Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women :

Consequent upon enactment of National Commission for Women Act, 1990, the Women Commissions were established through out the Country including National Commission for Women (NCW). Upon this development, the Government of Himachal Pradesh enacted an Act namely H.P. State Commission for Women Act, 1996 and the office of the Commission was set up dated 17.12.1997. In the mean time, the Commission was abolished by the State Government and later on, it was again established  dated 8th March 1999.

Former chairperson of the Parwanoo Municipal Council Dr Daisy Thakur as the current Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (HPSCW) for 3 years.

The government also nominated Indu Bala, Sushma Bhatt and Manjri Negi as non-official members of the commission for three years.

Constitution of Commission:

The H.P. State Commission for Women, H.P is constituted by comprising one Chairperson and 3 to 4 nominated Members amongst the educationists, social workers, NGOs, environmentalists, jurists etc. The Aims and Objects of the Commission are as under:-

• Prevention of harassment to women.
• Eradication of Dowry System.
• Protection of Constitutional Rights of the women.
• Redressal of Grievances of the women.
• Rehabilitation of the disrupted women.
• Bringing social, legal, constitutional, health, livelihood awareness amongst the women.
• Submission of recommendations to the State Government for the upliftment of the women

Structure  :

The Commission shall consist of- 
(a) a Chiarperson, who shall be an eminent woman commited to the cause of women ;
 (b) not more than four non-oficial members preferably women, to be nominated by the State Government from amongst the persons of ability, integrity and standing who have served the cause of women or have had sufficient knowledge and experience in law or legislation, administration of matters concerning the advancement of women or leadership of any trade union or voluntary organisation for women for protection, uplitment and promotion of common interests or women : 
Provided that, at least one member each shall be from amongst persons belonging to the ScheduIed Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, respectively ; 
(c) the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Welfare) and the Director General of Police shall be the ex-officio members of  Commission ;
(d) one Member-Secretary, to be appoined & by the State Government, shall be any officer, who is or has been a member of the Civil servicesces of the State or of an All India Services or holds a civil post under the State

Mandate of Commission :

1. The main mandate of the commission as per H.P State Commission for Women Act,1996 is to improve the status and dignity of women in society, to investigate into and take or suggest suitable measures against practices derogatory to women, to effectively monitor and implement laws affecting women and to advice the State Government.

2. The commission's mandate also includes investigation and examination of all matters relating to the safe guards provided for women under the constitution and other laws. The commission is enjoyed to make recomendations for effective implementation of safe guards , which are necessary for improving the condition of women in the State.

3. The commission is promoting women's rights, for gender equality and the empowerment of women in state .

4. This Commission also facilitates the participation of civil society representatives.

 Commission shall perform all or any of the following functions, namely :-

• Investigate and examine all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Constitution and other laws;
• present to the Government, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguard;
• make in such reports recommendations for the effective implementation of those safeguards for the improving the conditions of women by the state;
• review, from time to time, the exiting provisions of the Constitution and other laws affecting women and recommend amendments thereto so as to suggest remedial legislative measures to meet any lacunae, inadequacies or shortcomings in such legislations;
• take up cases of violation of the provisions of the Constitution and of other laws relating to women with the appropriate authorities;
• look into complaints and take suo moto notice of matters relating to:-
• deprivation of women's rights;non-implementation of laws enacted to provide protection to women and also to achieve the objective of equality and development;
• non-compliance of policy decisions,guidelines or instructions aimed at mitigating hardships and ensuring welfare and providing relief to women,
• and take up the issues arising out of such matters with appropriate authorities;
• undertake promotional and educational research so as to suggest ways of ensuring due representation of women in all spheres and identify factors responsible for impeding their advancement, such as, lack of access to housing and basic services, inadequate support services and technologies for reducing drudgery and occupational health hazards and for increasing their productivity;
• participate and advice on the planning process of socio-economic development of women;
• requiring the discovery and production of any document;