Justice still eludes rape victims: Geddam Jhansi

Vijayawada: Geddam Jhansi, national convener of Dalit Sthree Sakthi, addressing the rape victims and witnesses at a workshop on ‘Legal Clinic for Accessing Justice’ here on Saturday lamented that justice still eludes Dalit women rape victims even 70 years after independence.

Rape victims and witnesses in 25 cases from across the state attended the workshop which was also attended by Director of Prosecutions Baira Koteswara Rao, DCP (Crime) Rajakumari, Additional SP Moka Sattibabu and DSP Ravi from PCR Cell, advocates and leaders of various associations.

Geddam Jhansi, national convener of Dalit Sthree Sakthi, said that the Dalit Sthree Sakthi would organise similar workshop every year inviting both the victims and witnesses and the officials concerned to fill the gaps in rendering justice to the victims.

Expressing concern over the inordinate delay right from registering the criminal case and awarding sentence to the guilty, she said that the laws of the land were not implemented properly.

“There has been no focus on atrocities against Dalit women,” she said and added that penal and pecuniary laws were not implemented properly.

Jhansi said that after bifurcation of the state, the rape victims were not being even awarded ex gratia and the social welfare department is not implementing the enactment even one per cent.

Either the commissions or the officials were not afraid of the judiciary or the laws, she said and added that they were not treating implementation of SC,ST Atrocities Act as their responsibility.

As many as 25 victims of rape who attended the workshop expressed their woes. 

The Jury members, including the Director of Prosecution Baira Koteswara Rao and DCP (Crime) Rajakumari and others reacting to the sad incidents stated that it was really awful to listen to the problems of the victims. 

They said that the officials should understand the law and render social justice to the victims.

The officials, who attended the workshop, assured that they would take care in avoiding delay in rendering justice to the victims.

Daniel Prakash, programme manager of Dalit Sthree Sakthi, said that the neighbouring state of Telangana is ahead in implementing the enactment, including payment of ex gratia, pension, rehabilitation and policing while Andhra Pradesh is lagging behind. 

“It’s high time the working style of social welfare department is improved,” he added.