305 Women’s Complaints Resolved in Pune During 3-Day Public Hearings by State Commission
Pune, 17th April 2025: In a significant outreach initiative titled “Mahila Aayog Aplya Dari” (Women’s Commission at Your Doorstep), the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission conducted a district-wide tour of Pune from April 15 to 17, addressing 305 women’s complaints through public hearings. The campaign was led by Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, with a mission to provide accessible justice to women in their own localities.
Recognizing Pune’s vast geographical spread, the commission organized hearings in three distinct regions over three consecutive days. On April 15, 123 complaints were heard in Pune city. The following day, April 16, 87 cases were addressed in Pune rural. The initiative concluded in Pimpri Chinchwad on April 17, with 95 grievances taken up, bringing the total to 305 complaints acted upon in just three days.
Chairperson Rupali Chakankar and Commission Member Secretary Nandini Aode personally participated in the hearings, ensuring swift coordination with district authorities and support systems.
On-the-Spot Support and Counseling
“The Women’s Commission office is based in Mumbai, but not every woman can travel that far due to financial, social, or personal constraints,” said Chakankar. “That’s why we take the Commission to their doorstep — to listen, understand, and help.”
Chakankar emphasized the strength of the model, where officials from the police department, district administration, legal services, and social welfare bodies are present during the hearings. This enables real-time redressal of issues such as domestic violence, workplace harassment, financial fraud, and family disputes.
“Many cases involved broken families. We tried to reconnect them through counseling for the woman, husband, and in-laws. In other cases, we offered legal guidance and immediate police intervention,” she added.
Focus on Women’s Safety and Institutional Accountability
Beyond the hearings, the Commission also conducted a detailed review meeting with departments including the police, education, health, and labor. The objective was to assess existing support systems, monitor scheme implementation, and instruct departments on corrective measures.
Among the directions issued by Chairperson Chakankar were:
Display of clear information boards at charitable hospitals
Mandatory formation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) at workplaces
Strengthened action plans to prevent child marriage
Regular school visits by Damini squads for increased safety awareness
A Ground-Level Approach to Women’s Justice
This proactive effort by the Women’s Commission underscores a growing shift toward decentralized grievance redressal — prioritizing field engagement, community participation, and faster action over bureaucratic delays.
महिला आयोग आपल्या दारी, पुण्यात तीन दिवसात ३०५ तक्रारींची जनसुनावणी
By stepping beyond Mumbai and into districts like Pune, the Commission is not only offering justice — it’s rebuilding trust among women who often struggle to navigate legal and administrative systems on their own.
