New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): Hundreds of people marched here today to demand better rights and greater security for women.
The ‘Women Dignity March’ began from Pragati Maidan, close to India Gate, a little past 11 a.m., and went all the way to Rajghat.
At Rajghat, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who has condemned all incidents of violence and sexual assault against women and emphasized on the dire need to ensure their safety and security, led the protesters in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi.
Dikshit, who has locked horns with the Union Home Ministry and the Delhi Police following the rise in crimes against women in the national capital, said earlier last week that society should be united in fighting against such heinous crimes.
Dikshit had earlier said that her government has requested Delhi Police to deploy more PCR vans and to widely publicise police protocols and impart training to police personnel.
In a bid to check crimes against women in the national capital, the Delhi Government on Monday launched a round-the-clock helpline ’181′ for offering immediate help to women in distress.
The move comes after a 23 year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted allegedly by six men in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16 night. She died from her injuries on December 29 at a Singapore hospital.
The attack prompted street protests across India, international outrage and promises from the government of tougher punishments for offenders.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police will submit its chargesheet in the magistrate court in Saket on Thursday. The case will then be moved to the fast-track court.
Delhi Police had earlier invoked murder charges against the six men allegedly involved in the gang-rape.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) that seeks speedy trials in rape cases.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir will hear tomorrow the PIL which also sought suspension of MPs and MLAs in case a charge sheet is filed against them for crime against women.
The apex court agreed to hear the PIL filed by a former woman IAS officer seeking directions to the government to ensure safety of women and for conduct of fast-track court proceedings in all rape cases.
In her PIL, retired IAS officer Promilla Shanker has pleaded with the court to direct the government to set up fast-track courts in all states for expeditious trial of rape cases.
She also submitted that cases of rape and crime against women and children be investigated by lady police officials and trial be conducted by lady judges.
Meanwhile, another bench comprising justices P Sathasivam and Ranjan Gogoi issued notices to the Centre and all the states and sought their response on another PIL by advocate Mukesh Kumar seeking safety measures for women.
Kumar, in his PIL, demanded creation of women police stations in every town to investigate complaints of rape and sexual assault against women.
It also sought steps for implementation of UN convention on elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
The court asked the Centre and the states to file their responses in a month.
The PILs come in the backdrop of the nation-wide outrage over December 16 brutal gang-rape and assault of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi, who died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hundreds-participate-in-women-dignity-march-in-delhi/
