Atrocities against women must end: Ganta Srinivasa Rao

Visakhapatnam: To prevent sexual abuse against women and girls in the society, the officials should take preventive measures, said HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, during an awareness rally organised by the department of Women and Child Development from the office of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) to Dabagardens. 

The Minister also participated in a rally ‘‘Aadabiddalaku  Rakshanaga Kadhuludaam (We for Her)’ along with district officials here on Monday.  Speaking on the occasion, Srinivasa Rao expressed anguish over women and girls are being subjected to sexual violence.

The atrocities are against women were taking place despite stringent laws, the Minister stated, adding forcing girls to get married soon after completion of tenth standard is a violation of human rights and crime if marriage performed before attaining the age of 18.

He mentioned that sexual harassment causes physical harm and economic and psychological stress on victims. He emphasised the need for teaching Yoga to girl children and training them in martial arts along with academics.

District Collector Pravin Kumar gave a call for organising ‘Good touch-bad touch’ awareness campaign among the girl students in every school across the the district, so that Dachepalli type of incidents will never occur again. 

Later, the Minister took oath along with district officials and political leaders against sexual abuse on women and girls.  Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crimes) Shemushi Bajpayee said 1,305 sexual harassment cases were registered in Andhra Pradesh in 2016 in which 994 were rape cases. She also warned of taking stern action against those involved in sexual abuse against women and girls.