Zero tolerance policy towards violence against women: Govt

Amid public outrage over gangrape and murder of two girls in Uttar Pradesh, the Narendra Modi government today vowed "zero tolerance" policy towards violence against women and reform of criminal justice system simpler, quicker and more effective delivery of justice.
It also promised to launch a mass campaign for saving the girl child and enabling her education under the 'Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao' (save daughter, educate daughter) besides a resolve to provide them 33 percent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies.
"In the recent past, the country has witnessed some gruesome incidents of violence against women. The government will have a policy of zero tolerance for violence against women and will strengthen the criminal justice system for its effective implementation," President Pranab Mukherjee said in his address to the Joint Sitting of Parliament which outlined the vision of the new government of Narendra Modi.

He did not go into the specifics but was clearly referring to the incident of Badaun in UP where two young girls were gangraped and then killed recently. There have been a number of other incidents of crime against women.
Mukherjee said his government recognises the important role women play in the development of society and growth of the nation.
The BJP-led NDA government also chose the occasion to affirm its support to women reservation bill, which lapsed following dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
While the bill seeking to provide 33 percent reservation to women in Parliament and state Assemblies was passed in the Rajya Sabha in March 2010 amid unusual pandemonium and after the use of marshals to evict the protesting MPs, it could not see the light of the day in Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee said the government is committed to providing 33 per cent reservation to them in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.