Women have no freedom and security even 70 years after Independence, according to Andhra Pradesh Mahila Commission chairperson Nannapaneni Rajakumari.
She was speaking at the State-level interaction organised by various NGOs with victims of trafficking here on Sunday, which was observed as the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
“Many girls and women are crying for help in the State as they face domestic violence, dowry harassment, trafficking, sexual assault and female foeticide, and the laws enacted to protect them are not being enforced properly,” she observed, and sought budgetary allocation exclusively to help the victims of trafficking.
Ms. Rajakumari said crime against women could be checked only when there was a change in the attitude towards them.
“Social media, movies, smart phones and advanced technology are spoiling the lives of the youngsters instead of helping them,” she said, and asked girls to exercise caution while using electronic gadgets.
Women’s reservation
“The Bill seeking to extend 33% reservation for women has been pending in the legislative bodies for the last few years because of lack of proper support,” Ms. Rajakumari said, and insisted that steps be initiated to pass the Bill in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha immediately.
Referring to a few case studies on how minor girls were being lured, member of the commission Sirigineni Rajyalakshmi asked youngsters not to believe strangers in social media groups and land themselves in trouble.
Ms. Rajyalakshmi asked parents and teachers to keep a vigil on the movements of their children, focus on teaching them morals and ethics and prevent them from walking into the trapped laid by anti-social elements.
Ms. Rajakumari interacted with the victims of trafficking and enquired with the programme organiser and HELP director, N.V.S. Rammohan, about their health condition, education and rehabilitation. She promised to help the victims in pursuing their education.
APSRTC Vijayawada regional manager P.V. Rama Rao said conductors were being trained to keep a tab on traffickers in buses and CCTVs were arranged to identify anti-social elements at bus stations.
Ecpat International South Asia coordinator Rajib K. Haldar, Vimukthi director Vijaya Nirmala and Childline coordinator A. Ramesh participated.
