Government initiates time-bound action plan to strengthen the police and administration to combat sexual crimes against women

Countrywide three digit emergency number

·         Facility to register FIR in any police station regardless of jurisdiction

·         Database of convicted persons.

·         Recruit more women in police forces

·         Gender sensitivity training for police constables

·         Promote community policing

·         Stress on value education

The Government has initiated a time bound action plan to combat crimes against women. A number of steps have been outlined to improve and strengthen the police and administrative system to ensure that crimes against the women are prevented through quick action, a gender sensitive response mechanism and greater accountability of the enforcement agencies.

The measures outlined deal with changes in the police system, a review of the Motor Vehicles Act, measures to make responses to crimes against women efficient and sensitive and other administrative measures.

The Ordinance promulgated by the President on February 3, 2013 deals with the amendments in the criminal law. These measures are in addition to the Ordinance and cut across various ministries.

The Cabinet Secretary has held a series of meetings recently with senior officials of the concerned Ministries to formulate an action plan within an indicated time frame. Secretaries of seven key ministries have been directed to personally monitor the implementation of these measures and report every month to the Cabinet Secretary and the Prime Minister’s Office.

The steps outlined include the following

·         National Crimes Record Bureau, NCRB will compile a database of persons convicted of criminal offences. The details of criminals convicted of crimes against women will be displayed on their website.

·         Action will be taken to provide the facility of registering an FIR in any police station irrespective of the jurisdiction or area of the time for serious crimes, including issues against women. The FIR may thereafter be transferred to the concerned police station for investigation.

·         The Government proposes to put in place a countrywide three-digit number (such as 100) to respond to all emergency situations. This would be similar like 911 or 990 Emergency Management Systems in vogue in many developed countries. Such a service would be available to subscribers of all telecom service providers as at present there are different telephone numbers being used for responding to different situations or target groups.
Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with the Department of Telecom will, by the end of February 2013, come up with a basic concept note on how the system will be established and will operate.

·         It is important that citizens should not face any harassment when they come forward to assist women in distress. For this, such citizens shall be protected to enable them to freely report a crime and assist the victim/police without being subjected to any interrogation or being forced to become witnesses.

·         There is a continual need for gender sensitization among the police force, particularly at the level of the constabulary on beat duty or at the police stations. For this, training courses need to be organized on a regular basis by the police. At the time of inspection of police stations, it shall be mandatory for the inspecting officer to specifically record his findings regarding the gender sensitivity of the personnel posted in the police station as well as the record of the police station/SHO in registering/investigating complaints of crimes against women, and for checking whether women are being discouraged from lodging complaints in the police stations. Strict action will be taken against police personnel and officers found to be either displaying bias against women or neglecting their supervisory responsibilities in this regard.

·         There is an imperative need to recruit more women in the police force. In order to incentivize the States in this regard, Ministry of Home Affairs will formulate a suitable proposal/scheme within four weeks and obtain necessary approvals.

·         It is also planned to further develop and promote community policing. This would not only augment the effectiveness of the police force but would also motivate the responsible persons in each locality to perform their duty as citizens.

·         ‘Women Only’ buses should be pressed into service. A programme is proposed to be undertaken for encouraging more women driven buses/taxis all over the country.

·          It has been reported that in some instances vehicles have factory-fitted glasses wherein the tint is more than the permissible limit. Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport, in consultation with technical experts and police representatives, will examine what should be the maximum permissible level of tinting in the glasses in public transport buses.

·         Ministry of Home Affairs would develop a protocol over a defined time frame, for verification of the crew of public transport vehicles and suitably advise the State Governments also to undertake the same.

·         The particulars of the bus owner/drivers and details of permit and license shall be prominently displayed in the buses both inside and outside, at places where it is prominently visible in easily readable fonts. Use of GPS devices in all public transport vehicles is necessary along with setting up of a control room to monitor movement of buses. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways would issue an appropriate advisory to all the States in this regard.

·         The negative, stereotyped and/or indecent portrayal of women in movies, television shows and advertisements has been a matter of concern for long. It would be helpful if all stakeholders were to be continuously engaged with in this regard. There is also a need to have a sustained media campaign of public interest advertisements.

·         The role of value education in schools is recognized as being very important. However, merely prescribing it in the curricula/syllabus is not adequate. Teachers should be given training in value education. Sustained awareness campaigns on gender equality need to be undertaken in all schools and colleges and gender modules need to be integrated in the curriculum at every level.

·         It would be useful to impart training to girls in educational institutions in self defence/martial arts for girl children.

·         There is a need for increased focus on street lighting in public places. Civic bodies must undertake a review of the existing facilities and strengthen these wherever required.

·         Department of Women and Child Development will implement a scheme to provide compensation to victims of sexual assault and also a scheme for setting up Crisis Response Centres in select hospitals to provide psychological and other assistance to the victims of sexual assault. The proposed scheme will be implemented in a pilot phase in 100 districts from 2013-14.