The Legislature Committee on Women and Child Safety, headed by V.S. Ugrappa, finalised its report on Wednesday. Among its recommendations are suspension of voting rights during trial, and abolition of voting rights of those convicted in rape and sexual assault cases. Also, keeping in abeyance all government benefits during trial and barring convicted persons from getting such facilities.
Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Ugrappa said the committee, set up in 2014, had toured all districts and heard the grievances of hundreds of different type of cases, including sexual abuse, acid attack, atrocities on women belonging to vulnerable sections of society.
In case of failure to pay compensation to victim, the panel recommended handing over of the property of the accused to the victim.
Investigation and trial has not been completed within the stipulated period of five months, in the State, for rape cases, the committee observed. It also noted that facilities were not provided to victims under various government schemes. The much-hyped Nirbhaya Fund has not been utilised effectively despite tall claims by the State government on women’s safety and welfare.
Several meetings
The committee held 134 meetings during the last four years and found that most of the rape and sexual abuse cases were reported by poor families belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes while dowry cases were found in middle class and upper middle-class families.
One recommendation was for the State to urge the Centre to formulate a national policy on women and child safety for increasing conviction rates in the country. The Centre should come out with a policy to suspend/abolish voting rights to convicted persons, the panel said.
The present conviction rate in the State was just 4 to 5% against the national average of 2.8%, Mr. Ugrappa said.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 has not been implemented effectively and there has been inordinate delay in the delivery of criminal justice, members said.
On a positive note, Mr. Ugrappa said there had been an increase in registration of cases in police stations after formation of the committee. The Home Department has become more active after visits of committee members to various districts and police stations, he claimed.
The panel made 100 recommendations on various subjects, including creating awareness to prevent crime, sensitization of police, provision of self-employment for victims, education, and availing benefits under various schemes.
The panel, which had submitted its interim report on December 30, 2015, held managements of educational institutions responsible for the atrocities against women and children on their premises, besides government departments that monitor them.
With regard to malicious prosecution/fake cases, it recommended recovery of compensation amount along with rate of interest.
The committee has covered all sections of women in society, including devdasis and transgenders.
