Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said that there are attempts on the part of some political parties to “derail” the Nirbhaya scheme, which was formally launched by the Home Ministry to fight violence against women and children.
Addressing a ‘Kudumbasneha Sandesha Yatra’ of the Janasree Mission here on Sunday, the Minister said the project was not meant to protect the interest of any political party, but to ensure safety of women and children. He said the government did not want to give it a political colour and people should be vigil against all such crooked attempts. Mr. Chennithala said the scheme would chip in the participation of women from all deserving communities, including Kudumbasree and Janasree missions. The government would enrol only women who were socially-committed and free to work without any financial reward, he said.
The Minister said there would be no fixed salary for the women enrolled as volunteers under the scheme. As per the present plan, over 10,500 women would be enrolled in the first phase, based on their commitment and social service mentality, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Explaining the measures to track the illicit liquor traders and drug peddlers in the State, the Minister said the police would concentrate more on the surroundings of educational institutions, including schools and colleges, in the coming days. ‘‘This is following reports on the increasing incidents of drug abuse among students, mainly as a result of family splits and disintegration,” he said.
He said the police had been asked to check the sale of banned pan masala products and other drugs on the premises of educational institutions. “Action will be taken in all such cases and the effect is already visible from some parts of the State,” he said.