Swati Maliwal

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Swati Maliwal
Delhi
Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women
In office
July 2015 – 19 January 2024
Personal details
Born (1984-10-15) 15 October 1984 (age 39)
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Political partyAam Aadmi Party
Residence(s)New Delhi, India
ProfessionPolitician, Activist

Swati Maliwal (born 15 October 1984) is a Social Activist and a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Delhi. She was the former chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) for 9 years, she was the youngest Chief of DCW.

Before joining DCW, Maliwal worked as the advisor to the

Chief Minister
of Delhi on public grievances.

Maliwal was a core member of the Indian Against Corruption movement led by social activist Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal. After the formation of the Arvind Kejriwal government in 2015, Maliwal was appointed the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women. She is elected as a member of Rajyasabha in January 2024.[1]

Personal life

Maliwal was born in

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on 15 October 1984.[2]
Her father was an Airforce officer and her mother is a retired school Principal. [3] She has also been vocal about facing domestic abuse at the hands of her father, leading to a troubled childhood.[4] She went to Amity International School and then received a bachelor's degree in Information Technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education.[2] She turned down a job offer from HCL, after that she joined the NGO "Parivartan" along with Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.

Foray into Activism

Joining Parivartan, the NGO of Arvind Kejriwal ,[5] was a difficult step, since her family was run by a single mother.

However, Maliwal dedicated the next decade of her life to grassroots activism, aiding slum dwellers on issues ranging from procuring ration to fighting against gendered violence. From the age of 21, Maliwal also took up residence in a slum in Sunder Nagri, to experience the conditions there first-hand. [6]

She also travelled to Bihar during massive floods and lived in relief camps, mobilising resources for those affected by the disaster. [7]

Contribution in the passage of the ‘Right to Information Bill[8]

Ms. Maliwal and Mr. Kejriwal first came into the limelight for their contribution in the passage of the ‘Right to Information Bill’, which improved the accountability of the government.

India Against Corruption Movement

Maliwal was the youngest member of the core committee that organised the

Aam Admi Party. [10]

Delhi Commission for Women

Following her grassroots activism, Maliwal was appointed as Chairperson of

Aam Admi Party
in 2024.

During her tenure, DCW handled over 1.7 lakh cases of domestic violence, rape, acid attack and other crimes against women. [13] This is an exponential 700 per cent increase from the previous Chairperson's workload. [14]

Under Ms. Maliwal’s leadership, DCW launched flagship programs such as the 181 Women’s Helpline providing 24/7, on-site intervention to distressed women. The helpline has attended to 4 million calls over 8 years. [15]

Another novel initiative is the Mahila Panchayat program, operational at the grassroots level, it facilitates dispute resolution and educates women about their rights. Over 8 years, Mahila Panchayats have organised more than 50,000 community meetings. [16]

Hunger Strikes & Advocacy"

In 2018, she went on a 10-day hunger strike which started on 13 April.[17][18] She had several demands, including the passage of an ordinance requiring the death penalty for individuals who rape children under age 12, recruiting police under United Nations standards and demanding accountability of the police.[17] Maliwal published an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[19] Her strike took place during a series of protests surrounding two alleged rapes of girls ages 16 and 8.[18]

In 2019, following the gangrape of a Doctor in Hyderabad,[20] Ms. Maliwal sat on another hunger strike. This time she demanded expedited justice to survivors of rape, the correct utilisation of Nirbhaya Fund and additional police resources. [21] She ended her strike when the Andhra Pradesh government passed the 'Disha Bill',[22] echoing most of her demands.

Ms. Maliwal also played a pivotal role in the passage of the

Nirbhaya, gang-rape case. Due to the absence of a law, the Court was unable to prevent his release. However, the public mobilisation sparked DCW's efforts, led to the immediate passage of the law, which allowed minors from the ages of 16-18 years, to be tried as adults in case of heinous crimes. [23]

Setting up of Special Task Force

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) approached the Hon’ble Delhi High Court in December 2016. This led to the constitution of a 'Special Task Force on Women Safety in Delhi, chaired by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to discuss urgent women’s issues in the capital. [24]

Visit to Violence Hit Manipur & Intervention in other states

In the wake of unprecedented ethnic violence in Manipur, Ms. Swati Maliwal and DCW member Ms. Vandana Singh, visited the riot-torn state, in July 2023. [25]

