Chennai: The initiative “e-box” will be launched on August 26 to help protect children against abuse and efforts are on to release a “national list” of sexual offenders to help prevent crimes against women and children, minister for women and child development, Maneka Gandhi said in Chennai on Tuesday.
“We are consulting with NGOs across the country to make India’s first anti-trafficking bill...it will be made into law by December,” she said while speaking at a function held in support of rescue and rehabilitation of children under project “Abhayam” of Daya Foundation, helmed by Latha Rajinikanth.
Explaining further, Ms Gandhi said till now there was no specific bill that took into account the various aspects of trafficking. The proposed bill on Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation), is aimed at creating “a strong legal, economic and social environment against trafficking of persons and related matters.”
Under the “e-box” plan, any child who has been touched inappropriately can open the e-box on computer and file a complaint. “It will be fully confidential and proper action will be taken on the complaints,” Ms Maneka informed and urged school principals and other sections in the society to create awareness on the initiative among children.
Children become victims of molestation by teachers, shopkeepers or even family members. The initiative would help such victims, she said and added that the previous scheme of placing a complaint box in schools could not be relied for reasons of confidentiality. The Union home ministry has been asked to prepare a national list of sexual offenders soon because “police seldom share knowledge.” Hence, it becomes difficult when the offender moves from one state to another.
