A one-stop crisis centre in every district to help any woman in trouble, giving the National Commission for Women (NCW) the power to question an accused and a stricter law for juveniles accused of heinous crimes. These are among the slew of measures announced by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday at an event organised in memory of the December 16 gang-rape victim here.
“This one-stop crisis centre will be opened in a phased manner. There will be a doctor, nurse, psychologist, police and lawyer associated with every centre to help a woman in crisis like victims of rape, domestic violence, acid attacks, stalking. This will assist the woman deal with all aspects of getting help, there will be no need for her to go from a police station to courts for years together to get justice,” said Ms. Gandhi.
A stricter law for trying a juvenile who has committed a heinous crime like rape will soon be tabled during the Monsoon Session. “If the juvenile has acted with the mind of an adult and carried out pre-meditated crime, he will be tried and punished like an adult.”
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The NCW had no real power, felt Ms. Gandhi, and soon this problem will be rectified.
“The accused can be summoned, questioned and sent to jail for contempt of the NCW,” said Ms. Gandhi.