Hierarchy hurdle

Ranchi, Dec. 12: Two nominated members of the newly-reconstituted State Women’s Commission have declined to serve under its new chairperson and resigned, claiming they were “more qualified”, sparking a crisis within the panel that was lying defunct for about a year.

Zeenat Kausar and Manju Jyotsna Hans, both academics with more than 40 years in experience, believe they deserved a better post vis-à-vis their qualifications, indicating their disapproval of chairperson Hemlata S. Mohan, a reputed teacher and formerly a principal of Delhi Public School, Bokaro.

“Being an academic with 40 years of teaching experience it’s very difficult to work in a lower category position. I have three years of college left. Why should I leave this coveted post?” said Kausar, a senior professor with Ranchi Women’s College, who submitted her resignation letter – her second within a month-and-a-half_ to the state welfare department on December 6.

Equally offended is Hans who has refused to join the commission. “How can I work with a person having lesser experience and qualifications? How can I work with a low designation? I am willing to work for my state where I was born and brought up but not in such a situation,” said the former head of Hindi department in Ranchi University and an invitee to UGC and UPSC meetings.

In September, the state social welfare department reconstituted the women’s commission and appointed as chairperson Mohan, a teacher of repute whose contribution to the profession was appreciated by none other than former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam when he presented her with the best teacher award.

The nominated members included Anuradha Choudhary, Vasavi Kido, both women’s activists, apart from Kausar and Hans.

Kausar, who submitted her second letter on December 6 since the earlier one was not being acted upon, said, “I am not willing to remain aloof from academics which is my passion.”

Chairperson Mohan denied there was a controversy, but admitted that both Kausar and Hans had declined to be members as early as in October due to technical reasons.

“Even though both posts are vacant, the commission is working smoothly and serving the interests of women,” she added.

State social welfare department secretary Rajiv Arun Ekka said the government had sent letters to both Kausar and Hans asking them to join within a week. “They don’t seem interested. If they don’t join the commission, the department will then try to fill up the vacant posts,” he told The Telegraph.

In September 2006, the then Arjun Munda government appointed Laxmi Singh, a retired IAS officer, as the first chairperson of the women’s commission along with Louis Marandi and Meera Jaiswal as members.

However, the commission that was entrusted to hear and resolve complaints on dowry and domestic violence, was rendered defunct for about year after Singh and the others retired in October, 2009.

Mohan and the new members were appointed on 7 September, 2010, by the Governor when the state was still under President’s rule.

Among the other responsibilities of the commission were regular visits to jails and shelter homes to monitor their improvement and co-ordinating with state agencies and NGOs on various welfare projects.