They were triggered by a video that depicted an alleged brutal mob-sexual assault of two women there. [26] Going out of its jurisdiction, the Commission offered assistance to the Manipur Government, to curb violence against women. The State Government however refused help and even urged them to postpone their visit, due to “law and order” concerns. [27] Undeterred, Ms. Swati Maliwal and Ms. Vandana Singh went ahead with their visit, at great risk to their lives. Without any security, they reached the remote Churachandpur, the epicentre of the violence. Here, they visited relief camps, meeting various women displaced by the riots. She even met the families of the survivors from the video and noted down their demands.[28]

Subsequently, Ms. Swati Maliwal sent 24 interim recommendations to the President of India, urging immediate action. These recommendations included the imposition of President's rule, the establishment of a Special Investigation Team, a CBI enquiry, legal and counselling aid to survivors, among others. [29] She also reprimanded the Home Minister and Prime Minister, as they had failed to visit the state.

DCW has often gone beyond its jurisdiction and intervened in other states. In November 2020, the ex-Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, commended DCW's work, in rescuing girls from traffickers in Jharkhand. He then ensured the return of 45 such survivors from the shelter homes of Delhi to Jharkhand and ensured their rehabilitation. [30]

Protests

Ms. Maliwal has also led several protests and campaigns to advocate for women’s rights and safety.

In 2019, she led thousands of women on a 13-day long march on foot, called Padyatra. The women contingent covered crime-prone areas of Delhi to raise awareness about gender-based violence among local communities, register grievances on the spot and highlight lacunae in the security of women in these interior areas. They covered a distance of more than 300 kms and were joined by women from all backgrounds. [31] [32] In West Delhi, several women brandished rolling pins or belans, in a show of strength against domestic violence.[33]

The Delhi Commission for Women also launched the Rape Roko(stop rape) movement in 2018, following the brutal rape of an eight-month-old girl in the capital. The campaign garnered remarkable global support, with over 5.5 lakh people writing to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India within 30 days, advocating for time-bound stringent punishment for rapists of children. [34]

Another key movement was the Satyagraha undertaken by Ms. Maliwal in November 2017 and again in February 2018, to bring attention to increasing rapes of young girls in the capital. She lived in her office for 30 days and worked around-the-clock to assist survivors and conduct inspections at railway stations and bus stops at night. [35]

Police Reforms

When Ms. Maliwal had just joined as Chairperson of DCW, she had sought data from the Delhi police on the crimes against women in the capital. However, the police had repeatedly refused to share it with her. In a historic move, Ms. Maliwal summoned the Police Commissioner, forcing him to share the requisite information. [36]

Over the years, DCW has issued countless notices to the Delhi Police regarding registration of FIRs and conduction of proper investigation. In 2023, Swati Maliwal took suo motu cognisance in the Death of Anjali Singh. The 20-year old resident of Kanjhawla in Delhi, was hit by a car and thereafter dragged on the streets of Delhi for 12 km. Despite repeated calls to the police by an eyewitness, help allegedly did not show up. Ms. Maliwal wrote to the Union Home Secretary, calling for an urgent increase in police officers, fixing accountability of the police, the need for increased surveillance in the form of PCR vehicles and the setting up of a committee on women's safety involving various stakeholders. [37] Subsequently, 11 police officers were suspended by the Union Home Ministry.[38]

DCW has time and again demanded for an increase in accountability of police officers. In 2016, based on a petition by the commission, the Hon'ble Delhi High Court directed all police stations in the city to install CCTV cameras on their premises. This directive was extended nationwide by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 2020, emphasising night vision and audio recording capabilities for enhanced transparency. [39] The Delhi Government subsequently established the 'State Level Oversight Committee' to supervise the installation process, with DCW Member Firdaus Khan serving as a committee member. [40]

Following recommendations by Ms. Maliwal, Delhi police officers also wear body cameras while on duty, to improve their accountability and reduce chances of misconduct. [41]

Fighting Trafficking and Rescue Operations

Swati Maliwal has advocated strongly against the commercial sexual exploitation of young girls. Since assuming office she has conducted numerous raids in Delhi's red-light district, Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi, or GB road. She has issued summons to 125 brothel owners and has called for a complete closure of the area. [42] Her team has rescued over 2,500 women and children from the clutches of traffickers and illegal confinement. [43]

