NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar's first Bengal visit: Women's safety, public hearings on agenda
Synopsis
For the first time since the BJP came to power in West Bengal, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar is landing in Kolkata for a three-day blitz — public hearings, a high-level police meet with DGP Siddh Nath Gupta, an anti-trafficking workshop with the BSF, and a state-level women's conclave. The visit is as much a policy audit as it is a political signal.
Key Takeaways
NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar arrives in Kolkata on Wednesday for a three-day visit — her first to West Bengal since the BJP came to power.
She will inaugurate the Bengal Women's Development Conclave ('Women-led Bengal') at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Rajarhat on 6 August .
Rahatkar will hold a high-level meeting with West Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta on women's safety.
For the first time in West Bengal, the NCW Chairperson will personally chair two public hearings — in Kolkata and Howrah — with walk-in complaints accepted.
A special anti-trafficking workshop will be held at BSF South Bengal Frontier headquarters in New Town, Kolkata on 7 August .
National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar is set to arrive in Kolkata on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, for a three-day visit to West Bengal — her first to the state since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power there, according to officials. The visit will focus on reviewing women's safety, strengthening legal awareness, and addressing human trafficking, with a packed schedule of meetings, workshops, and public hearings across Kolkata and Howrah.
Day One: Campus Outreach and Self-Help Groups
On arrival, Rahatkar will head directly to the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, where she will interact with students under the 'Campus Calling' programme. She will subsequently meet members of women's self-help groups at Dhandhanya Auditorium and participate in the 'She Serves' programme at the National Library.
Day Two: Bengal Women's Conclave and High-Level Police Meet
On 6 August, Rahatkar will inaugurate the Bengal Women's Development Conclave, titled 'Women-led Bengal', at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Rajarhat. Later the same day, she will preside over a public hearing in Kolkata, where women can directly file complaints — a first for an NCW Chairperson in West Bengal, according to the Commission.
The day will conclude with a high-level meeting on women's safety involving West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta and senior police officials. This engagement signals an intent to align the NCW's findings with law-enforcement action on the ground.
Day Three: Howrah Workshop and BSF Anti-Trafficking Session
On 7 August, the NCW chief will participate in a training workshop at Sarat Sadan in Howrah and meet district administration and police officials. She is also scheduled to address a special workshop on prevention of human trafficking at the headquarters of the Border Security Force's (BSF) South Bengal Frontier in New Town, Kolkata.
This comes amid ongoing national concern over trafficking networks in border districts of West Bengal, which the BSF and NCW have both flagged as high-risk zones in previous assessments.
Public Hearings: A First for West Bengal
The NCW has confirmed that, for the first time in West Bengal, the Commission's Chairperson will personally chair two women's public hearings — one in Kolkata and one in Howrah on Friday, 8 August. Walk-in complaints will be accepted at both venues, lowering the barrier for women who may not have previously engaged with formal grievance channels.
The broader aim of the visit, according to the NCW, is to reinforce institutional mechanisms for women's safety and make the complaint redressal process more effective and accessible across the state.
Significance of the Visit
Notably, this marks the first time an NCW Chairperson has visited West Bengal since the BJP's electoral victory in the state. The timing — amid sustained national debate over gender-based violence and trafficking — lends the visit additional political and policy weight. How the state administration responds to the NCW's findings and recommendations is expected to be closely watched by women's rights groups and opposition parties alike.
Point of View
Particularly along the BSF South Bengal Frontier, is well-documented; whether a three-day schedule translates into follow-through action or remains a headline exercise is the real question.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar visiting West Bengal?
Rahatkar is visiting West Bengal to review women's safety, increase legal awareness, and address human trafficking, with meetings, workshops, and public hearings planned across Kolkata and Howrah from 5 to 7 August 2025. It is her first visit to the state since the BJP came to power there.
What is the Bengal Women's Development Conclave?
The Bengal Women's Development Conclave, titled 'Women-led Bengal', is a state-level event being inaugurated by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on 6 August at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in Rajarhat, Kolkata. It is part of the NCW's broader push to strengthen institutional frameworks for women's welfare in West Bengal.
How can women file complaints during the NCW public hearings?
Women can directly raise complaints at two public hearings — one in Kolkata and one in Howrah — on Friday, 8 August. Walk-in complaints will also be accepted, making it accessible without prior registration.
Who will Vijaya Rahatkar meet from the West Bengal police?
Rahatkar is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting with West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta and senior police officials on 6 August to discuss women's safety in the state.
What is the significance of the BSF anti-trafficking workshop?
The workshop at BSF South Bengal Frontier headquarters in New Town, Kolkata, on 7 August addresses human trafficking along West Bengal's border districts — an area the NCW and BSF have previously identified as high-risk. It signals a coordinated approach between the Commission and border security forces.
