National Commission for Women

Last updated: June 22nd, 2023

As per Section 10 (10) of the National Commission for Women Act, one of the functions of the National Commission for Women is to inspect or cause to be inspected jails, remand homes, women’s institutions or any other place of custody, where women are kept as prisoners, or otherwise and taken up with the concerned authorities for remedial action, if found necessary.  In order to assess and analyze the condition of women in custody, the Members of the Commission visited the following jails during the year 2015-16:

1. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Jail and Shelter Homes of Faridabad, Karnal and Chandigarh to inspect the condition of women inmates.
2. Ms. Laldingliani Sailo, Member, NCW visited Central Jail Guwahati, Assam  on 12^th September, 2015.  The conditions of the Central jail are bad, ther road is a ‘kuccha’ path with a ‘nalla’ and walls full of moss and grime growing in it. The conditions of the toilets are pathetic and non-usable.   
3. Ms. Sushma Sahu, Member, NCW visited Old Age Homes of Vrindavan, U.P from 9^th – 10^th September, 2015.
4. Smt. Preeti Madan, Member Secretary, NCW visited a jail in Shillong, East Khasi Hills district Meghalaya to inspect the condition of women inmates on 5^th October, 2015. She observed that that there were 10 women inmates and were dressed in clean dresses. There were rooms with attached toilets, however, no proper disposal mechanism for sanitary napkins. The kitchen had a cook and a doctor visited once every week.
5. Smt. Preeti Madan, Member Secretary, NCW visited a jail in Ahemdabad, Gujrat to inspect the condition of women inmates in December 2015. She observed that there was a beauty palour being run for women inmates, embroidery and mehendi is also being taught in jail to female inmates. There is also availability of medical facilities, legal facilities to the inmates.
6. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW accompanied with Sh. Praveen Sharma, Counselor, NCW visited Shelter home and Jail of Lucknow from 7^th – 9^th October, 2015 to inspect the condition of women inmates. She observed that there were 3040 inmates out of which 82 were females. There were 62 toilets for female inmates in good conditions.78 of there women were under-trials and 4 women were convicted. The jail had no training/ skill learning however, medical aid and legal aid were available.
7. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Government Psychiatric Hospitals and Meeting with DGP, West Bengal in Kolkata on 3-5^th November 2015.
8. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Varanasi and met the Senior Supdt. of Police, Varanasi and Secretary, District Legal Service Authority and she also visited Widow Ashram and Nari Niketan in Varanasi on 1^st – 3^rd December 2015.
9. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Govt. Hospital, Allahabad on10th December 2015.
10. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited NIMHANS, Kerala on 18^th to 21^st December 2015.
11. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Uttarakhand Nari Niketan for Inquiry with Inquiry team on 18^th – 19^th January 2016.
12. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Govt. Mental Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab from 1^st to 5^th February 2016.
13. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Jaipur Mahila Jail on 16-20 March 2016 where she observed that there was no greenry and that the inmates were locked up and the children of the inmates were not attending regular school.
14. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Member, NCW visited Rainbasera Shelter Home for inquiry with inquiry team on 31^st March 2016.
15. Member Rekha Sharma visited Government Mental Health Centre, Kozhikode, Kuthiravattom, Kerala in 18^th – 20^th December 2015 where she observed that there was poor hygiene, bed-ridden inmates were kept without proper medical assistance, there is a shortage of staff and specialists, hospital was slowing schoold children to have round of hospital and they are working as zoo animals.

The Jail Visit Reports were sent to the appropriate authorities for further necessary action. Some of the recommendations are stated below:

1. It is recommended that the Govt. should provide funds for cleaning material and equipments on regular basis.
2. The bathrooms and toilets should be upgraded by putting new fittings,
3. Basis cleaning equipments like acid, cleaning liquids, cloth etc should be provided for better toilet management.
4. The sewage pipes should be checked and if possible, replaced.
5. Proper provision for disposal of sanitary napkins should be made.
6. Basis grooming needs like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush etc should be adequately provided to the inmates.
7. Weekly visits of lady doctors should be organized.
8. A full-fledged infirmary should be created.
9. Provisions for recreation activities like indoor games and television.
10. A sanitary napkin vending machine should be installed for which the inmates could be given free tokens.
11. Crèche facilities should be made available.
12. There is a need for National Commission for women and other state commissions for women to interact more often with the Police and judicial officers for a continued dialogue on what are the constraints they encounter in processing such cases or in what they view the background/ circumstance of the women accused.
13. The convicts should obtain as a matter of right, all papers including the judicial pronouncements which form the basis of conviction.
14.  Legal Awareness Programmes should be regularly held for inmates to ensure legal education to them.
15. Fresh bed sheets, towels, pillow covers should be procured for hygienic living.