Discuss the crucial role played by the National Commission of Women in shaping the discourse on gender-sensitive laws in India. To what extent the elevation of the National Commission for Women to a constitutional body would reinforce its authority?

National commission for Women is a statutory body that was recommended by Standing committee on Women Institutions Role of National Commission of Women: 1) Identifying the policy loopholes for the protection and empowerment of women eg: burial role in adoption and implementation of Poshran 8.0, Lesbain Adhao, PM-Matri Vandana Yojana etc. 2) Petitions supported by NCW has led to many significant judgements.

eg: Visakha Guidelines, 2013 - Guidelines for prevention of sexual harassment at work. 3) Support to women's protests and movements eg: recent women's protest against sexual harassment. 4) Analysis of various policies from women's point of view. eg: VCC => demand for codification of personal law. Unalleleges 1) Dependent on central govt. grants => lack of financial autonomy. 2) Lack of diverse representation from women of various backgrounds. 3) Negligent politicisation of issues. 4) Rambunctious pace of progress. 5) recommendations are non-binding. Elevating NCW to a constitutional body can help resolve these challenges:

constitutional status 1) Increase authority => powers of a civil court for efficient adjudication of disputes. 2) suo-moto inquiry into complaints of various sexual harassment cases eg: recent manipur tragedy 3) Neutral sources of funding => use reliance on government grants. 4) Increase transparency, accountability and diversity of representation. However, only giving constitutional status will not fulfill the mandate as structural merger are required, with performance-based review and auditing mechanisms. Inclusion of women from rural areas, low caste, poor women etc. to actively identify areas of challenges and dispute resolution.

— RITIKA