Check crimes against women: LS members

Lok Sabha members Friday demanded steps to check atrocities against women and children and 33 per cent reservation for women in parliament.

Participating in a discussion on rising atrocities against women and children, Trinamool Congress MP Ratna De Nag said: "Gender-based violence can only be eliminated by promoting equality. No nation can progress without women's participation."

Poonam Mahajan of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) felt that though women were moving ahead in various fields, they are facing security issues at some level.

Observing that a large number of atrocities take place in remote areas of the country, she said: "I welcome the concept of grievance cells proposed by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi."

She said the National Commission for Women (NCW) needed to be remodelled on the lines of the National Human Rights Commission as NCW is not able to properly support women in distress.

Dushyant Chautala of the Indian National Lok Dal said the government should take steps to prevent trafficking of children.

Assam MP Baddrudin Ajmal of the All India Democratic Front said all MPs pay lip service to providing reservation to women in parliament, but nobody supports it on the floor of the house. He demanded women be given 33 percent reservation in parliament.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Women's Reservation Bill March 9, 2010 but the Lok Sabha has not yet voted on it.

BJP's Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole said that crimes against women were rising in Uttar Pradesh, adding that the police and administration were patronising criminals.

"I demand the UP government should be dismissed immediately as there is complete breakdown of law and order," she said.