National Girl Child Day: Haryana govt directs police to act strictly in sexual offence cases

Haryana Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain on Wednesday said the police department has been directed to take strict action in cases of sexual offence.

Facing heat over a string of rape incidents involving minors in Haryana recently, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said last week that the state would enact a law providing capital punishment to those found guilty of sexually abusing girls aged 12 years or below.

"Police have been asked to act strictly in cases of sexual offence...besides the government is mulling capital punishment to rapists of girls below 12 years of age," she said, addressing the people at a state-level programme organised on the National Girl Child Day.

The minister said that many schemes for the welfare, development, protection and empowerment of women and girls have been initiated in the state.

She, however, expressed concern over the security of women.

"It is a matter of grave concern that even today women are victims of violence and feel insecure everywhere, be it on road, office, market, while travelling and at a function", she said.

During the last three years, the sex-ratio has increased to 914 per 1000 boys, she said.

This year, the state government has set a target to open 29 new colleges, while 22 women's colleges were set up last year and the facility of free bus pass for students has been extended from 60 kms to 150 kms for girl students, she said.