New Delhi: As members sought to corner him on
increasing crime against women and children, Home Minister P
Chidambaram said state governments cannot shirk responsibility
in implementing law and order to rein in such incidents.
Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour
that the Centre issued advisories to state governments from
time to time on implementation of law and order.
"These advisories are intended to be directives to the
state government," he said and asked members to take up such
issues with the state governments.
Chidambaram said the Centre often gets criticised for
"encroaching" upon the rights of the states when such
advisories are issued.
"All of us respect and zealously guard the rights of the
states," he said.
Members sought to know from Chidambaram by when the
government would be able to take effective steps in curbing
crime against women and children.
"The government keeps saying that law and order is a state
subject and it has issued advisory to the state government.
How long will the government keep making the same statements,"
asked Meena Singh (JD-U).
Chidambaram said the government was in the process of
setting up 335 anti-human trafficking units in the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has released Rs 8.72 crore as
first instalment to all state governments for establishment of
110 anti-human trafficking units, he said.
The Home Minister said the NHRC had registered 23,608
complaints regarding violation of human rights of women,
including trafficking between April 2007 and January 31, 2011.
"Out of these cases, 23,254 cases have been disposed and
354 cases are pending for consideration," he said.
During the same period, the NHRC registered 1917
complaints regarding violation of human rights of children of
which 1779 case have be disposed, he said.
Chidambaram said in 39 cases of proven violation of human
rights of women, the NHRC had recommended monetary relief
amounting to Rs 35.25 lakh.
In 19 case of proven violation of human rights of
children, the Commission recommended monetary relief of 54.27
lakh, he said.
Kabindra Purakayastha (BJP) expressed concern over
increase in crime against women, particularly those from the
north east, in Delhi and said the national capital region has
become a den of crime.
Chidambaram said crime against women in Delhi was a serious
issue but maintained that the number of incidents have
witnessed a decline in the last few months.
PTI
