'Tortures inflicted on us reflect our hard work, dedication'

In light of the AAP's success story in the Capital, it is also pertinent to highlight achievements of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) that has rendered unflinching support to the newbie party, making it easy for the latter to frame and implement goals set in order to provide impetus to good governance.

The Commission has been very successful in building a tremendous coordination with the government and work hand-in-hand to upgrade lives of the residents of the city along with the Delhi government. The DCW has brought in hope for several women suffering from domestic abuse, violence, rape, sexual harassment and unending apathy.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal has spearheaded a movement in this direction, refusing to let any controversy come her way. It was then on July 18, 2015, when Maliwal was appointed as the chief of DCW and she made sure to effectively bring up the issues and highlight them that gave a clear picture in front of the AAP government and more opportunity and areas where it could expand its sphere of work.

Speaking to Millennium Post, Swati Maliwal elaborated on the achievements of the Commission and said: "I have been awarded 2 FIRs, 3 audits of the Commission and we have been not given salaries as well." She added: "All these are awards as in the entire country we do not have any Commission which would have been subjected to such tortures and all this is reflective of the good work that we are doing."

The Commission's present effective work includes dealing with 12,000 cases in a year and issuing 3,500 notices to Delhi Police, making 55 recommendations to the Central and state government and 7,500 field visits coupled with 4 new programmes and 1,869 counselling sessions.

The Commission has been working 24x7 and has come up with a systematic and well-organised structure. On the condition of the Commission when she was appointed, she said: "Initially, there were no working computers, less staff which was not trained and most importantly there were no proper processes inside the Commission.

We gathered all information and started working. Every day was a new day for us and today with all our dedication, we have set up systems and are working good." The Commission's visit to GB Road, Asha Kiran Home, Asha Jyoti Home and beggar home proved to be extremely fruitful for its inmates.

Further, Maliwal with her team has extended assistance to a lot of rape victims in the city along with visiting hospitals having those who have faced severe brutality. "Unlike before where the complaints remained pending for over six months, the DCW now initiates the first action against a complaint within 72 hours of registration by the complainant.

Also, 181 helpline is connected to vehicles appointed by the Commission that has a counsellor and roam round the clock to rescue women in distress." Maliwal added: "One can imagine the pendency of cases here as in the last eight years only one case was taken up."

She further stated: "Our staff work full-time and even on Saturdays." The DCW has provided remunerations to victims of acid attacks, rapes, domestic violence and the like. It is presently fighting on three major aspects — fighting crime, fighting apathy within the system and ward off the attacks faced by the Commission for its good work and success.