Mysuru: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Ms Maneka Gandhi said that as many as 81 children had reported about suffering molestation in the E Box meant to report such abuse, which has been launched in the website of her department two weeks ago.
She was speaking at the valedictory of golden jubilee celebrations of JSS College of Arts, Commerce and Science, here on Friday.
She said, “Most of the children who suffer molestation by either teachers, neighbours or any others, won’t reveal this to anybody, but they will remember it and it might affect them psychologically in the latter part of their life. Keeping this in mind, the E box has been initiated where either children or anybody else can report about molestation. The case will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. An Anti-trafficking bill is also coming up,” she assured.
Ms Maneka Gandhi said, “There is a government order to all education institution to give away Gender champion special prize, as part of imparting moral values, to one boy in every class, who is very nice and helpful towards all girls in the class. Such an initiative at that level, will help society in the long run. In order to bring in equality, we have recommended that states recruit 33 per cent women in the police force. Already seven states have implemented this proposal and there has been less crime against women in these States. Karnataka should consider it,” she said.
She added, “From January, on every cell phone there will be a panic button which will help the police to come and help a woman in case she foresees harm. As many as 200,000 women have enrolled in Mahile E-haat wherein a woman can showcase her product free of cost, be it laddu or Mysore pak or sarees she has woven. Buyers will come to her directly. The department has taken up STEP, an initiative wherein the government gives funds upto Rs 30 lakh to an NGO which can train 200 women per year in anything that will fetch her a job. The Bill on six months maternity leave for working women will be approved in the coming session,” she said.
On the political situation in UP, she said, “The internal conflict in the ruling Samajwadi party will directly benefit BJP. The BJP has been extremely strong in UP.”
Asked if her son Mr Varun Gandhi was the Chief Ministerial candidate of BJP for UP in the forthcoming polls, she said, “It is not yet decided. And it is left to the BJP high command.”
