Swati Maliwal Biography
Swati Maliwal (born October 15, 1984) is a social activist and Rajya Sabha member from Delhi.
She was the youngest Chief of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and served as its chairman for nine years.
Before joining DCW, Maliwal served as the Chief Minister of Delhi’s public grievance advisor.
Maliwal was a key member of the Indian Against Corruption movement, which was led by social activists Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal.
Maliwal was the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women when the Arvind Kejriwal government took power in 2015.
She is elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha in January 2024.
Swati Maliwal Profile | |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
|---|---|
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 19 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sushil Kumar Gupta |
| Constituency | Delhi |
| Chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women | |
| In office July 2015 – 19 January 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 October 1984 Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Political party | Aam Aadmi Party |
| Residence(s) | New Delhi, India |
| Profession | Politician, Activist |
Swati Maliwal Early Life and Education
Maliwal was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on October 15, 1984. Her father was an officer in the Indian Armed Forces, and her mother was Sangita Maliwal.
She later said that she experienced domestic abuse at the hands of her father, which contributed to a difficult childhood.
She attended Amity International School and earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education.
Swati Maliwal Personal Life
Maliwal was born in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on October 15, 1984.
Her father was an Air Force officer, while her mother was a retired school principal.
She has also spoken up about her father’s domestic abuse, which contributed to her difficult childhood.
She attended Amity International School before receiving a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the JSS Academy of Technical Education.
She declined a job offer from HCL and instead joined the NGO “Parivartan” with Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.
Swati Maliwal Husband
She married Naveen Jaihind on January 23, 2012, after meeting him during the early days of Anna Hazare’s 2011 Indian anti-corruption protest.
Naveen eventually became a politician, representing the Aam Aadmi Party. The pair were divorced in February 2020.
Swati Maliwal Social and Politics Life
Following her studies, she joined a non-governmental group called “Parivartan,” which was created by Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and others.
As a member of the group, she participated in grassroots initiatives throughout India. In 2011, Maliwal was part of the team that planned the India Against Corruption movement led by activist Anna Hazare, which later contributed to the passing of the Jan Lokpal Bill.
She was appointed head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) in July 2015.
She was among the youngest to lead the women’s commission.
She lobbied for the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act of 2015, which permitted children aged 16 to 18 to be tried as adults in cases involving severe crimes.
During her stint as chairperson of DCW, she advocated increased responsibility for Delhi police, which ended in placing the commission at odds with the police department.
In 2016, the Delhi High Court ordered all Delhi police stations to install CCTV cameras on their premises in response to the commission’s plea.
A special task force on women’s safety was established in Delhi in December 2016, following the Delhi High Court’s directive in response to a petition filed by the DCW.
In 2017, after the commission’s request, Delhi police officers were required to wear body cameras while on duty, to strengthen accountability and limit the risks of wrongdoing.
In April 2018, she went on a 10-day hunger strike to demand many reforms, including the passage of laws mandating the death penalty for those who rape children, the recruitment of police according to United Nations standards, and more police accountability.
In 2019, she went on another hunger strike, demanding speedy justice for rape survivors, the use of the Nirbhaya Fund, and more police resources to handle crimes against women.
She organized numerous campaigns and protests, advocating for time-bound, stringent punishment for rapists and women’s safety.
In 2019, she spearheaded a 13-day march through Delhi’s crime-prone districts to raise awareness about gender-based violence and register grievances.
In November 2020, the DCW under Malliwal was involved in the rescue of girls from child traffickers in Jharkhand.
During the 2023-2024 Manipur riots, Maliwal traveled to the state in July 2023 to gather information and made her recommendations to the President of India.
During her tenure, the panel investigated over 1.7 lakh cases of domestic violence, rape, and other crimes against women.
During her tenure, nearly 50,000 Mahila Panchayats were formed to act as community forums for dispute settlement.
The Crisis Intervention Center (CIC) and Rape Crisis Cell (RCC) were formed to provide medical care, legal help, and counseling to rape survivors.
During her tenure, the DCW also investigated child trafficking and acid attack cases, which resulted in the passing of new legislation governing spa operations, rehabilitation, and free treatment for acid attack victims, and the ban on the retail sale of acid.
In January 2024, she was elected as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha for Delhi.
Swati Maliwal Synopsis
Maliwal, a fiery leader, sparked outrage today by stating that a member of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s staff misbehaved with her at the CM’s residence during a meeting.
