Maharashtra government acting half-heartedly on women's safety: NGO

The Maharashtra government may have accepted the recommendations of the Dharmadhikari Committee on women's safety, but it has not implemented them in totality, alleged a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court.

Petitioner Help Mumbai Foundation, an NGO, filed an affidavit on Tuesday highlighting the 'shortcomings' in the Action Taken Report (ATR) of the government which said that several recommendations of the Committee had been implemented. The ATR was submitted recently.

Set up by the government in 2010, the Dharmadhikari Committee, under the leadership of Justice (Retd.) Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, had been asked to suggest measures to curb crimes against women. In seven interim reports, the committee has so far given 144 recommendations of which the government has accepted 109. The affidavit filed by Sana Sayed, director of the NGO, however, says the ATR is lacking in spirit.

Additional government pleader Geeta Shastri informed the HC that the tenure of committee would not be extended as justice Dharmadhikari has said that they would submit the final report by November 15. The HC will hear the PIL next on December 2.


Additional points raised by the NGO
The recommendation for setting up a large number of toilets and lavatories for women should be implemented immediately. The BMC must provide free land and 60% financial assistance to encourage NGOs to build these toilets.

The statement of a rape victim should be recorded only once by a magistrate. Further, it should be treated as examination in chief during trial. This recommendation is pending with the special task force formed by the government on the issue.