Vijaya Rahatkar Appointed NCW Chairperson

In October 2024, Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar was appointed as the ninth chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), succeeding Rekha Sharma, for tenure of three years or until she turns 65.

Ms. Rahatkar's appointment, made under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, was confirmed by an official order and will take effect immediately, as notified by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Alongside her, Archana Majumdar has been named as a new member of the NCW for a similar three-year term, according to the same ministry notification.
Ms. Rahatkar brings experience from her tenure as chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, where she initiated support programmes for acid attack survivors and helpline services for women.
She has actively worked on legal reforms related to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, anti-human trafficking units, and launched digital literacy initiatives for women.
Ms. Rahatkar, an author and former mayor of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, has been recognized with awards such as the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award for her contributions to women's empowerment.