Top priority to women protection: AP CM Y S Jagan

Rajamahendravaram: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurated the first Disha police station here on Saturday. He also launched Disha app.

Speaking at a meeting, held at NTR convention centre at Adikavi Nannaya University on the occasion, the Chief Minister made it clear that the State government was giving top priority for the protection of women and declared the year 2020 as Women Safety Year.

Doctors, forensic experts, lawyers and officials attended the meeting. Disha Police Stations would bring down crimes against women in the State, Jagan said.

He said as many as 13,549 crimes against women (rape cases 937) were registered in 2014, 13,088 cases (rape cases 1,014) in 2015, 13,948 cases in 2016, 14,696 cases in 2017 and 14,048 in 2018.

A large number of cases of atrocities against girls were also registered. As many as 4,032 cases were registered in 2014, 4,114 cases in 2015, 4,477 cases in 2016, 4,672 cases in 2017 and 4,218 in 2018.

During the last eight months, many welfare schemes were introduced and it was decided to give loans at zero interest to women and 25 lakh house sites would also be given to women by Ugadi, he said.

In all, 18 Disha Police Stations will soon be set up in 13 districts with a Budget of Rs 21.10 crore and each station will be headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police. Each Disha police station will have a staff of 36 to 40.

The State government passed the Disha Bill in the aftermath of the gruesome rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad late last year, to ensure speedy investigation and trial of sexual assault cases.

The Bill prescribes death penalty where rape or gang-rape is established. Under the new law, the State government is opening 13 special courts (one in each district) for expeditious trial of such cases.

The government has also decided to appoint special public prosecutors at the special courts. A proposal in this regard was sent to High Court Chief Justice. The State government has also sanctioned Rs 87 crore in this regard.

The government has earmarked Rs 26 crore for establishing courts and Rs 1.65 crore for appointment of public prosecutors. Apart from it, two forensic labs will also come up in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati. This is in addition to the existing lab at Mangalagiri.

Minister for Home Mekathoti Sucharitha described the launching of Disha police station as a historical event. The police would deploy technology to investigate cases, she said.

Deputy Chief Ministers Pilli Subashchandra Bose and Pamula Pushpasreevani, Ministers K Kannababu, P Viswaroop, Venkata Ramana, MPs Margani Bharat, V Geetha, Ch Anuradha, APIIC chairperson R K Roja, MLAs and officials were present.