The Nagaland State Commission for Women is a statutory body, constituted by the State Government under the Nagaland Women Commission Act 2006, vides Govt. Notification No. Law/Act218/2006, dated Kohima the 30th November 2006, and was formally inaugurated by the then Governor of Nagaland Shri. K. Sankaranarayanan on 28th March 2007. The Commission started functioning from Red Cross Complex, Kohima and is now located at NBCC Complex, Bayavü Hill, Kohima, since May 2014.

The Government of Nagaland in its endeavor to protect Naga women has already enacted Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which came into force from 26th Oct 2006, for protection of women from domestic violence.

Grants by the State Government:

As per provision of the Act 2006 at section 12, the State Government provides a fixed Grant-in-Aid annually for the Commission. Initially the Nodal Department for the Commission was Women Development, but vide Government Notification NO.WRD/NSCW-1/2/2014 dated 25th June 2014, it has been brought under the Social Welfare Department.

 

Main Activities of the Commission 

The Commission has been engaged mainly with sensitization efforts since its inception:

  1. About Women/Girls’ Legal Rights under the Constitution
  2. About access to legal authorities for redressal of grievances
  3. About health issues, especially HIV/AIDS
  4. Safe and healthy delivery and post-natal care
  5. Need to demand participation in decision-making bodies of society
  6. Need to demand a safe environment within the family by resisting and reporting domestic violence
  7. Need to demand equal share of inheritance
  8. Documentation of Traditional Practices relating to women.

Powers of the Commission :

Under the NWC Act No. 6 of 2006: 

Section 6 (1) : While performing functions under section 5 of this Act, involving investigation and inquiry, the Commission shall have the powers of a civil court trying a suit and, in particular, in respect of the following matters:

  1. Summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person from any part of India examining him on oath.
  2. Requiring the discovery and production of any documents
  3. Receiving evidence on affidavits
  4. Requisitioning any public record of copy thereof from any court or office
  5. Issuing Commission for the examination of witnesses and documents, and
  6. Any other matter which may be prescribed.

Clause (2): The Commission may for the purpose of conducting investigations and inquiry under this Act, utilize the services of any officer of the State Government with its prior approval.
Clause (3) : The other procedural details in regard to conduct of investigations and inquiries under this Act shall, as far as possible, be as same as the procedure followed by a Civil Court and may also, if found necessary, further be prescribed by rules to be made by the State Government.

 

Procedure at the meetings of Commission: 

Section 7

(1): The Commission shall meet at the time and place the Chairperson in consultation with other members and Member-Secretary, decides.  

(2): Notice for meetings shall be issued by the Member-Secretary to all concerned at least seven days in advance, except in the case of emergency meetings which may be called at shorter notice. 

(3): Decisions at the meetings shall be by majority 

(4): The other details of procedure that may be followed by the Commission shall be such may be prescribed by rules to be made by the State Government.