Police officers said she proceeded to the Civil Lines police station and made calls to the PCR van but did not lodge a formal complaint, according to PTI.
Swati Maliwal A foray into activism
Joining Parivartan, Arvind Kejriwal’s NGO, was a difficult decision because her household was maintained by a single mother.
However, Maliwal committed the next decade of her life to grassroots action, assisting slum residents with concerns ranging from ration procurement to battling gendered violence.
Maliwal also moved to a slum in Sunder Nagri when he was 21 years old to observe the conditions firsthand.
She also traveled to Bihar after huge floods and resided in rescue camps, mobilizing resources to help those affected by the calamity.
Contribution to the enactment of the “Right to Information Bill.”
Ms. Maliwal and Mr. Kejriwal originally rose to prominence for their role in the passage of the ‘Right to Information Bill’, which strengthened government accountability.
India Anti-Corruption Movement
Maliwal was the youngest member of the core team that organized the India Against Corruption campaign.
Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal were the faces of the watershed campaign.
The Jantar Mantar campaign in New Delhi untied millions of Indians and is remembered as a watershed point in India’s recent political history.
It resulted in the resignation of high-profile ministers from the United Progressive Alliance administration and the approval of the Jan Lokpal Bill, an anti-corruption measure. It also resulted in the founding of the Aam Admi Party.
The Delhi Commission for Women
Following her grassroots advocacy, Maliwal was named Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women in July 2015.
She is the youngest person to lead India’s Women’s Commission.
She resigned as Chairperson after eight years and was selected as a Rajya Sabha Member of the Aam Admi Party in 2024.
During her tenure, DCW dealt with more than 1.7 lakh cases of domestic violence, rape, acid attacks, and other crimes against women.
This is an exponential 700 percent increase over the prior Chairperson’s workload.
Under Ms. Maliwal’s leadership, DCW created landmark programs such as the 181 Women’s Helpline, which provides 24-hour, on-site assistance to distressed women.
Over the past eight years, the helpline has handled 4 million calls.
Another new project is the Mahila Panchayat program, which operates at the grassroots level and enables dispute settlement while also educating women about their rights.
Over the past eight years, Mahila Panchayats have organized over 50,000 community gatherings.
Hunger Strikes and Advocacy.”
On April 13, 2018, she began a 10-day hunger strike.
She had several demands, including the enactment of a law mandating the death penalty for those who rape children under the age of 12, recruiting police by United Nations standards, and holding the police accountable.
Maliwal published an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Her strike occurred after a series of rallies against the alleged assaults of two girls, ages 16 and 8.
Ms. Maliwal went on another hunger strike in 2019, after a doctor was gang-raped in Hyderabad.
This time, she wanted faster justice for rape survivors, proper use of the Nirbhaya Fund, and greater police resources.
She terminated her strike when the Andhra Pradesh government passed the ‘Disha Bill’, which echoed most of her requests.
Ms. Maliwal also played a key part in the enactment of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, when she requested a special session of the Hon’ble Supreme Court at midnight, the night before the release of a juvenile convict in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case.
The Court was powerless to prevent his discharge since there was no law to do so.
However, the public mobilization fueled DCW’s efforts, resulting in the quick passing of the law, which permitted children between the ages of 16 and 18 to be tried as adults in cases of severe crimes.
Establishment of Special Task Force
In December 2016, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) approached the Hon’ble Delhi High Court.
This prompted the formation of a ‘Special Task Force on Women Safety in Delhi, chaired by the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, to tackle important women’s issues in the city.
Visit to violence-hit Manipur and intervention in other states
Following unprecedented ethnic violence in Manipur, Ms. Swati Maliwal and DCW member Ms. Vandana Singh visited the riot-torn state in July 2023.
They were provoked by a video showing an alleged savage mob-sexual attack on two women there.
Going outside of its jurisdiction, the Commission offered support to the Manipur government in combating violence against women.
However, the State Government declined to assist them and even advised them to postpone their visit owing to “law and order” concerns.
Ms. Swati Maliwal and Ms. Vandana Singh persisted in their visit, even though it put their lives in danger.
They arrived in distant Churachandpur, the epicenter of the turmoil, with no security.
They visited relief shelters and met with numerous women who had been displaced by the violence.
She even met the relatives of the survivors from the video and documented their demands.
Ms. Swati Maliwal then forwarded 24 interim recommendations to the President of India, seeking quick action.
