Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 15: Advocate Meenu Padha, a High Court lawyer and prominent women and child rights activist from Jammu and Kashmir, along with Advocate Nikhil Padha, met National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar in New Delhi on Wednesday to raise concerns over the safety of women and children affected by recent cross-border shelling in Poonch district.
A statement said, in their representation, the advocates highlighted the tragic loss of 13 civilian lives and injuries to over 59 people, including women and children, due to shelling near the Line of Control.
They pointed out serious lapses in administrative preparedness and the lack of basic safety and medical infrastructure in the region.
The memorandum submitted to NCW included several key recommendations such as installing warning sirens in city and border areas, building community bunkers in populated zones, and launching mental health and emergency preparedness programmes for women and children.
It also sought better trauma care, an air ambulance service for the region, compensation for affected families, and accountability for administrative failures.
Rahatkar gave a patient hearing to the concerns and appreciated the timely initiative. She assured that the Commission would look into the matter seriously and work towards ensuring focused support, especially in terms of mental health care and long-term rehabilitation for women and children in the affected areas.
She also emphasized the need for systematic reforms to safeguard the border population from such recurring threats.
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