Bill to check crime against women passed unanimously

Raipur, March 21, 2013

State assembly on Thursday unanimously passed Criminal Law (Chhattisgarh Amendment) Bill 2013 which is aimed to check crime against women. 

“The government is committed to protect women. There has been host of cases post Delhi gangrape incident. Considering this, we have brought this bill in the House,” said home minister Nankiram Kanwar who tabled the bill Vidhan Sabha.

He claimed that crime rate in state declined by 4%, especially crime against women.

“We have also started women helpline number, women desk and opened Mahila Thana in Raipur, Drug, Bilaspur and Sarguja to check women abuse cases,” he said.

Earlier, participating in debate Congress MLA Ambika Markam termed the bill as welcoming move for security of womenfolk. She pointed that sexual harassment of rural women continues as they hesitate in lodging complain against the accused. 

She suggested for increasing female police staff by fifty percent in rural pockets so that they could deal rape victims more sympathetically. She said the government should also ensure to appoint only female staff in girls ashram schools to prevent reiteration of Jhaliyamari (Kanker) incident. She also sought provision of stern action against those who molest children.  

She further suggested that female police staff should be pressed in civil dress near schools and colleges to prevent eve-teasing incidents. 

The BJP MLA Deepak Kumar Patel said the bill intended to strengthen womenfolk. He indicated that there was a provision of punishment in the bill for sending vulgar messages to harass women through cellphones. 

Congress MLA Pratima Chandrakar said the bill would boost self-confidence of the women. She said the government should ensure the rape accused may not escape punishment as it usually happens in the absence of evidence.

Congress MLA Dr Renu Jogi did not find anything new in the bill. She said even if the government would follow existing rules, crime against women would come down. She said the bill should not just become a mask and the provisions in it should be implemented at ground level.

The BSP MLA Doojram Boudh and Congress MLA Dr Haridas Bhardwaj asked the government to give pistol licence to women for self-defence. 

Three more bills passed in VS

The House also passed three more bills on Thursday. The bills are - International Institute of Information Technology University Bill 2013, Chhattisgarh Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill 2013 and Chhattisgarh University (Amendment) Bill2013.

Provisions under Criminal Law (Chhattisgarh Amendment) Bill 2013 are..

If a relative or a person would try to rape a woman who she trusts, he would be penalised.

If a relative will rape a woman, he will be penalised.

During rape, if the people present on the occasion intend to save the criminal and do not prevent the incident or fail to inform the police about it, punitive action will be taken against them.

If rape occurs at workplace, the incharge person would be penalised for not stopping the incident or for failing to inform about it to the police.

The people who use electronic means to physically abuse a woman would be punished.

The audio-video statement of rape victim will be taken by a female police officer as an evidence of the incident.

Medical examination of the rape victim will be done by female doctor.

The police can take presumption against rapist.

Youth get right to skill development

Govt to impart training in over 1400 disciplines

Raipur, March 21, 2013

Now, the state youth will have right to skill development as the state assembly unanimously passed Right to Skill Development to Youth Bill 2013 on Thursday. Under this right, the government will mandatorily provide opportunity for skill development to a candidate (between 14 to 45 years of age) within 90 days of his application.

Tabling this bill in the House, technical education minister Ramvichar Netam informed that the youth, aiming to enhance their skill to get job or start self-employment, would have option to get training in any of over 1400 disciplines. 

“We have uploaded information about these disciplines in the official website of the department too. Now, if a youngster could not continue his studies and fail to get job then he can apply for skill development and we will arrange training programme for him,” the minister said. 

He informed that the government had targeted to impart 1.25 crore youth by 2022. 

Terming the bill as boon to youth, he said although Chhattisgarh had immense possibilities, the youth move to other states in search of jobs, however, the bill gives them the right they deserve.

The minister even claimed that the bill was first of its kind in the world.

Leader of opposition Ravindra Choubey said the principal opposition was already surprised how the government claimed of getting national-level awards and now the minister was claiming the bill as first and foremost in the world. “Who will give you award, USA president Barack Obama,” he asked. 

Pointing that the bill was tabled in haste, he said let it not become just a poll promise and basic requisite for training should be arranged to benefit the youth. He said the government could start at last 10 disciplines in every block initially. He also suggested for opening rural training centres.