Action Planned launched to make Chandigarh Safe City for Women
Chandigarh, March 5, 2019: Department cum Centre for Women Studies and Development, Panjab University, Chandigarh and the British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh organized a programme to launch Action Plan to make Chandigarh a city safe from violence against women and girls, here today.
The Action Plan was launched by Justice Sh.Mohinder Pal (Retd.) formerly of Gujarat High Court in the presence of His Excellency Mr Andrew Ayre, British Deputy High Commissioner, BibiHarjinderKaur, Chairperson of Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Prof. Raj Kumar, PU VC .
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mohinder Pal stressed the need for such a plan in making Chandigarh a city that was indeed a City Beautiful.
Every woman and girl child has a right to live with dignity and violence free life both in public and private spaces.
BibiHarjinderKaur stressed that it was indeed a matter of shame in Chandigarh half the population did not feel secure enough to move around in the city.
His Excellency Mr Andrew Ayre also stressed upon the need for an equal and just city for all and applauded the city for launch of the Action Plan .He informed that UK has always supported and addressed women issues .He stressed on gender balance by saying that together we can and violence .
The Vice Chancellor Sh. Raj Kumar stressed the need for the use of technology in the implementation of the action plan and the necessity for sticking to a timeline in order to achieve results.
Prof. Pam Rajput, the Project Co-ordinator, highlighted the grim situation regarding the vulnerability of women and girls in Chandigarh. Chandigarh, she said, ranked at number 11 in terms of the crimes committed against women and girls in Chandigarh. She further said that no city can be a smart city till it is a safe city. She further added that in 2016 under POCSO act, 51 cases were registered out of which 41 cases were of rape and 10 of sexual assault. It was further informed that 1 crime is committed against woman every 2 mins,1 assault on woman with attempt to outrage modesty every 6.4 minutes,1 rape case every 15 minutes,1 attempt to rape every 2 hours,1 kidnapping and abduction case every 9 minutes and 1 dowry death every 1.15 hours.
The launch of the Action Plan included the release of a poster as well as a booklet including the details of the Action Plan.
The function was attended by over 200 people including representatives from U.T. Administration, Municipal Corporation, Civil Society Organisations as well as faculty members and scholars from Panjab University.