Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 5 (ANI): The Tripura Women’s Commission has emerged as a symbol of hope in the realm of gender justice, employing counselling and mediation as its primary tools to resolve disputes effectively.
This unique approach prioritizes amicable solutions and reconciliation over traditional legal battles, fostering a climate of understanding and trust.
Under the guidance of dedicated leadership, the commission has made significant strides in offering a safe space for women from all backgrounds to voice their grievances without fear of bias or judgment. The commission’s commitment to impartiality, along with its focus on empathy, has made it a trusted institution for women seeking support and resolution.
One of the key aspects that set the Tripura Women’s Commission apart is its emphasis on counselling. Trained professionals work with both parties to facilitate constructive dialogue and guide them toward mutually beneficial outcomes. By bridging communication gaps, the commission has successfully resolved numerous disputes, keeping families intact while also advocating for women’s rights and gender equality through workshops and outreach programs.
Sumitra Karmakar, a woman who sought help from the commission, shared her experience, recounting how she was separated from her husband shortly after marriage and subjected to dowry-related pressures and character accusations.
“I am here at Tripura Women Commission. I was married two years ago. I was tortured. I was in my husband’s house for 4 months only after marriage. After marriage for 1 week, I was with my husband. Thereafter I was kept separated in the same house by my in-laws. They started to pressure me for dowry. First of all, they started blaming me for various issues. Later on, they started blaming me for my character issues. After that, I came to my parents home. Now I have come to the Tripura Women’s Commission. I have logged a complaint and I want to resolve everything as soon as possible. I have huge faith in the Tripura Women Commission and they had already arranged for counselling sessions,” Sumitra Karmakar said.
Her husband, Karmakar, also spoke about the process, acknowledging the efforts of the commission.
“My wife had complained to the Tripura Women Commission office. I came here and listened to the officials. I had attended the counselling sessions also. I am trying to solve all the problems with my wife. I am thankful to the Tripura Women Commission,” Karmakar said.
Another woman, Sumitra Paul who sought help from the commission said, “My son had married a girl of his choice. We all accepted their love marriage. After marriage, everything was fine for about 4 to 5 months. Thereafter she went to her house and was not returning to our house. We tried in every way. In the meantime, she got pregnant and delivered a child. After that, she again came back to our house and stayed happily for 6 to 7 months with her child. But again she went to her father’s house and now she is not returning. We are here at the Tripura Women’s Commission office and lodged our complaint. The officials of the Tripura Women Commission are quite supportive. They had arranged for counselling sessions for both of my son and daughter-in-law.”
The commissioner, Jharna Debbarma, emphasized the importance of the commission’s work in addressing a wide range of issues.
“The women’s commission always has a great role in society. Despite so many law institutions like Police Stations, women’s Police stations and courts, the Tripura Women Commission plays a crucial role in the social society of Tripura. Still, many complaints were lodged every day in this office. Problems related to family issues, especially women-related. Our team consists of councillors, committee members and vice chairperson, together we try to solve the problems without knocking on the doors of law. We focus on solving the problems through counselling. We are successful through these counselling methods. We always tried to keep families together,” Debbarma said.
The statistics reveal the impact of the commission’s work. In the fiscal year 2023-25, the commission registered 535 new cases, conducted 1,470 counselling sessions (including both new and old cases), reconciled 177 cases, and referred 180 cases to legal channels, Debbarma said.
“We had thought about this all together along with all the committee members. As there is only one office of the Women’s Commission in Tripura, there are no offices at the district level. So we are keeping an eye on every corner of the state. We especially get various news from the media and we focus on complaints lodged by women. We are here to support everyone who is facing various problems,” Debbarma added.
Counsellor Manna Saha highlighted the commission’s commitment to providing mental support and solving family-related issues through dialogue.
“We at the Tripura Women Commission focus on the counselling of both the disputed parties. We emphasize providing counselling rather than going to court. Our main aim is to provide mental support and solve all family and women-related problems. Every day many cases are registered in this office and we try to solve every problem. In the women’s commission especially, domestic problems and problems related to any women were solved by following a particular way,” Saha said.
Reba Sengupta, another counsellor, added that despite the existence of law enforcement and courts, many people still turn to the Tripura Women’s Commission for assistance.
“In this world where there are so many law houses, like Police Stations, courts, and people still believe in the Tripura Women Commission. In this office we do counselling, especially we try to solve all the domestic-related problems through counselling only. Women still believe in us. Many complaints are lodged every day, and day to day we try to solve every problem of the women,” Sengupta said. (ANI)
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