In a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal accused Delhi ministers of making the women's panel a "weak institution".
Following her nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Maliwal had stepped down as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW)
Swati Maliwal's letter: About the allegations
Maliwal in her letter alleged that the DCW staff has not been paid salary for the last six months, the panel's budget has been reduced by 28.5 per cent, the 181 helpline has been withdrawn, and no efforts have been made to fill the vacant posts of chairman and two members.
"Ever since I resigned from the post of chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, the ministers and officers of Delhi government have opened a front against the commission", said Maliwal.
"None of the staff has been paid salary for the last six months, the budget has been reduced by 28.5 per cent, 181 helpline has been withdrawn and no work has been done to fill the posts of chairman and two members," Maliwal said in a post in Hindi on X.
How did the ministry react?
Responding to Maliwal's allegations, Delhi Women and Child Development minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday said the women helpline 181 will now be run by his department and the number will remain inoperative for a few days for transition.
He said the central government plans to make it mandatory for the women's helpline to be run by the Department of Women and Child Development rather than the DCW.
