Lack of coordination between various government departments involved in protection of women and children; lack of legal awareness among officials; and an abysmally low conviction rate in the cases, are some of the issues in the preliminary report of the expert committee on prevention of crimes against women and children, headed by V.S. Ugrappa, Congress MLC.
In its 48-page report submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday, the members made 18 general recommendations and reviewed 10 cases of atrocities against women and children that occurred in the last six months, making independent recommendation for each case.
Addressing presspersons, Mr. Ugrappa said the committee needed six more months to submit a final report. He said the government should enhance punishment for offences of sexual assault and evolve stringent penal provisions, if necessary by amending the relevant laws.
No redressal cells
“We visited seven districts in the last six months and noticed that none of the departments in the State had constituted a grievance redressal cell for women, which has been made mandatory by the Supreme Court,” he said.
“Although the cell exists in some districts, it does not have any representatives from NGOs or from social groups,” he said, adding that the committee had taken serious note of this lapse. Also, most officials could not differentiate between the terms ‘kidnap’ and ‘missing’, he said.
Low conviction
Expressing displeasure over the abysmally low conviction rate in rape cases (3 per cent) in the State, Mr. Ugrappa said: “We also observed that about 90 per cent of the rape victims in the State belong to SC, ST and oppressed communities, and 90 per cent of the accused have a strong social and political background.”
“While no efforts have been made to appeal in a higher court in 97 per cent of the acquittal cases of rapes, every case of conviction had reached the upper courts, questioning the orders of the lower courts,” he said.
