Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar Is The New Chief Of The National Women Commission

Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), according to a government notification issued on Saturday.

"NCW is pleased to share that in pursuance of Section 3, NCW Act, 1990, the Central Government has nominated Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar as the Chairperson of National Commission for Women," the women's panel announced in a post on X.

Her appointment, made under Section 3 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, will be for a term of three years or until she turns 65, whichever comes first.

Rahatkar's tenure will take effect immediately, and the announcement will be formally published in the Gazette of India. In a post on X, the National Commission for Women (NCW) announced, "The NCW is pleased to share that, in pursuance of Section 3 of the NCW Act, 1990, the Central Government has nominated Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women."

Rahatkar succeeds Rekha Sharma, whose tenure ended on August 6. Reflecting on her time at the NCW, Sharma posted on X, "These nine years have been like a roller coaster ride for me. Coming from a humble background to completing three terms at the NCW has been a long journey."

Sharma first joined the NCW as a member in August 2015, later assuming additional responsibility as chairperson on September 29, 2017. She formally took charge in 2018.

Her farewell message highlighted the emotional moments that defined her tenure. "It wasn't just about achievements and new initiatives; it was about the invaluable learning experiences and the overwhelming love from women across India. I'll never forget the women in mental asylums who wouldn't stop hugging me, the elderly lady in the Vrindavan Ashram who embraced me like my mother, or the thousands of women in prison who shared their life stories with me. These memories will forever leave a mark on my heart," she shared.

In addition to Rahatkar's appointment, the government has also named new members to the NCW. Dr. Archana Majumdar has been appointed as a member for a period of three years, as per a notification from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.