Nationwide effort needed to check crimes against women, kids

NEW DELHI: Perpetrators of sexual crimes are not limited by state boundaries and nation-wide cooperation was needed to save women and children from such incidents, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said.

Addressing the National Development Council meeting here, Chandy said Kerala has taken a composite initiative in the name of "Nirbhaya" for preventing sexual crimes against women and children.

"Nirbhaya" responsibilities include action for preventing such crimes, protecting, sheltering and rehabilitating the victims and for punishing the criminals in the most expeditious manner.

"This requires nationwide cooperation since the perpetrators of these crimes are not limited by state boundaries," Chandy said.

"I would suggest that taking into account the need of the hour, a substantial sum should be earmarked for such efforts to all states through an appropriately designed scheme in the plan," he said.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over increasing number of reports about abuse of the elderly people by members of their family even when economically not so poor.

"The policies of the government should, therefore, be a mix of providing measures of support both at home and at institutions for the old," he said.

Chandy welcomed the proposal for a National Policy on senior citizens.