Banerjee, who wrote to Modi a few days ago on the issue following the national uproar over the rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9, sought a mandatory provision for time-bound disposal of rape/rape and murder cases.
Banerjee had said on Wednesday that an amendment to the existing laws to ensure capital punishment for convicted rapists will be passed in the state assembly next week.
Banerjee said she was yet to receive a response from the Prime Minister on the issue raised by her and wrote that she had, however, received a communication from the Union Minister for Women and Child Development.
Banerjee maintained that the WCD minister’s letter “barely addresses the gravity of the issue” she raised, writing, “By sending this generic reply, the gravity of the issue and its relevance to the society has not been adequately appreciated.” The CM wrote that the state government has approved 10 exclusive POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) courts.
He further mentioned that 88 special fast track courts and 62 POCSO designated courts are already functioning in West Bengal with state funding.
Banerjee wrote that helpline numbers 112 and 1098 are operational in the state and Dial-100 is also widely used in emergency situations.
WCD Minister Annapurna Devi on Wednesday said the situation of women in West Bengal has been “deteriorating” and criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for not implementing central schemes like fast-track courts and hotlines to deal with crimes against women.
Devi said that the fast track special courts (FTSCs), which were allocated to West Bengal, are not yet operational in the state.
The WCD minister also said the state “failed” to implement key emergency helplines – the Women Helpline (WHL), the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) and the Children Helpline.
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