These recommendations included imposing the President’s Rule, forming a Special Investigation Team, conducting a CBI investigation, and providing legal and counseling services to survivors, among others.
She also scolded the Home Minister and Prime Minister for failing to visit the state.
DCW has frequently gone outside its jurisdiction to intervene in other states.
In November 2020, Hemant Soren, the former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, praised DCW’s efforts to rescue girls from traffickers in Jharkhand.
He then ensured the return of 45 such survivors from Delhi shelter homes to Jharkhand, as well as their rehabilitation
Protests
Ms. Maliwal has also organized numerous protests and initiatives to promote women’s rights and safety.
In 2019, she led hundreds of women on a 13-day foot march known as the Padyatra.
The women’s contingent visited crime-prone areas in Delhi to raise awareness about gender-based violence among local populations, register grievances on the scene, and highlight gaps in women’s security in these interior areas.
They traveled more than 300 kilometers and were joined by women from various backgrounds.
In West Delhi, numerous women brandished rolling pins or beans as a show of strength against domestic violence.
In 2018, the Delhi Commission for Women launched the Rape Roko (Stop Rape) movement in response to the violent rape of an eight-month-old girl in the capital.
The campaign received extraordinary global support, with over 5.5 lakh people writing to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India within 30 days, pushing for time-bound punitive punishment for rapists of children.
Ms. Maliwal also led a Satyagraha in November 2017 and again in February 2018 to draw attention to the growing number of rapes of young girls in the capital.
She lived in her workplace for 30 days and worked around the clock to help survivors and conduct nighttime inspections at train stations and bus stops.
Reforming the police force
When Ms. Maliwal first took over as Chairperson of DCW, she requested information from the Delhi police about crimes against women in the city.
However, the cops continuously refused to share it with her. In a historic step, Ms. Maliwal called the Police Commissioner and forced him to give the necessary information.
Over the years, DCW has issued numerous notifications to the Delhi Police over the filing of FIRs and the conduct of competent investigations.
In 2023, Swati Maliwal took suo motu cognizance of Anjali Singh’s death. The 20-year-old Kanjhawla resident was hit by a car and dragged through Delhi’s streets for 12 kilometers.
Despite multiple calls to the police, an eyewitness claims that help did not arrive.
Ms. Maliwal wrote to the Union Home Secretary, urging an immediate increase in police officers, police accountability, greater monitoring in the form of PCR vehicles, and the formation of a committee on women’s protection comprising all stakeholders.
Consequently, the Union Home Ministry suspended 11 police personnel.
DCW has often advocated increased accountability for police officers.
In 2016, the Hon’ble Delhi High Court ordered all police stations in the city to install CCTV cameras on their premises in response to a commission plea.
This directive was extended nationally by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in 2020, with an emphasis on night vision and audio recording capabilities for more transparency.
The Delhi Government then formed the ‘State Level Oversight Committee’ to oversee the installation process, with DCW Member Firdaus Khan serving as a committee member.
Following Ms. Maliwal’s recommendations, Delhi police officers now wear body cameras while on duty to promote accountability and limit the likelihood of wrongdoing.
Combating Trafficking and Rescue Operations
Swati Maliwal has spoken out passionately against the commercial sexual exploitation of young girls.
Since taking office, she has undertaken multiple raids in Delhi’s red-light area, known as Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi, or GB Road.
She summoned 125 brothel proprietors and demanded that the area be completely closed.
Her team has rescued over 2,500 women and children from the hands of traffickers and illegal imprisonment.
In one prominent example, DCW saved 39 Nepali females from possible trafficking to Gulf countries from a guesthouse in Paharganj.
In a sad incident, DCW also rescued a 7-year-old girl from a brothel on GB Road.
In September 2019, DCW received reports regarding sex rackets operating as spas and massage parlors.
Ms. Maliwal and members of DCW took immediate action, conducting raids throughout spas in Delhi, rescuing countless females, and dismantling sex rackets.
At the Commission’s request, many FIRs were filed against unlicensed spa proprietors, and many were arrested.
The Commission summoned key police and MCD personnel and demanded accountability in the case.
The accompanying fact-finding report and recommendations, submitted to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor, resulted in the establishment of a task force and rules for regulating spa and massage centers in Delhi.
Empowering Survivors of Sexual Assault
Ms. Maliwal established the Crisis Intervention Centre (CIC) and Rape Crisis Cell (RCC) in DCW to offer survivors a comprehensive variety of services, including medical care, legal help, and therapy.
