High Powered Committee on Women’s Safety Soon

Hyderabad: The government will soon set up a high-powered committee to take stock of steps to be taken to improve safety and security of women, women and child welfare minister Danasari ‘Seethakka’ Anasuya said on Tuesday.

Seethakka said a special drive will also be taken up on women’s safety-related issues, and directed officials to prepare short and long-term plans to implement these plans. The directive came at a review meeting on the subject with senior department officials and police officials.

“The government will ensure women can speak up freely about the challenges and problems they face, she said, adding that it was unfortunate that many problems women face arise from people they know and from within their families. Awareness programmes will also be held for men to sensitize them on such issues, and efforts are on to set up a high-powered committee comprising women Cabinet members, and senior officials to take the plans forward,” Seethakka said.

Seethaka, who is also panchayat raj and rural development minister, at another review meeting, said there was a need to improve sanitation in rural areas, especially since the rain during the monsoon season adds to the efforts to keep villages clean and healthy. The minister said the just-completed ‘Swachadanam-Pachadanam (cleanliness, greenery)’ drive had yielded good results but officials should not let up on their efforts in ensuring hygiene and mosquito eradication measures in villages.

Seethakka, who chaired a meeting to review with district officials of her department expressed dissatisfaction over reports of lack of hygiene in some villages, and sought to know why such reports were circulating especially after the cleanliness drive. She asked officials to be on the alert for deliberate efforts to spread misinformation on the issue, and take action on person who indulge in it.

“In the past, entire villages used to be down with fevers like chikungunya. It is no longer the case now. The government, through a fever survey, is taking steps to prevent the spread of fevers and related illnesses in the villages,” she said.

Seethakka said the government would ensure adequate availability of funds and any shortages would be overcome. “All the special officers posted in gram panchayats must spend at least three hours each day in their jurisdiction taking stock of the conditions and focus on sanitation and cleanliness, and should continue the special drive every month for at least three days,” she said.