Govt. has taken several measures to empower, protect dignity of women: Prez

Asserting that the government has taken several measures to empower and protect the dignity of women, President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said 'One Stop Crisis Centres' are being set up for provision of integrated services including medical aid, police assistance, temporary shelter, and legal and psycho-social counseling to women affected by violence.

In his address to both houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session, President Mukherjee said women have had a place of reverence in our society since time immemorial.

"My government has taken several measures to empower and protect the dignity of women. To provide complete support to women affected by violence, One Stop Crisis Centres, one in every State, are being set up for provision of integrated services including medical aid, police assistance, temporary shelter, and legal and psycho-social counselling," he added.

President Mukherjee said another initiative to ensure women's safety in Delhi has been the launch of 'Himmat', a mobile-based application.

"The unabated decline in child sex ratio since 1961 is a matter of grave concern. This trend has to be reversed. To ensure survival, protection and education of the girl child, my government has launched 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Abhiyaan', which seeks to change mindsets to celebrate the girl child. A new small saving scheme 'Sukanya Samriddhi Account' has been notified for enabling the education of the girl child. A Bill to amend Juvenile Justice Act has been introduced in Parliament to reform the law relating to juvenile offences," President Mukherjee said.

"My government is committed to implement the idea of SMART Police (Smart but Sensitive, Modern and Mobile, Alert and Accountable, Reliable and Responsive, Tech-savvy and well Trained) to provide efficient, courteous and effective citizen services and meet the operational needs of the police personnel including women police personnel,' he added.

The Budget Session, which contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business, began today with President Mukherjee's address.

The first part of the Budget Session will continue till March 20 while the second part will commence after a month-long break from April 20 and conclude on May 8.

The Rail Budget will be presented on February 26, Economic Survey on February 27 and General Budget on February 28.