New Delhi, Sep 11 (PTI) The Delhi Commission for Women must strengthen its online complaint system and step up awareness campaigns in schools and colleges on cybercrimes and the POCSO Act, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday.
She also stressed the need for easier and more responsive grievance redressal for women and girls.
The chief minister made the remarks at a meeting with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) at Janseva Sadan. DCW Chairperson Lata Gupta, its members and senior officials attended the meeting, according to a statement released here.
At the meeting, Gupta emphasised the need to raise awareness about HPV vaccination among eligible adolescent girls, particularly those from disadvantaged sections, and called for a review of facilities at One Stop Centres and women’s shelter and care institutions.
College students should be specifically made aware of ways to protect themselves from cybercrimes, she said, according to the statement. She asked the commission to conduct campaigns on online harassment, misuse of social media, cyber fraud and other digital crimes, besides informing students about where and how to file complaints.
She also stressed the need to educate girls about their rights and legal provisions available to protect them from sexual offences.
The commission was asked to conduct awareness programmes in schools and colleges on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and inform girls about the assistance and complaint mechanisms available to them.
The chief minister advised the DCW to coordinate with the departments concerned to ensure dissemination of accurate information about free HPV vaccination and access to the facility.
On the online complaint system, Gupta said a simple, accessible and reliable mechanism to report issues such as domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and harassment is necessary.
She said the system should allow women to register complaints easily and remain informed about their status and disposal.
The commission should make its functioning more responsive to the needs of women and ensure prompt and sensitive handling of grievances, she said.
Gupta also stressed the need to visit and review arrangements at One Stop Centres, which provide assistance to women in crisis, as well as women’s shelter and care institutions run by the government and non-governmental organisations.
Women staying at these institutions should receive necessary medical care, counselling, legal assistance and rehabilitation support in a safe environment, the chief minister said.
The commission’s role in addressing women’s issues should not be limited to action after a complaint is received, she said, stressing the need for its presence to be strengthened for awareness, prevention, assistance, as well as grievance redressal. PTI SHB PRK
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