NCW submits Draft Bill on women harassment to Union Govt

Mysore, July 28 (UNI) National Commission for Women (NCW) member Nirmala Venkatesh today said the Commission has submitted a draft bill on women harassment and it would be introduced in the Lok Sabha soon.

Talking to newspersons here, she said the commission, after drafting the bill and framing the rules had submitted it to the Union Government for placing it before parliament for approval.

The bill would help women, from sweeper to the IAS and IPS levels who were working in various state governments and central government establishments and private organisations.

Stating that 90 per cent of the cases were genuine, she said the number of cases were more in northern parts of the country.

Ms Venkatesh said NCW had drafted another bill on Marriage Act, which envisaged that all marriages should be registered.

The commission had suggested that the registration fee should be fixed at one Rupee only. This bill would also safeguard women, she informed.

The NCW had served a notice on the Karnataka State Women Commission Chairperson Pramela Nisragi for her disrespect to the commission and asked her to reply within two weeks.

She said a meeting has been convened on August 2 in New Delhi in connection with the cases filed by Vijaylakhsmi against harassment by an elected representative of the city.

Once the case is taken over by NCW, the Karnataka State Commission has no right to go head with the inquiry, she said adding that Pramela Nisargi's dealing with the case was unlawful. She is now answerable to the commission on the entire issue, Ms Nirmala added.

UNI