Ensure safety of girl child: NCW urges government

The government, civil society and other stakeholders must work together to ensure a safe future for girls in every part of India, NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch of a status report on the condition of girls in the country by NGO Save the Children, Kumaramangalam said: "Despite laws on girls' safety, the process of implementation is weak. The civil society, government and other stakeholders must work together to ensure a safe future for girls in every part of India."

Highlighting the increasing incidents of female foeticide, molestation and sexual abuse, Kumaramangalam said the society needed to change its 'hypocritical' mindset when it comes to the safety of girl child.

According to the report, of the 11,502 cases of child rape reported between 2011 and 2012, charge sheets were filed in only 7,539 cases and just 1,447 people were convicted.

The report strongly recommended that a National Policy for Girl Child be formulated to guide and form all laws, policies, plans and programmes directed at girl child.

Currently, there are several policies at national and state level yet to have a comprehensive and coordinated action, it is significant to rely on targeted National Policy, the report suggested.