summon the concerned department, ask if a committee has been instituted, and seek enquiry," she added.
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