Govt asks committee to submit initial recommendations by Jan 2021
Gul Owais
Srinagar, Dec 15: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has finally taken steps to ensure prevention and protection of women from sexual abuse at public, private and work places across the Union Territory.
The government has constituted a committee to finalize arrangements for setting up of ‘One Stop Centres’ across Jammu and Kashmir for monitoring the prevention and protection of women from sexual abuse. The committee has been asked to submit its initial recommendations by 30-01-2021.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of a Committee, comprising of the following, to finalize arrangements for implementation of guidelines regarding setting up of One Stop Centres in every district for monitoring the prevention and protection of women from sexual abuse at public, private or work places in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” an order issued under number 1107-JK (GAD) of 2020, dated 14-12-2020.
The order was issued by Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government states that Principal Secretary to the Government, Social Welfare department has been appointed as Chairman of the committee while Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Representative of Director General of Police, J&K (not below the rank of Inspector General of Police), Representative of Home Department (not below the rank of Special Secretary), Representative of State Legal Services Authority have been appointed as members. As per the order Mission Director, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPD) will be Members Secretary and Representative of Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir (not below the rank of Deputy Director will also be Member (S) of the committee.
The Inspector General (IG) CRPF, J&K, Charu Sinha shall be Special Invitee in the Committee, it said.
The committee has been asked to monitor the establishment of One Stop Centres (OSC) in accordance with the guidelines and SOPS issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. “To prepare a proposal for providing the services required at OSCs, such as emergency response and rescue services, medical assistance, assistance to women in lodging FIR/NCR/DIR, psycho-social counselling, legal aid counselling, shelter, video conferencing to the victims/survivors of rape/sexual abuse,” it further added.
To facilitate the emergency response and rescue services to the women affected by sexual violence, the committee has been further directed, adding that it should ensure medical assistance to women affected by sexual violence, the order in its terms and references section reads. “To assist women in lodging FIR/NCR/DIR, with respect to offence amounting to rape/sexual abuse. To provide psycho-social support/counselling to the women affected by sexual violence. To ensure that counsellors follow a prescribed code of ethics, guidelines and protocols in providing counselling services,” it added.
“To facilitate legal aid and counselling to women victims of sexual violence to enable them to have free legal aid/advice and access to justice through an empanelled lawyers, or UT/District Legal Services Authority. To provide temporary shelter facility to aggrieved women. For long term shelter requirements, arrangements shall be made with Swadhar Greh/Short Stay Homes (managed/affiliated with Government/NGO),” it further said, adding “To provide Video Conferencing facility to the women victims of sexual violence to enable them to have access to speedy and hassle free police and Court proceedings.”
According to the order, the committee shall submit its initial suggestions/recommendations by 30.01.2021 and shall be serviced by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department.
Sexual abuse of women at public, work place places
