Government mulls setting up computer-aided dispatch platforms
To improve efficiency in responding to women distress calls and provide speedy help, the government is planning to set up computer-aided dispatch platforms in 114 cities across the country, including 41 highly crime-prone.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said his Ministry has envisaged establishment of platforms for supporting Geographical Information System based call taking and Global Positioning based police vehicle dispatch function that will help to improve the efficiency in responding to women distress calls and provide speedy assistance.
“The project is to be implemented in 114 identified cities, which includes 54 cities having a population of more than one million, cities/towns which are capitals of the state or union territories as well as headquarters of 41 highly crime-prone districts,” he told Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
The project involves a total expenditure of Rs 321.69 crore which includes an implementation cost of Rs 102.12 crore and expenses for the central monitoring and evaluation project management unit of Rs 15.32 crore.
Singh said the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal on February 5, 2014 and has sanctioned a total of Rs 32.69 crore out of the Nirbhaya Fund.
The Home Minister said Section 357A of the CrPC stipulates that every state government in consultation with the Central government shall prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victims of sexual assault and other assault cases.
The Home Ministry is overseeing the notification and implementation of victim compensation scheme by states and union territories.
Replying to a supplementary, the Home Minister said the NDA government was determined to ensure safety and security of women.
Singh said steps are being taken to set up ‘one stop crisis centre’ in every district in the country to offer medical facility, police and legal help to the victims of sexual assaults.
Singh said as per the recommendations of the Justic J S Verma Committee, the government has already changed the IPC and CrPC taking into consideration concerns of women, their safety, security and speedy justice.
“A rape victim has to undergo lots of pain and humilitaion. Keeping all these aspects in mind, the government has changed the law and asked the state governments to take all possible steps for the safety and security of women. Necessary advisories were also sent to all states governments in this regard,” he said.
The Home Minister said following a recommendation of the Justic Verma Committee, government is taking steps for inclusion of a chapter in text books to inculcate “commitment for values” among the students.
Besides, he said, police forces are being sensitised to be gender sensitive and asked those police stations, which do not have any police woman, to bring women officials of other to take statements of sexual crime victims.
Singh said the number of registered cases, including those involving juveniles, have increased across the country following strict order of the government to take action against those police officers who refuse to register FIR.
The Minister said instructions have been issued to complete the trial in crime against women cases within two months.
(Source:PTI)