REKHA SHARMA

Chairperson, National Commission for Women

Rekha Sharma served as a member of the National Commission for Women for 3 years before taking charge as Chairperson. Before joining the Commission, she was actively associated with civil society organizations in different capacities. Rekha has worked extensively on issues impacting women’s lives. She has conducted over 50 inquiries in matters relating to deprivation of women’s rights and liberty and has championed the cause of vulnerable women, including women working in now defunct tea gardens and shelter homes. She has actively advocated for improving the living conditions of women prisoners, especially under-trials, visiting several jails and making recommendations for improving the facilities provided to the inmates. Prior to joining the Commission, she was a Member of the District Consumer & Redressal Forum in the Government of Haryana. Rekha has also been instrumental in the establishment of a registered NGO called ‘Haryana Mahila Uthan Samiti’ which works for the empowerment of rural women in the state.