‘Women as misogynistic as men’

After the incident where members of the Rajasthan women’s commission were caught taking a selfie with a rape victim, guidelines on how to deal with such cases are in the offing. Speaking to this newspaper, NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said that the commission is also determined to undertake training on gender senstitisation for “misogynistic” men and women working in state commissions.

Saying that in India, it is not just men who are misogynists, but women also, the chairperson said that training for gender sensitisation will go a long way to help. “It is good to undergo training, especially for gender sentitisation, because it is not just men who are misogynists, but women also. Women in India are conditioned in a particular way so it’s a reconditioning or deconditioning that has to be done. Therefore training needs to be given. They should know the dos and don’ts of the job. We need to look at it in a very professional and empathetic way,” she told this newspaper.

To help members act professionally, the NCW will soon come out with the guidelines. “Most people don’t know much about the governmental procedures. We have seen varied levels of competence, so it is necessary to give training to the members. We will also form guidelines which may be given to them so that they act professionally. The term at commissions is only three years and every three years you get a new bunch, therefore it is necessary to have certain guidelines which can be followed by everyone working in the commission. After the Rajasthan incident, we are determined to undertake training of state commissions so they know their duties well,” she further said.

The NCW had earlier issued a notice to the Rajasthan state commissioner for women for clicking selfie with the rape survivor. Both , the chairperson of the state commission Suman Sharma and member Somya Gurjar were summoned by the NCW, after which Ms Gurjar resigned and Ms Sharma is expected to meet the NCW chairperson on Monday.

The “insensitive” act came to fore at the time when the NCW is demanding an apology from Bollywood actor Salman Khan over “raped woman” comment.

“Bitterly ashamed” NCW chairperson said stated act of Rajasthan commission members as “much worse” than Salman. “If you ask me they are much worse, because these are the people who are actually appointed to protect the interest of women. Both cases shouldn’t be compared because they are two different types of mistakes. But I am bitterly ashamed about the incident,” she added further.