"The Cabinet has approved to bring Penal Law (Chhattisgarh Amendment) Bill-2013 to amend various sections of the Indian Penal Code 1860, Criminal Procedure Code 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act 1872 to make punishment in cases of sexual assault on women more stringent during the Assembly session," Chief Minister Raman Singh told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting here today.
"We have decided to make punishment more stringent in cases of sexual assault, so as to curb crime against women," the BJP leader said.
In the wake of the Kanker rape case of minor tribal girls, the state government plans to recruit nearly 1,000 women home guards as security personnel for residential schools and hostels. A women's vigilance committee will also be set up at the local level for keeping a close eye on these places to improve security in government-run residential schools.
"Nearly 1,000 women home guards will be recruited for round-the-clock security in residential schools and hostels. A women's vigilance committee comprising local women public representatives will also be constituted to carry out routine inspections," the CM said.
He also said from now onwards, new residential schools and hostels will be set up in district headquarters, development blocks, tehsil headquarters and big towns only. The occupancy in such hostels will not be less than 50.
An advisory committee comprising women members will also be set up for residential school and hostels, the CM said.
Emphasising on the need for speedy trials in such cases, he said discussions are on and very soon a proposal will be sent to the High Court for establishing fast track courts in each district.
