New Delhi, Apr 19 (UNI) Signalling its intent to crackdown on rape of minor children, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi has outlined various steps to be taken by states/UTs in
preventing and curbing violence against women and children, including setting up of a special cell specially for
sexual offences on children.
In a letter addressed to Chief Ministers of all states/UTs, Ms Gandhi has outlined various steps to be taken
by the states/UTs in preventing and curbing the crimes against women and children.
Among the steps to be implemented by the states are forming a special cell only for sexual offences or specially
for sexual offences on children, retraining for all police officers on various aspects of sexual offences and strict
action against those police officers found to be obstructing the investigation or colluding with the perpetrators
of such cases.
The letter also stressed that Section 21 of the POCSO Act may be invoked in all cases wherever failure to
report or record was noted. Section 21 states that any officer who failed to report or record the commission
of an offence under section 19/20 of the Act is liable for punishment.
It wanted that instructions be issued to all police officers for giving utmost priority to complete the investigation of cases of sexual offences against children strictly as per the timelines of law. A quick and timely professional investigation was the only means by which a potential offender could be deterred but this could be done only by the states as the police department was the state subject. Forming a special cell only for sexual
offences or specially for sexual offences on children, would be a significant step in this regard.
Further, the Minister offered help to state governments in establishing forensic laboratories in states
for forensic analysis of evidence in the investigation of sexual offences.
The WCD Minister called for suggestions from the state Governments on dealing with the crimes against
women and children. At the same time she requested the states to generate awareness among the children
in using the e-box set up under POCSO with child-help line number 1098. She also highlighted that till date
175 One Stop Centres (OSCs) for women affected by violence had been set up by the ministry to help those
women who had no access to either police or medical facilities or were not able to visit a police station in times
of distress, an official release here said.
UNI SD SW 1519