RCC lawyers have assisted survivors in 1,97,479 sessions held throughout Delhi’s courts.
Understanding the value of victim compensation in empowering and rehabilitating survivors, Ms. Maliwal granted Rs. 25 lakh in compensation to a 5-year-old rape survivor.
DCW was also instrumental in modifying the ‘Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme’ for sexual assault survivors, increasing the amount from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5.
Aside from financial help, Ms. Maliwal has visited other survivors to provide on-the-spot assistance.
Swati Maliwal and Member Vandana Singh traveled to Lucknow in 2018 and stayed with a juvenile girl in the hospital for four days after a member of the government sexually assaulted her in Unnao.
They pushed for justice and had her evacuated to Delhi for better care.
She has also collaborated with a variety of organizations to rehabilitate survivors by giving them educational opportunities, gainful employment, and vocational training.
Addressing Acidic Violence
Ms. Maliwal has been at the forefront of assisting acid attack survivors and advocating for a total prohibition on the retail sale of acid.
In 2016, DCW conducted surprise inspections of 30 shops to determine whether acid was readily available.
Out of 30, 23 stores openly sold acid, thereby violating the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s instructions.
DCW made recommendations to the Hon’ble Lt. Governor of Delhi, advocating for an immediate ban on acid sales.
In September 2019, DCW conducted coordinated operations with local SDMs over ten days, collecting a whopping 1,000 liters of concentrated acid.
During an investigation of a public toilet in Daryaganj, Ms. Maliwal and her crew discovered 50 liters of acid being used to clean the restroom.
Ms. Maliwal swiftly sent a notice to MCD, emphasizing the dangers of publicly available acid. Following this, the MCD prohibited the use of acid to clean public toilets in Delhi.
DCW played an important role in holding e-commerce platforms such as Flipkart and Amazon responsible and prohibiting them from selling acid.
DCW has also gone above and beyond in rehabilitating acid attack victims.
Since 2015, the Commission has hired 15 survivors on a contract basis, making it the first government department to prioritize their employment.
The Commission also aids survivors with university enrollment and skill training.
Ms. Maliwal was essential in ensuring that acid attack survivors received free treatment at Delhi’s government hospitals.
Combating Cyber Crime
The DCW, led by Ms. Maliwal, has been proactive in combating the growing concerns of cybercrime and online abuse of women.
The Commission responded quickly to the internet taunting and harassment encountered by Gurmehar Kaur, the daughter of a Kargil War martyr in 2017, and rape threats to cricketer Virat Kohli’s baby in 2022, resulting in arrests in both cases.
Ms. Maliwal spoke out strongly in September 2022 against posts portraying child pornography and rape films on the social media site X (previously known as Twitter).
She summoned the X India Policy Head and Delhi Police to file an FIR in the matter.
The Commission’s immediate actions forced worldwide corporations to cease ads on X, illustrating its impact on a bigger scale.
Member of the Rajya Sabha
In January 2024, she was elected as a Rajya Sabha member of the Aam Admi party.
Swati Maliwal Social Media
@ujjawal_trivedi Swati Maliwal Alleges assault at Chief Minister’s home – Delhi Police . . #trending #Bollywood #Bollywoodnews #foryoupage
Who Is Swati Maliwal?
Swati Maliwal, a famous Indian politician and Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, was born on October 15, 1984, in Ghaziabad, India.
What is Swati Maliwal’s age?
Swati Maliwal is 40 years old, was born on October 15, 1984, has the horoscope Libra, was born in Ghaziabad, India, is Indian, and lives in Ghaziabad, India.
What is Swati Maliwal’s profession?
Swati Maliwal is an Indian politician and the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women by profession.
Who are Swati Maliwal’s parents?
Swati Maliwal’s father is Ashok Maliwal, and her mother’s name is Sangita Maliwal.
Who is the husband of Swati Maliwal?
Swati Maliwal’s husband or spouse’s name is Naveen Jaihind.
What is Swati Maliwal’s education?
Swati Maliwal is a graduate.
What is Swati Maliwal’s net worth?
Swati Maliwal’s net worth is (to be updated shortly).
Who are Swati Maliwal’s siblings?
Swati Maliwal’s sister name is (to be updated shortly).
What exactly is Swati Maliwal’s weight?
Swati Maliwal’s weight is 62 kg.
What is Swati Maliwal’s height?
Swati Maliwal has a height of 5’8″.
