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{{Short description|Statutory body for women's rights, India}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women
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| type = Commission
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| formed = February 2016 in residuary Andhra Pradesh
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| jurisdiction = [[Government of Andhra Pradesh]]
| headquarters = 4th Floor, MGM Capital, Chinakakani, NH, Mangalagiri, Guntur District. Pin : 522503.<ref name="apcw ref1">{{cite web |title=List of State Women Commissions |url=http://ncw.nic.in/important-links/list-state-women-commissions#Andhra_Pradesh |website=List of State Women Commissions |access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref>
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| website = {{Official website| http://ncw.nic.in/important-links/list-state-women-commissions#Andhra_Pradesh}}
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'''Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women''' is a [[statutory]] body constituted as per the A.P. Women's Commission Act-1998 as amended by Act No.9 of 2023 to deal with the issues relating to [[Violence against women|crime against women]] in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. The commission for welfare of women in the state was set up by [[Government of Andhra Pradesh|Andhra Pradesh Government]] as a [[Quasi-judicial body|quasi-judicial]] body.

== History and objectives ==

Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women was formed to investigate specific problems relating to women and apart from studying women related issues from the state.<ref name="scw ref1">{{cite news |last1=Rajagopalan |first1=Swarna |title=Why National and State Women’s Commissions are important and should be held accountable |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-why-national-and-state-women-s-commissions-are-important-and-should-be-held-accountable-2217939 |access-date=9 January 2022 |publisher=dnaindia.com |date=30 May 2016}}</ref> The Commission is equipped with powers to safeguard rights of women and ensure their protection and equality against any form of harassment and issues faced in the family and community.

The commission was created with the following objectives:

* Ensuring protection and welfare of women.

* Handle gender-based issues through timely intervention in case of any violation of relevant laws or opportunity denial or depriving the women of any rights.<ref name="apcw ref4">{{cite news |title=Working to reduce bias towards women in society: Andhra Women's Commission chairperson |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2022/jan/01/working-to-reduce-bias-towards-women-in-society-andhra-womens-commission-chairperson-2401845.html |access-date=10 January 2022 |publisher=New Indian Express |date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

* Recommending to state government on women-based issues.

* The commission occasionally takes steps to create awareness in public regarding the women-based legislation in the state.

== Composition ==

The Women Commission shall consist of the chairperson and not more than 6 members residing in the state. The statute lays down qualifications for the appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Commission.
* A Chairperson, shall be eminent women committed to cause of welfare of women
* Six Members to be nominated by the State, provided that at least one Member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward classes and Minorities Communities respectively

* To enquire suo-moto or any complaints of any issue which deprives women of their rights or women protection laws not being implemented or noncompliance of any policies relating to them or failure of following instructions relating to women welfare and relief associated with them.
== Public response ==
In February 2018, women’s organisations in [[Visakhapatnam]] staged protests seeking action against [[Ram Gopal Varma]] over alleged derogatory remarks, with media reports noting that protesters expressed dissatisfaction with delays by local police and criticised the response of the Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women, after which a case was registered and an investigation initiated.<ref>{{cite news
|title=Police file case against film director Ram Gopal Varma after Vizag woman activist’s complaint
|work=The New Indian Express
|date=22 February 2018
|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2018/Feb/22/police-file-case-against-film-director-ram-gopal-varma-after-vizag-woman-activists-complaint-1777124.html
}}</ref>

== Activities ==

Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Women was formed to perform below activities:

* Commission should ensure that it adheres to the provision and protection guaranteed for women under Constitution of India and women related legislations.<ref name="apcw ref3">{{cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh: State to take care of children of woman who committed suicide |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/politics/230921/andhra-pradesh-state-to-take-care-of-children-of-woman-who-committed.html |access-date=10 January 2022 |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |date=23 September 2021}}</ref>

* In case any agency in the state fails to implement protective measures against women, getting the same to the notice of Government.

* Making recommendations for the amendments in any law if it fails on provision of justice to the women of the state.

* Taking up with concerned authorities any issue of violation of women's rights and recommending follow-up action to them.

* Women who have complaints of violation of their rights and non-implementation of their protective measures guaranteed under the Constitution of India can directly approach Women Commission for redressal.

* Counselling and assisting women who are victims of atrocities and discrimination in the state.

* Financing litigation expenses for any issues involving mass group of women and occasionally make reports to the state government relating to them.

* Inspecting any premises, jail or other remand home where women prisoners are lodged or any other case and bringing them to the notice of respective authorities, in case of need.

* Enquire, study and investigate any specific women-based issues.

* Initiate educational research or undertaking any promotional method and recommend ways for ensuring women representation in all areas and identifying reasons depriving them of their rights.

== List of Chairpersons ==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! No.
! Name
! colspan="3"|Term of office
|-
|
| Tripurana Venkataratnam
| 5 June 2013
| 1 June 2014
||{{Ayd|5 June 2013|1 June 2014}}
|-
|
| Nannapaneni Rajakumari
| 10 February 2016
| 7 August 2019
||{{Ayd|10 February 2016|7 August 2019}}
|-
|
| Vasireddy Padma<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi vs The State Of Ap on 3 October, 2024 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/104225273/}}</ref>
| 26 August 2019
| 4 March 2024
||{{Ayd|26 August 2019|4 March 2024}}
|-
|
| Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi<ref name="Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi appointed AP Mahila Commission Chairperson">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Gajjala Venkata Lakshmi appointed AP Mahila Commission Chairperson |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gajjala-venkata-lakshmi-appointed-ap-mahila-commission-chairperson/article67957717.ece |access-date=27 May 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527150657/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/gajjala-venkata-lakshmi-appointed-ap-mahila-commission-chairperson/article67957717.ece |archive-date=27 May 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
| 16 March 2024
| 25 August 2024
||{{Ayd|16 March 2024|25 August 2024}}
|-
|
| Dr. Rayapati Sailaja<ref name="Rayapati Sailaja assumes charge as Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission">{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Rayapati Sailaja assumes charge as Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh State Women’s Commission |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/rayapati-shailaja-assumes-charge-as-chairperson-of-andhra-pradesh-state-womens-commission/article69593529.ece |access-date=27 May 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |date=19 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527150701/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/rayapati-shailaja-assumes-charge-as-chairperson-of-andhra-pradesh-state-womens-commission/article69593529.ece |archive-date=27 May 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name="Rayapati Sailaja takes charge as Andhra Pradesh state women’s commission chairperson">{{cite news |title=Rayapati Sailaja takes charge as Andhra Pradesh state women’s commission chairperson |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/rayapati-sailaja-takes-charge-as-andhra-pradesh-state-womens-commission-chairperson/articleshow/121274608.cms |access-date=27 May 2025 |publisher=The Times of India |date=20 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250527150720/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/rayapati-sailaja-takes-charge-as-andhra-pradesh-state-womens-commission-chairperson/articleshow/121274608.cms |archive-date=27 May 2025}}</ref>
| 19 May 2025
|
||{{ayd|19 May 2025}}
|-
|}

== Related Articles ==

[[National Commission for Women]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://ncw.nic.in/important-links/list-state-women-commissions#Andhra_Pradesh Official Website]



{{State agencies of Andhra Pradesh}}
[[Category:State agencies of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Commissions in India]]
[[Category:Women's rights in India]]
[[Category:Women's organisations based in India]]

Andhra Pradesh Women Commission - Revision history

Killerhazard at 06:30, 28 December 2025