DCW chief Swati Maliwal meets Rajnath Singh, flags concern on women safety

NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal today met Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and said there is an absence of synergy between Central Government, Delhi Government and Police and hence a coordinated response towards women safety is lacking.

"I had sought an appointment with the Home Minister because rapes are increasing in the national capital regularly. The way minor girls are being harassed is very wrong. I have raised few appeals with few minister and he has given me positive response," Maliwal told reporters after the meeting.

"Firstly, I believe there is no synergy or coordination between the Centre, state and Delhi Police and therefore there is lack of a coordinated response in dealing with issue of women safety. I suggested that a forum should be set up in which LG, Minister Home Affairs, Delhi Chief Minister and DCW should atleast meet twice a month. They should review whatever steps are measures are being taken," she added.

During the 20-minute long meeting, the DCW chief also raised the issue of fixing accountability of police.

"We have got certain statistics. For instance, only 13 out of 4000 complaints received by police through himmat application were acted upon. Similarly, charge sheets are filed only in one-third cases and rest remain pending. Hence, there needs to be a mechanism to fix accountability of police," she said.

"As Rajnath Singh is the political head of Delhi Police, I raised all these issues with him and urged him to dedicate one day every week to women security issues," she added.