Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar has been appointed as the 9th Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW). Known for her relentless efforts in advancing women’s rights, Rahatkar has led several transformative initiatives during her previous tenure as Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women from 2016 to 2021.
Among her key accomplishments are programs such as Sakshama, which provided support to acid attack survivors, and Prajwala, a scheme linking self-help groups to central government initiatives. She also spearheaded Suhita, a 24×7 helpline for women in distress. Additionally, she played a critical role in legal reforms surrounding issues like the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, anti-triple talaq measures, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. Her efforts in promoting digital literacy among women and launching the publication Saad, dedicated to women’s issues, earned widespread recognition.
She also held the position of Mayor of Chatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) from 2007 to 2010, where she led numerous infrastructure and healthcare development projects. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics and a master’s degree in History from the University of Pune, and has authored several books, including Vidhilikhit (on women’s legal rights) and Aurangabad: Leading to Wide Roads. Her contributions have been acknowledged with prestigious awards such as the National Law Award and the Savitribai Phule Award.
Alongside Rahatkar, Dr. Archana Majumdar has been appointed as a member of the NCW.
