Kochi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson, Vijaya Rahatkar on Tuesday held a meeting with the Internal Commission for Women (NCW) of the government departments to review their functioning and ensure they are not merely on paper.

Rahatkar, who is on a three-day visit to Kerala, told media here that along with the meeting, efforts were also made to complete the training of the members of the ICCs properly and Local Complaints Committees (LCC) set up under the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.

"This was done to ensure that the committees do not just remain on paper and function effectively. We also told them it was compulsory to work in accordance with the law. I am sure they will benefit from the review meeting and the training," she said.

Providing details of her other activities during the day, the NCW chief stated that a 'Jan Sunwai' or public hearing was held at the Collectorate Conference Hall here to address several complaints received from women who found it difficult to approach the commission's head office in Delhi.

Rahatkar said that the commission received 36 complaints, of which 31 were resolved or closed, while five remain pending. She added that the objective behind the public hearing was to provide relief to women and such efforts will continue.

The NCW chief said that the women's commission in Kerala was working effectively. Later in the day, she visited the One Stop Centre for women at Kakkanad here, as the NCW has the authority to inspect such institutions, assess their operations, and submit a report to the government.