DCW sends notice to CBI, pvt firm

DCW has issued notices to CBI, the Delhi government and a company contracted to provide sanitary napkins to Delhi government schools after taking suo motu cognisance of a media report that the supply was discontinued under the influence of the investigative agency.
In its notice to the company, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal has sought a detailed report on the news item and inquired as to the reasons for the discontinuation of the supply of sanitary napkins.
Under the Kishori Yojana, free-of-cost sanitary napkins are provided to an estimated 7.3 lakh girls between classes 6 and 12 at all Delhi government schools since 2012, she said, adding that "the discontinuation of supply of sanitary napkins shall adversely affect the health and hygiene of adolescent girls".

"It may also affect their school attendance during menstruation... The sudden withdrawal from the contract by the said company may severely impact the supply of sanitary napkins to Delhi government schools and be detrimental to the welfare of adolescent girls in Delhi," she said in the notice.
Maliwal asked CBI Director Anil Sinha to submit a report on the allegations made in the news story.
"CBI is entrusted with the role of being the highest enforcement agency of the country. The newspaper report is very disturbing and needs to be urgently enquired into," she said in her notice sent to the investigative agency.

The DCW chief further sought an "enquiry report on the allegations raised in the news report and, if found guilty, details of action proposed against personnel responsible for the lapse".

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of the rape of three
minors, Maliwal strongly urged the Centre and Delhi government to work together to to ensure that no child rapes occur in the city. There should be no politics over women's safety in the national capital, she said.
She also called for the creation of a forum "wherein the LG, Union Home Minister, GNCTD, DCW and the Delhi Police Commissioner must meet at least once a week to review the progress of the measures being taken for improving the safety and security of women in Delhi".

She also urged Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to notify police station-level committees that will fix accountability of Delhi Police for effective law and order enforcement.
Jung was further urged to notify the revised compensation scheme for sexual assault victims.
"DCW worked with the Delhi government to increase the quantum of compensation to rape victims from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh; and to acid attack victims from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 12 lakh and for time-bound disbursement of these funds. However, the victim is not able to avail the support that the government wishes to extend to them as the Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme is yet to be notified.

"It is the earnest request of the commission that the same be notified at the earliest," she said.