NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar reviews women inmates' facilities at Tihar Jail
Synopsis
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar's inspection of Tihar Jail — covering crèches, skill labs, and counselling rooms — puts a spotlight on whether India's largest prison is genuinely reforming conditions for women, or merely showcasing model facilities.
Key Takeaways
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visited Tihar Jail on Saturday, 10 May 2025 to review facilities for women inmates.
Facilities inspected included a crèche , fashion lab , skill training centre , digital learning room , and counselling room .
Rahatkar called Tihar a
National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visited Tihar Jail in New Delhi on Saturday to inspect facilities for women inmates and underscored the importance of ensuring their dignity, safety, mental health, and rehabilitation — marking one of the most senior-level reviews of women's conditions at India's largest prison complex in recent months.
What Rahatkar Inspected
During the visit, Rahatkar conducted an extensive tour of the jail premises, covering barracks and cells for women inmates, a crèche facility for children living with incarcerated mothers, a fashion lab, a sewing and skill training centre, a digital learning room, recreational facilities, the kitchen, medical facilities, and a counselling room. Senior prison officials present included Director General (Prisons) Anand Mohan, Deputy Inspector General Kuldeep Singh, and Superintendent Amita Suman.
What the NCW Chief Said
Rahatkar commended Tihar's administration, stating,
Point of View
Legal aid delays, mental health understaffing — that define the average woman inmate's experience. The crèche and skill lab are genuine positives, but India's prison reform discourse has long been better at showcasing infrastructure than at measuring rehabilitation outcomes. The NCW's follow-through — whether recommendations translate into binding directives or remain suggestions — will be the real test of this visit's value.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visit Tihar Jail?
Rahatkar visited Tihar Jail on Saturday to review the living conditions, welfare measures, and rehabilitation facilities available to women inmates. The visit was aimed at assessing skill development programmes, mental health support, and the overall safety and dignity of incarcerated women.
What facilities did Rahatkar inspect at Tihar Jail?
She inspected women's barracks and cells, a crèche for children living with inmates, a fashion lab, a sewing and skill training centre, a digital learning room, recreational spaces, the kitchen, medical facilities, and a counselling room.
What did Rahatkar say about Tihar Jail's prison reforms?
Rahatkar commended Tihar's administration, saying, 'From the perspective of prison reforms, Tihar is functioning as a model jail.' She also emphasised the continued need to ensure dignity, safety, mental health support, and rehabilitation opportunities for all women inmates.
Did Rahatkar visit any other facility during this period?
Yes, prior to the Tihar visit, Rahatkar visited the One Stop Centre at KEM Hospital in Parel, Mumbai, which serves women affected by violence. She interacted with staff and offered suggestions to improve the centre's services.
Who were the prison officials present during the NCW chief's Tihar visit?
Director General (Prisons) Anand Mohan, Deputy Inspector General Kuldeep Singh, and Superintendent Amita Suman were among the officials present during Rahatkar's inspection of Tihar Jail.
