The escalating issue of women’s and children’s safety in West Bengal has drawn sharp criticism from the central government. Annapurna Devi, the Women and Child Development Minister of the Narendra Modi government, has expressed serious concerns over the state’s alleged failure to implement crucial safety measures. In a recent letter addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Devi highlighted the state’s significant shortcomings in addressing urgent issues related to women’s safety.
One of the key areas of contention is the state’s failure to activate the remaining 11 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), despite a massive backlog of 48,600 cases related to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. The FTSC scheme, launched by the Central government in October 2019, was designed to expedite the trial and disposal of such cases. While West Bengal was allocated 123 FTSCs, including 20 exclusive POCSO courts and 103 combined courts, none of these courts had been operationalized as of mid-June 2023. Despite assurances from the state government in June 2023 to launch seven FTSCs, only six exclusive POCSO courts had begun operations by June 30, 2024. This delay, according to Devi, continues to deprive women and children of crucial support and justice.
Adding to the concerns is the state’s failure to implement key emergency helplines, including the Women Helpline (WHL), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), and Child Helpline. Devi emphasized that these services are vital for providing immediate assistance to victims of violence but remain unintegrated in West Bengal despite multiple reminders from the Central government.
Devi’s criticism comes on the heels of a letter sent by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, advocating for a tough central law to penalize rapists. Banerjee proposed that trials should ideally be concluded within 15 days to ensure ‘quick justice’, referencing alarming statistics that report 90 rape cases daily nationwide, many of which result in the victims’ deaths.
Devi expressed serious concerns over the state’s inaction, stressing the urgent need for stringent legal frameworks and judicial processes to ensure safety and security for women and children in West Bengal. She also highlighted the importance of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a new national legislation introduced in July 2024, which prescribes severe punishments for crimes against women and children. The Modi government’s minister called on the West Bengal government to promptly and effectively address all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.
