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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Tuesday sought technical and financial assistance from the centre for monitoring any misuse of social networking sites.
The CM also expressed concern at the use of social media in spreading communal tension in parts of the country.Although law and order was a state subject, Bahuguna said communication was under the ambit of the Centre and state governments could not act directly against social networking sites for their misuse. He sought financial and technical assistance for monitoring misuse of social networking sites.
The Chief Minister was speaking while participating in the National Integration Council meet held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. During the meeting, the CM said that Uttarakhand had a history of communal harmony and the state government was committed to maintaining it. Uttarakhand did not get influenced by the riots that took place in a city neighbouring the state. The local administration and peace committees had done noteworthy work in this direction. The CM gave the suggestion of creating special courts to deal with communal riot related cases.
CM Bahuguna said that the Uttarakhand government had taken several steps in the state to maintain communal harmony and ensure the security of the minorities.
A minority vigilance cell had been set up in the state's police headquarters and any complaint by a member of the minority was handed over for investigation by a gazetted police officer.
Several peace committees had been set up in the districts that worked in close coordination with the police and the local administration to maintain a feeling of brotherhood.
He said his government had taken several measures for the welfare and empowerment of minorities, Scheduled Castes-Tribes and women. A separate department and ministry had been constituted for Minority Welfare. There had been a steep decline in cases of atrocities against SC and ST sections. A new scheme had been launched titled'Nirbhaya' to provide medical and legal help, counseling and rehabilitation in cases of atrocities against women. It had been decided to provide public transport 'only for women' and four working women's hostels. Girls who had passed class eight were being provided bicycles and financial assistance. FDs of Rs 5000, each, were being provided to the first two daughters of every family.
