Kohima: The National Commission for Women, in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Women, will organise district-level ‘Mahila Jan Sunwai’ public hearings across Nagaland from March 9 to 13 to provide women a direct platform to voice grievances and seek support.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, NSCW chairperson W Nginyeih Konyak said the initiative is aimed at enabling women to raise complaints and access institutional mechanisms for grievance redressal.
She said the outreach programme is designed to strengthen women’s access to justice by allowing them to report issues such as domestic violence, workplace harassment, denial of maternity benefits, abandonment, trafficking and other forms of gender-based injustice.
According to Konyak, the public hearings form part of a nationwide initiative to improve grievance redressal systems and raise awareness about women’s rights.
She said each hearing will be conducted by a dedicated bench comprising members of the NSCW, district administration officials, representatives of the District Legal Services Authority, police authorities, legal experts and protection officers.
The panel will provide on-the-spot hearing of complaints, legal guidance, registration of cases where required and ensure follow-up action within a stipulated time frame, she added.
Konyak also said women will be able to submit walk-in complaints during the hearings, allowing them to approach the panel directly without any prior registration.
She noted that the initiative aims to bridge gaps in institutional support by taking grievance redressal mechanisms directly to districts, particularly benefiting women in rural areas who often face challenges in accessing legal and administrative assistance.
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The programme will be conducted at the DC Conference Halls in 12 districts, beginning on Monday in Tuensang, Zunheboto, Tseminyu and Wokha. The hearings will be held in Mokokchung and Niuland on March 10, Chumoukedima on March 11, Longleng and Peren on March 12, and Mon, Kohima and Dimapur on March 13.
She added that the remaining five districts will also host Mahila Jan Sunwai programmes at later dates.
