A high-level multi-disciplinary committee will be constituted to review enforcement of existing laws for the protection of women and children in Andhra Pradesh.
The committee comprising officials from police, women and child development, transport, IT, education, medical and health and labour departments will be headed by the Chief Secretary and it will meet every month to review mechanisms in place and their implementation.
There are laws that come under the purview of various departments. For instance, labour laws stipulate that no woman should be asked to work beyond specific time in the night without providing transport facility to go back home. It will be the responsibility of the committee to enforce all legislations related to women and children.
A set of guidelines have been prepared and approved by the Chief Minister to ensure an atmosphere of safety and security for women and children in addition to monitoring the enforcement of existing laws. They are making mandatory for introducing NCC and NSS schemes in all schools to give self-confidence to girls.
Another area that the multi-disciplinary committee will focus on is community policing. This involves creating awareness about various laws related to women, procedure to be followed if law is violated, said Ms. Poonam Malakondaiah, Principal Secretary, Woman and Child Welfare.
With young girls and women going out to study and work in distant places, the police through their immediate communities will create awareness about recent crime incidents and precautions one should take. While it is not possible to eliminate crime, the objective is to create awareness and keep the community alert and informed. It will prepare women and young girls to safeguard themselves when out on their own and how to send alerts through mobile applications available.
