The city government today told the Delhi High Court that it was spending a "lion's share" of its budget in creating mass awareness against sexual offences concerning child and women.
In an affidavit submitted before a bench of justices Kailash Gambhir and Sunita Gupta, the Women and Child Development department of Delhi government stated that it paid utmost importance to this vital issue of raising public awareness on violence against women and children.
"The department is spending a lion's share of its budget on crime against women at the cost of other schemes and social issues...
"Women and Child Development Ministry pays utmost importance to this vital issue of raising public awareness on violence against women and children and is taking a multi- pronged approach in this regard. It is sincere in its effort of using all means to raise public awareness on this issue."
The affidavit, submitted through advocate Zubeda Begum, stated that the department is committed to the issue of safety and security of women and children and is also using other more long-term sustainable mechanisms to fight child abuse and crime against women.
The department has drafted Child Protection Policy to serve as guiding principle for prevention, disclosure and reporting of incidents of child sexual abuse within homes and institutions, the affidavit stated.
"The expenditure incurred on publicity by the department under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) and other schemes for women is to the tune of Rs 1,42,29,480 during last financial year.
"It is submitted that the entire budget of information, Education and Communication (IEC) with Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) of current financial year is Rs 4.43 crore," the affidavit stated.
