L-G: Set up study group over crime against women

New Delhi: Lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Thursday issued directions to constitute a study group comprising eminent sociologists, psychologists and experts to analyse the root cause of rising crimes against women and recommend corrective action. Mr Baijal also ordered to set up standing committee of officers from the departments concerned — the police, the Women and Child Development, the higher education — to have a structured mechanism to coordinate on women safety issues.

The L-G has directed chief secretary M.M. Kutty to coordinate between agencies on the issue and also ensure an action taken report is submitted within one month. The directions were issued at a high-level meeting on women safety, chaired by Mr Baijal, where the chief secretary, police commissioner Amulya Patnaik, Delhi home secretary, special commissioners (law & order), special commissioners (traffic), joint commissioners (all ranges) were present.

“A study group comprising eminent sociologists, psychologists and experts need to be constituted to study, analyse the root causes of offences against women in the city and recommend corrective action. Appropriate proposal should be put up before the Lt. Governor after consulting all stake holders,” the L-G office said in a statement.

It also stated that a mechanism should be evolved to enable interaction at the field level also i.e. schools, colleges, police stations. This interaction should happen in a periodic and structured manner with proper follow up.

In the meeting, it was also decided that the police will share list of vulnerable routes and dark spots with agencies concerned which will give a status report on corrective action taken by them. The lieutenant-governor has directed to explore the possibility of setting up dedicated “forensic facility” to deal with cases relating to offences against women and also installation of high mast lights in dark spots.

Apart from that, it was decided that adequate number of public toilets and night shelters for women should be provided. Sufficient number of creches, day care centre for children, particularly in resettlement, slum, JJ clusters, migrant labour settlements, must be provided, the statement added.

Mr Baijal, who had taken charge as the Lt Governor on December 31, also directed excise department to conduct a drive to check the menace of underage drinking in the city and take exemplary deterrent action.

In November, the AAP government had also launched a drive against open drinking outside liquor shops.