AHMEDABAD: Over 38,500 women and aware citizens wrote a letter to the chief minister NarendraModi and submitted the copy of the same to minister of women and child development and law minister of the state GanpatVasava on Monday demanding that immediate steps should be taken for upholding the Constitutional Rights and security of women and girls in Gujarat.

The demands have been made jointly by women united under 16 NGOs working for the rights and welfare of women in the state including Anandi, Safar, Sharwaru, Utthan, Center for Equity Studies, Sewa rural, Sahiyar, Unnati, Behavioural Science Center and other agencies.The demands include that sexual harassment committees be formed in all government, public offices as well as the educational institutes as per the guidelines provided in the Vishakha Judgement.

“Police takes all cases of sexual harassment, sexual violence and assault with due seriousness. And any apathy/negligence on part of police force should be punished with strict action against the errant.CCTVs be installed in all police stations so as to record that police are functioning properly”, the letter said.

“Instead of imposing bans, restricting movement of girls and women in public places, the government should ensure safety for them at all times. Fast track courts should be established separately to handle cases of violence against women”.Women agencies said that the rape victim should be provided the interim relief and rehabilitation expense within three weeks and the rest of the money to be provided without delay to facilitate the victim in her legal fight.

“Round the clock service connected with the police stations to ensure all possible support to women and girl victims of all kind of violence on the lines of 108 ambulance service. The facility should ensure all kinds of medical, legal, psychological and financial support for the victim. A woman victim of violence should get priority in availing mental and physical medical help in all government hospitals irrespective of the fact whether a police complaint has been lodged or not”.

Police force in all ranks should be gender sensitized and given regular training to ensure proper response to women victims of violence. To ensure transparency as well as accountability in police services across the state, women’s groups should be made party to the regular review process.