AP's panel reviews 'Beti Bachao ' Beti Padhao'

Hyderabad, Aug 18 (INN): The State Level Coordination Committee held in second meeting on Tuesday to review the implementation of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' (BBBP) scheme and other related issues of Women Development and Child Welfare Department.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who chaired the meeting, said that lack of registrations lead to second marriages, illegal and child marriages and women are deprived to claim their right in the absence of marriage certificate. Compulsory marriage registration Act should be implemented by the creating awareness among the people in the State. Through protection of women from Domestic Violence (DV) Act enables to provide effective protection of Women rights guaranteed under the Constitution to the victims of violence of any kind occurring within the family Free Legal Services should be provided by State / District Legal Services Authority to the DV Act victims. Samjhauta Centres to be established in each District to counsel DV Act victims.

Prevention of gender biased sex selective elimination, ensuring survival and protection of the girl child, ensuring education and participation of the girl child are the objectives of BBBP Scheme. Through the Government and other private Institutions awareness campaigns may be taken up on Child Sex Ratio/enrolment and retention of girls in schools/prevention of Early/Child Marriage.

The Chief Secretary directed the Medical and Health Department Officials 'find out the hospitals those who are encouraging the cesarean surgeries disproportionately instead of normal birth deliveries, severe action may be initiated on the hospitals to control it and to encourage normal deliveries'. Monthly once review to be done on BBBP Scheme, Chief Secretary suggested.

There is a need to establish State Home, Forensic Labs and strengthening of DNA Labs in the State. Home Department is requested to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs to review all extradition treaties with emphasis on INTERPOL Protocols for the cases, where the accused is an NRI, it has been found that to prosecute him in the country is difficult as he invariably does not return to the country causing great mental agony to the victim.

School Education Department with the help of NGOs may made it mandatory to give unarmed training to the girls to protect to protect themselves from eve teasing and other attacks. The Cyber Regulatory Authority Committee under the IT Act should work out possible mechanisms to block pornography material on internet. Labour Department should take up campaigns regarding the laws applicable to women in all the major malls, shops and establishments and the women help line number should also be mentioned on the banner to facilitate the calling of the above number when any women employee who feels harassed or victimized.

All committees under Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, Municipal and Urban Development working on women issues at village level should be merged as a single committee known as Stree Shakti Committee. They should meet once in a month to discuss women and children issues. Women Development Department has to monitor the Registration for working women's hostels and homes should be made mandatory and legislation in this regard should be brought immediately with Biometry systems for access to these hostels to be put into place. The list of such registered hostels / homes / facilities should be handed over to the District Superintendent of Police for proper check and monitoring. The District Superintendent of Police will arrange for police beats to cover regularly all such homes particularly during night hours.

There is a need to prepare a comprehensive girl child policy including State Action plan by all line Departments on Improvement of Child Sex Ratio (CSR - Girl Child), Stop Child marriages, Child labour, Child Trafficking, Child Abuse, Crime against girl child, Enrolment of Girls from Primary to Higher Education, Improvement of Girl Child Health and Nutrition Status, Water and sanitation in Schools, Soft and life skills etc., the Chief Secretary said.