What was one the major agenda of the BJP government led by Narendra Modi, is now being treated as a sub-ordinary matter. It can be said as a sheer case of “Aya Ram, Gaya Ram” where the intention changes after achieving victory. BJP has denied to establish rape crisis centres in every district. Rather they are now planning to open such one centres each in a state or in Union Territory.
Maneka Gandhi, the minister for Union Women & Child Development, propagated to establish 660 Nirbhaya Centres, one each in 640 district and another 20 in metropolitan cities, which is now cut short to only 36 centres. Moreover, the budget was also slashed from Rs.244.48 crore to Rs.18 crore only. It come as a sudden surprise since women safety was considered as the main propaganda by the Modi Government.
Jagmati Sangwan of the All India Democratic Women’s Association criticized this move and said it is “an impractical solution to a problem of mammoth proportions”, she argued, “If a woman is raped in Jaisalmer, say, she will not go to a crisis centre in Jaipur,”.
Originally the plan was to make double storey centres costing Rs.36.98 lacs each, which has been demolished now. The reason stated behind this sudden change was cited as that it is a waste, rather they suggested one stop centres cum protected shelters where the victim will be privately counselled, treated and rehabilitated.
Do you think this is the right move towards eradicating such a big problem?