write a letter to prime minister of India to take necessary actions to prevent violence against women
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File No. 15011/21/2004-SC/ST Cell
Government of India
Ministry of Home Affairs
*****
New Delhi,
date 14th December, 2019
To
The Chief Secretaries,
All State Governments & Union Territory Administrations
SUB: Crime against Women-measures needed to curb-regarding.
Sir/Madam,
The Government of India have been advising the State Governments from time to time regarding the steps that need to be taken to afford a greater measure of protection to the women and in particular to prevent incidence of crimes against them. The advisories issued earlier with particular reference to the crime against women vide DO letters No. 15018/214/94-GPA. VI dated 17.4.1995, No. 24013/65/96-GPA. VI dated 12.9.1996, No. 15018/214/96-GPA. VI dated 18.3.1997, No. 24013/84/97-GPA.VI dated 6.10.97, No. 24013/50/98-GPA.VI dated 8/11.9.1998 and No. 24013/83/2001-GPA. VI dated 19/26.3.2002 may be referred to in this regard. These advisories, inter-alia, include gender sensitization of the police personnel, adopting appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment to public servants found guilty of custodial violence against women, minimizing delays in investigations of murder, rape and torture of women and improving its quality, setting up a ‘crime against women cell’ in districts where they do not exist, providing adequate counseling centers and shelter homes for women who have been victimized, setting up of special women courts, and improving effectiveness of schemes developed for the welfare and rehabilitation of women who are victimized with greater emphasis on income generation to make the women more independent and self- reliant.
Through the aforesaid advisories, the State Governments were also requested to undertake a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the machinery in tackling the problem of women and to take appropriate measures aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the law and order machinery. No doubt, some State Governments have taken some measures in this regard, however, the inputs regarding crime against women available with this Ministry indicate that these measures need to be strengthened further, so that the women folk feel secure, enjoy their human rights and live their life with dignity and respect that they deserve.
The National Commission for Women has been undertaking visits to various States to review the status of women and has also been conducting its own investigations in certain cases of serious incidents of crime against women. The Commission has been making available findings of their inquiry to the concerned State Governments as well as to this Ministry. The reports of the inquiries conducted by the Commission in these specific incidents indicate that the level of sensitiveness and care with which crime against women should be handled is not up to the desired level. The Commission has pointed out laxity and insensitiveness on the part of certain police officials in some specific cases. The Commission has observed that filing of FIRs even in heinous cases continues to be a problem. Some critical observations & recommendations made by the National Commission of Women in its various reports of investigations into major incidents of crime against women are annexed herewith.
The Government of India is deeply concerned with this trend and ground situation and would therefore reemphasize that urgent action should be taken on the following:-
Crime prone areas should be identified and a mechanism be put in place to monitor infractions in schools/colleges for ensuring safety and security of female students. Women police officers in adequate number fully equipped with policing infrastructure may be posted in such areas.
There should be no delay whatsoever in registration of FIR in all cases of crime against women.
All out efforts should be made to apprehend all the accused named in the FIR immediately so as to generate confidence in the victims and their family members.
Cases should be thoroughly investigated and charge sheets against the accused persons should be filed within three months from the date of occurrence, without compromising on the quality of investigation. The medical examination of rape victims should be conducted without delay.
Help-line numbers of the crime against women cells should be exhibited prominently in hospitals/schools/colleges premises, and in other suitable places.
Through counseling through professional counselors is required for victims as well as her family to overcome the trauma of the crime.
The effectiveness of schemes developed for welfare and rehabilitation of women who have been victimized should be improved.
It is requested that action taken in this regard may be reviewed by the State Governments and UT Administrations and a report indicating the present status sent to this Ministry within a month.
The receipt of this letter may kindly be acknowledged immediately.
Yours faithfully,
(A.K.SRIVASTAVA)
JOINT SECRETARY (CS)