Miffed with Karnataka government, women’s commission chief quits

Manjula C, whose appointment as chairperson of the State Women Commission had raised many eyebrows, submitted her resignation to chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Thursday  citing non-cooperation  by  the state government as the main reason for her decision.

Manjula, in her letter, said she was compelled to travel by bus and train across the state for 10 months of her two-year career due to lack of an office vehicle. “I have been  working with commitment and dedication despite all these drawbacks. I am disappointed with the state government’s inaction over the 19 rape incidents that took place after the recent New Delhi rape case. I have been facing embarrassment  from media due to the government’s negligence towards the State Women Commission’s recommendations. I am also not happy with the function organised to launch Abhaya vehicles on Wednesday as they did not invite people who have been working for the welfare of women,’’ Manjula said.

She said that the state government had neglected State Women Commission’s recommendation for the rehabilitation of Asha, a victim of sexual harassment who was thrown out of a running train in Mandya district.

“The state government had also neglected State Women Commission’s report on missing girls. On January 20, I had announced  to a TV channel about my decision to quit from the post. I had even prepared suitable recommendations for the inclusion in the State Budget for the safety of women in the state but the government did not invite me for pre-budget discussion. I will consider it as an embarrassment for me. The government, which is ever ready to discuss farmers’ issues with farmers’ leaders, had neglected the State Women Commission that has been working for  the welfare of three crore women in the state,’’ she said.

Stating that she does not want to spend time without any purpose at the State Women Commission office premises, she said: “I am bidding goodbye by forwarding the suggestions made at a state-level workshop held on January 10’’.

Meanwhile, the president of the Karnataka State Women Congress Committee Manjula Naidu said the resignation of Manjula came too late. “Manjula should have resigned for submitting a biased interim report on the home stay attack. She has no power to submit a biased report,’’ Manjula said.

Expressing similar opinion, Sushma Varma, member, Mahila Samana Vedhike, said there should not be political appointment for the post of State Women Commission’s chairperson. “I am against political appointments for chairperson posts of any commission. The selection of the candidate for Women Commission should be on quality and certainly not on political affiliations,’’  Sushma said.