BJP promises compulsory self-defence course for school girls

New Delhi: BJP on Thursday attacked Congress government over the issue of women`s security and said if voted to power, it will introduce compulsory self-defense course for girls in schools and set up a special force to protect women.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, while announcing measures the party intends to take after it comes to power in Delhi, said Sheila Dikshit government`s "failure" to provide security to women is the "biggest failure" and said BJP wants to create an environment free from "fear, harassment and exploitation". The cases of December 16 gangrape and that of `Guidya` had portrayed the national capital in "bad" light and it is now referred to as the "rape capital", she said. Annoucing the measures, she said the party promises to bring attitudinal change in society towards women, provide them self-defence training, improve law and order situation and adopt an empathetical approach towards a rape victim. "We would focus on gender sensitivity and make it a part of CBSE curriculum, introduce mixed sports events in all schools and colleges to inculcate healthy relationships," she said. The party would encourage self-defense among girls and open judo and karate schools for girls in every municipal ward of the city and provide free training. There would be compulsory self-defense courses in all schools for girls, she said while announcing as part of Delhi BJP`s "10 Din, 10 Iraade" campaign. "Around 1,000 vulnerable spots would be provided "extraordinary" security through lighting, CCTV, round-the-clock patrol. We will raise a new 25,000-strong Delhi Women?s Protection Force (DWPF) which will be trained by international experts and equipped with the latest technology," Swaraj said. She said a "beat cop" system would be enforced to ensure that a policeman, a home guard, or a DWPF officer is always within reach of a citizen. Also, there would be a massive increase in patrolling after dark. Swaraj said CCTV cameras would be installed to ensure 100 per cent visual coverage of more than 2,000 spots in Delhi by the end of 2013-14 and gradually extended to 10,000 over the next five years. There will be effective round-the-clock visual monitoring through a state-of-the-art control centre. Dedicated public transport services will be provided for women in the form of `Ladies Special` buses and metro coaches, she added. "All public transport vehicles including buses, autos and taxis to be mandatorily fitted with GPS devices to enable them to be tracked at all times," she said. "Nirbhaya shocked the conscience of this nation. We must ensure that there will be no more Nirbhayas in Delhi. Strong deterrence and swift punishment are imperative," said Swaraj, adding December 16 shall be observed as "Nirbhaya Divas". Filing FIRs would be made simpler and be the norm, rather than the exception and online or by email registeration following a certain format shall be legalised, she said. The government would set up fast track courts to ensure speedy justice to victims of gender and child abuse, according to Swaraj. "Special attention would be paid to the training of all officers who act as `points of contact` with victims to ensure that they behave in a sensitive and supportive manner," she said, adding hospital and nursing home staff and doctors would be given constant training and re-training in steps to deal with victims of sexual abuse. "Our government would set up a `Special Fund` for free treatment of victims of rape and molestation. Government hospitals will open special departments for victims of abuse and these departments shall be staffed only by women doctors, women psychologists and nurses," she said. A new web portal would enable online reporting of crimes against women, monitoring the progress of investigations, provide links and information about support programs and "name and shame" proclaimed offenders, she said.