Mumbai: In a progressive step, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women has constituted a Cyber Committee to oversee harassment of women on social media through trolls or objectionable posts. The committee would be recommending methods to curb online harassment of women.
The commissioner has decided to set up such a committee after taking cognizance of the rising cases of women harassment on social media. The commission has considered the fact that some miscreants put up objectionable posts or some even troll women who are active on social media outlets.
Vijaya Rahatkar, the chief of Women’s Commission, said that the Committee has been set up only after considering the rising number of complaints with the Commission pertaining to the online harassment.
“Such harassment obviously makes an impact on the mental and physical health of the women. So, we felt the need to bring in some guidelines or norms so that the online trollers and miscreants are deterred by the law. Thus, this Committee has been constituted and it will study the entire issue and come up with recommendations as soon as possible,” Rahatkar told reporters.
The first meeting of this Committee would be held on May 8, under the chairmanship of Rahatkar.
According to a press statement issued by the Commission, the Cyber Committee would be headed by IPS officer and Special Inspector General of Cyber Crime cell – Brijesh Singh. The Committee would also have Vinita Ved, the Secretary of Women and Child Welfare Ministry, DCP Rashmi Karandikar and Advocate Vaishali Bhagwat, as their members. The other members of the Committee are social workers, journalists and other officials of the State police force.