Ministers refrain from making comments on banned documentary, come out with separate offerings for women

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi and his cabinet ministers avoided commenting on the banned documentary ‘India’s Daughter’, but highlighted the steps taken by the government to improve the lives of women in their Women’s Day messages on Sunday.

In a message on Twitter, Modi said, the government is setting up one-stop centres that will provide legal and psychological assistance to women who face abuse or violence. “Our heads hang in shame when we hear of instances of crime against women. We must walk in hand-in-hand to end all forms of discrimination against women.” He also added the government will soon set up a mobile helpline to provide counselling to women.

Elaborating on the rape crisis centres, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, speaking at an event organised by the Indian Women’s Press Corps, said there are plans to build one such centre in every State as of now and then, expand them to every district.

The minister refrained from making comments on the documentary or the ban and said, “I have views on it but since the government has already taken a stand, I won’t comment on it.” She, however, reiterated the need for changes in the Juvenile Justice Act.

She also said there is an immediate need to increase the enrolment of women to at least 33%in police forces to make police stations safer from women. “Gujarat has done it. That is why it is a safer State for women,” she added. Contending that India has never imposed restrictions on women, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said women like Maharani Lakshmibai should be brought out of the pages of history and made an inspiration for the new generation.