Women’s commission seeks report from DCs, SPs

Awakening after a long slumber, the Jharkhand State Women commission has   come out to protect women from rising cases of rape and murder. Chairman of Jharkhand State Women’s Commission Kalyani Sharan has issued an instruction to all DCs and SPs of the State seeking work-plan for protection of women, details of cases involving women and action on the accused at the earliest.

Sharan, in a letter issued to all DCs and SPs, has asked the district administration officials to prepare a detailed work-plan of every district to ensure women safety. Also, she has asked to submit a report on the total number of rape cases in their districts in past one year and submit it to the commission. The administration has clearly been asked to state their strategies for women safety in their areas.

Sharan has further asked the DCs and SPs to identify the rape accused and take immediate action against them. At the same time protection of the victims must be ensured. She has instructed the officials to appeal for speedy hearing of the rape cases in Fast Track Courts so that the victims can get justice in time. The chairperson has also suggested the officials to connect the victims with skill development programmes so that they can lead a dignified and self dependent life.

According to reports an alarming number of cases (5,221) have been filed in the last four years against women related crimes. As many as 1,122 cases in 2014, 1198 cases in 2015, 1146 cases in 2016 and 1357 cases of crime against women have been registered in 2017. More than 328 cases have been registered this year till March.

A few steps were taken before to improve the condition of women related crimes but they failed to help. 26 women friendly stations, 24 women police stations, around 5,000 policemen especially for women related cases, “Shakti App” for women using smartphones and women helpline number- 9771432103 was also started for ensuring women safety.

Meanwhile on Saturday, over 300 women from several political and social bodies organised a ‘Sandal March’ holding their footwear in hands against the rising cases of crime against women in the country. The March Started from Sainik Market on MG Marg and culminated at the Albert Ekka Chowk.