Social worker Kalyani Sharan, 55, an existing member of Jharkhand State Commission for Women, took over as its chairperson on Wednesday, seven months after her predecessor Mahua Maji relinquished charge when her term expired on November 10, 2017.

Sharan, who had joined the commission as a member 13 months ago, said a notification announcing her chair came out on Monday and she assumed charge on Wednesday.

"I along with other five other members of the commission will always try to secure justice for the women of the state," she told the media at her Dhurwa office.

Hailing from Jamshedpur, Sharan, who has been a BJP member since long, said her passion was social work.

On issues close to her heart, she said she would enquire into the kind of maternity leave given by private firms. "I have heard the duration of maternity leave to women employees varies in private companies," she said.

She added she had spoken to state food and civil supplies minister Saryu Roy for a subsidised canteen at the women's commission office in Ranchi.

"I told Saryu ji I wanted a canteen to serve a veg thali for Rs 5. He sounded positive. I feel it's a humanitarian need since many women and their relatives who come to our office from far-off places are poor. They can't bring packed food from home as it might spoil during their long trip and here in the capital they really don't know from where to buy food as everything appears so expensive to them," she said.

"You can't expect a battered rural homemaker to have much money," she said.

She added that of the five others of the women's commission, Renu Devi was an existing member while Devki Rani Barai and Poonam Prakash joined on Wednesday. Two others, Amita Rakshit and Sharmila Soren, would join within a day or two.