In a notable case, DCW rescued 39 Nepali girls from potential trafficking to Gulf countries from a hotel in Paharganj. [44] In an unfortunate case, DCW also rescued a 7-year-old girl from a brothel in GB road. [45]

In September 2019, DCW received complaints about sex rackets operating under the guise of spa and massage parlours. Taking swift action, Ms.Maliwal and members of DCW, conducted raids across spas in Delhi, rescuing numerous girls and busting sex rackets. [46]

At the behest of the Commission, several FIRs were filed against illegal spa owners and many were arrested. The Commission summoned senior police and MCD officers and sought their accountability in the matter. [47] The subsequent fact-finding report and recommendations, submitted to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, led to the constitution of a task force and guidelines for regulating spa and massage centres in Delhi. [48]

Empowering Sexual Assault Survivors

Ms. Maliwal set up the Crisis Intervention Centre (CIC) and Rape Crisis Cell (RCC) in DCW, to provide a holistic range of services to survivors, ranging from medical attention, to legal support and counselling. RCC lawyers have aided survivors in 1,97,479 hearings, across Delhi’s courts. [49]

Understanding the importance of victim compensation in empowering and rehabilitating survivors, in a rare move, Ms. Maliwal, accorded a 5-year-old rape survivor Rs. 25 lakh compensation. [50] DCW also played a pivotal role in revising the 'Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme' from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh for sexual assault survivors. [51]

Apart from monetary support, Ms. Maliwal has visited countless survivors to provide them on-the-spot assistance. In 2018, when the sexual assault of a minor girl in Unnao by a member of the government shook the entire nation, Swati Maliwal and Member Vandana Singh travelled to Lucknow and stayed with her in the hospital for 4 days. They campaigned for justice and ensured that she was airlifted to Delhi for better healthcare. [52]

She has also partnered with various organisations to rehabilitate survivors by providing them admission in schools, gainful employment and vocational training.

Tackling Acid Violence

Ms. Maliwal has been at the forefront of assisting acid attack survivors and advocating for a complete ban on the retail sale of acid.

In 2016, DCW undertook surprise inspections in 30 shops to discover whether acid was easily available. Out of 30, 23 shops were openly selling acid, in direct violation of the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. DCW submitted recommendations regarding the same to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi, calling for an immediate ban on acid sale. [53] Again, in September 2019, DCW conducted joint raids with local SDMs over a period of 10 days, collecting a whopping 1,000 litres of concentrated acid![54]

During an inspection of a public toilet in Daryaganj, Ms. Maliwal and her team uncovered 50 litres of acid, lying there, being used to clean the bathroom. Ms. Maliwal promptly issued a notice to MCD, highlighting the dangers of freely available acid. Following this, MCD banned the use of acid to clean public toilets in Delhi. [55] DCW played a pivotal role in holding e-commerce platforms like Flipkart and Amazon accountable and banning them from selling acid. [56]

DCW has also gone above and beyond to rehabilitate acid attack survivors. Since 2015, the Commission has hired 15 survivors on a contractual basis, becoming the first government department to prioritise their employment. The Commission also helps in university admissions and skill training of survivors. [57]

Ms. Maliwal was instrumental in ensuring free treatment to acid attack survivors in Delhi Government hospitals. [58]

Combatting Cyber-Crime

The DCW, under Ms. Maliwal has been pro-active in tackling the increasing threats of cyber-crime and online harassment of women.

The Commission has taken swift action against the online trolling and abuse faced by Gurmehar Kaur, the daughter of a Kargil War martyr in 2017,[59] and rape threats to cricketer Virat Kohli's toddler in 2022,[60] leading to arrests in both cases.

