Govt may think of new law on women’s safety: CS
Chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari on Saturday said the state government was working on multiple fronts to provide a safe and secure environment to women and girls in Uttar Pradesh and hinted that it may also consider, if needed, bringing a new law for this purpose.
“The government has made up its mind to be unsparing in dealing with sex offenders, molesters and eve-teasers (harassers and stalkers). A lot of things are under consideration in this regard. The government may even think of bringing a new law for this purpose, if needed at all,” he said.
The state-wide launch of the 180-day ‘Mission Shakti’ from Saturday, the first day of Sharadiya Navratri, he said, was a big step in the direction of empowering women by creating
Chief secretary Rajendra Kumar Tiwari
a safer environment for them in the state.
The state government’s decision to launch the special campaign that would continue till the Chaitra or Basantik Navratri in April 2021 has symbolic value too as the nine-day festival is associated by the faithful with the Pauranic battle between the Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishura and marks the victory of Good over Evil.
Tiwari said the government would ensure that the laws related to sexual offences were implemented in letter and spirit and the victims got justice in a time-bound manner.“We will also ensure that medical check-up of every rape victim is necessarily done within 24 hours of the crime and FIRs are lodged in every rape case reported to the police, failing which an FIR will be lodged against the concerning police personnel for dereliction,” he said.
The chief secretary said the Central government had recently issued an advisory on the mandatory actions to be taken in cases pertaining to crimes against women.
“We will strictly follow the advisory, besides enforcing the state’s own laws to protect women from sexual crimes,” he said.
He claimed the decision to set up a separate women helpdesk (manned by women cops) in each police station would encourage women complainants to visit police stations anytime anywhere to lodge complaints.