Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 7: Deputy commissioner of the district G Jagadeesha urged the people and the officials to extend succour to women and children who are aggrieved, become destitute or have suffered atrocities apart from providing them shelter and extending legal aid.

He was speaking after presiding over the district level committee meeting of 'Sakhi One Stop' centres held at the auditorium of his office on Tuesday, October 6 where issues like 'Santwana' scheme, domestic violence, protection of women, stoppling of women and child trafficking, ban on child marriages, prohibition on consumption of drugs etc were discussed.

Jagadeesha mentioned that there are several laws on exploitation of women and children and to stop atrocities on them. He urged the people to create awareness about these laws among the women, extend more support to the aggrieved and instill a sense of confidence besides providing shelter.

He noted that from December till now 187 cases have been registered in the Santwana centres and a total of 401 cases including the above were received. Out of them 180 have been disposed of while 165 are under trial. 56 have gone to courts. He asked the officials to dispose of the remaining cases as soon as possible.

Under the Protection of Children from Sexual offences Act (POCSO), 33 cases were registered during this year. 22 have been investigated and charge sheets were filed in the court. 11 are in different stages of investigation. The women and child trafficking prohibition, ban on child marriage and integrated children protection committees functioning at the gram panchayat level should meet once in three months, he directed.

Jagadeesha specifically asked the officials to keep an eye on areas occupied by workers from other states and districts who have come to the district seeking employment to ensure that child marriages do not happen. "We should increase police beet system there. We should find out agencies which promise women of employment in other countries and cheat them, and take action against them," he told the police.

"We should be very careful to see that sexual harassment does not take place in work places. Work shops should be conducted to educate people about whom to contact in case of sexual harassment and how to get legal hellp," he said.

The Dc said that 29 cases of drug trafficking and sale have been registered in the district and 687 have been arrested, the officials said. They also added that cases of consuming drugs have been registered against 207 people.

Zilla panchayat vice president Dheela K Dhetty, zilla panchayat chief executive officer Dr Y Naveen Bhat, district legal services authority member secretary Kaveri, social justice committee chairperson Shobha G Puran, deputy director of women and child development department R Sheshhsppa, and district health officer Sudhir Chadra Sooda were present.