In September 2022, Ms.Maliwal, took a strong stance against posts depicting child pornography and rape videos on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). Summoning the X India Policy Head and Delhi Police, she sought an FIR in the matter. [61] The Commission's swift actions prompted global companies to suspend campaigns on X, demonstrating its impact on a larger scale. [62]


Member of Rajya Sabha

She was elected as a member of

Aam Admi Party.[63]

References

  1. ^ "AAP members Sanjay Singh, Swati Maliwal and ND Gupta elected to Rajya Sabha". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Krishna, Srikanth (20 August 2018). "Who is Swati Maliwal and why is she on indefinite hunger strike?". IB Times. International Business Times. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Lady Singham or Drama Queen? How 'Reluctant' Neta Swati Maliwal is Set to Change AAP's Rajya Sabha Fortunes". News18. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Sexually abused by my father when I was a child: DCW chief Swati Maliwal". The Indian Express. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Who is DCW chief Swati Maliwal nominated for Rajya Sabha by AAP?". DNA India. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  6. ^ "DCW Chief Swati Maliwal is all for a change". India Today.
  7. ^ "Muzaffarpur shelter abuse case: Wouldn't you have taken action if any of the victims was your daughter, DCW chief asks Nitish". Indian Express. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  8. ^ "DCW chief Swati Maliwal is all for a change". India Today. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
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  10. ^ "Anti Corruption movement a watershed in India". Live Mint. 13 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Swati Maliwal Takes Charge as DCW Chief". The Pioneer. 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 October 2018.
  12. ^ Safi, Michael (5 May 2017). "Her pain should be our pain': the woman tackling Delhi's rape crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Delhi Commission for Women dealt with over 1.7 lakh cases under Swati Maliwal, says report". The Indian Express. 6 January 2024.
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  15. ^ "Delhi Commission for Women highlights transformative efforts under leadership of chairperson Swati Maliwal". Millennium Post. 6 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Delhi Commission for Women highlights transformative efforts under leadership of chairperson Swati Maliwal". Millennium Post. 6 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b "DCW chief Swati Maliwal ends hunger strike after 10 days". Indian Express. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Indian women's commissioner on hunger strike over rape laws". Manveena Suri. CNN. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  19. ^ "Swati Maliwal: Call to speed up child rape executions in India". BBC News. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Hyderabad rape-murder: Main accused dodged officials hours before crime". The Times of India. 2 December 2019.
  21. ^ "DCW chief Swati Maliwal sits on hunger strike; demands capital punishment for rapists". The Hindu. 3 December 2019.
  22. ^ Tripathi, Rahul (24 February 2020). "Centre goes through AP Disha Bill to ensure conformity with law". The Economic Times.
  23. ^ "Midnight Drama to Halt Juvenile Release: SC to Hear Plea on 21st". The Quint. 21 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Special task force for women safety reconstituted : Delhi High Court". Indian Express. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  25. ^ "DCW chief Maliwal meets families of women stripped, paraded in Manipur". Business Standard.
  26. ^ "In Manipur Horror, 2 Women Paraded Naked On Camera, Allegedly Gang-Raped". NDTV.
  27. ^ "DCW chief claims Manipur govt. denied her permission to visit violence-hit State". The Hindu. 23 July 2023.
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  29. ^ "Sack Biren Singh: Delhi women's body chief sends President Murmu Manipur report".
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  40. ^ "CCTVs in police stations" (PDF).
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  43. ^ "Delhi Commission for Women highlights transformative efforts under leadership of chairperson Swati Maliwal". 6 January 2024.
  44. ^ "39 trafficked Nepali girls rescued in Delhi".
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  50. ^ "DCW declared Rs 25 lakh compensation for rape survivor".
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  52. ^ "DCW chief meets Unnao rape survivor at Lucknow hospital, says she should be airlifted to Delhi". The Times of India. 29 July 2019.
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  54. ^ "Crackdown on illegal sale of acid in Delhi, over 100 raids conducted in past 10 days". Business Standard.
  55. ^ "Delhi civic body bans acid for toilet cleaning after women's panel's notice".
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  57. ^ "DCW helps acid attack survivor to get admitted in university".
  58. ^ "Free treatment for acid attack victims in private hospitals, announces Delhi govt". 7 August 2015.
  59. ^ "Arrest those threatening Gurmehar: DCW chief tells police".
  60. ^ "Swati Maliwal warns trolls after FIR over remarks on daughters of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni". 17 January 2023.
  61. ^ "Delhi women's panel summons Twitter India policy head, police in 'child pornography' case".
  62. ^ "Brands blast Twitter for ads next to child pornography accounts". The Economic Times. 29 September 2022.
  63. ^ "AAP Leader Swati Maliwal Takes Oath As Rajya Sabha MP From Delhi". The Quint. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
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