Safety, welfare of women, children are my topmost priorities: Kamlesh Dhanda

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Safety, welfare of women, children are my topmost priorities: Kamlesh Dhanda

Monday, 09 December 2019 | MANOJ KUMAR | Chandigarh

For Kamlesh Dhanda, Minister of State for Women and Child Development (Independent charge) and Archives (Independent charge) in the newly formed BJP-JJP coalition Government in the State safety and security of the women and children are topmost priorities.

She points out that women-special buses under the “Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana” are being started in which women police constable would be deputed in each such bus to keep a vigil on the anti-social elements.

Dhanda who defeated former Union Minister Jai Prakash of Congress in the recently concluded assembly polls is a  first-time MLA from Kalayat Vidhan Sabha constituency of Kaithal district. She is the lone woman in the cabinet of the coalition government and belongs to the Jat community.

The 52 year old minister is the wife of late Narsingh Dhanda, who had served as minister in the Devi Lal government in 1987 and joined politics after the death of her husband.

In an exclusive interview with the Pioneer, Dhanda reveals her political journey and priorities as a Haryana Minister of State: Excerpts from the interview:

Did you expect to become a Minister of State in the coalition Government after winning the Assembly election for the first time? What will be your first priority being Minister of State?

I am first time MLA and a first time minister. It is a great opportunity for me to work for the people that I will use to the best of my ability. I joined politics to serve the people of the State. People have chosen me as their representative and whatsoever my party gives me responsibility, I will execute it with honesty and integrity. I also thank to my party high command and chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar for giving me such responsibility. Haryana’s development is paramount and I want to ensure that everyone’s progress at any cost.  Being a Minister of Women and Child Development, I understand the responsibility and seriousness of it. I will try my best to meet the expectations of the people. Welfare of child and women   of the society is the priority. All government benefits must reach the beneficiaries.

As per statistics, Haryana is very vulnerable in regards to safety and security of the child and Women. Being a Minister of State for Women and Child Development, how you will ensure their safety?

Being a Minister, I want to assure the people that in Haryana, no compromise will be made in the safety and security of the child and women of the State at any cost. Negligence of any kind will not be tolerated in this connection. Moreover, while meeting with the department officers recently, I made it clear that no compromise is made in this regard. Strict punishment to the persons committing crime against women should be ensured. Along with this, we have asked them to ensure that welfare schemes launched for women and child are implemented strictly.  I have asked the officers concerned that notice on complaints of crime against child and women should be taken immediately, FIR should be registered after conducting the test immediately and if necessary medical examination should be carried out on time.

Being a lone female minister in the cabinet, what is your plan for the upliftment of women in the State?

After assuming charge, I have asked officials to implement various government run schemes and projects for the welfare of women and children in the State on the priority basis. In the past five years, BJP-led government has taken several steps for the upliftment of women in the State. In January 2015, 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' was launched with the objective of preventing gender biased sex selective elimination, ensuring their safety, making them self-reliant, changing people's mindset towards them and balancing the declining sex ratio. As per available data, a result of the programme, the sex ratio has increased from 830 to 919 upto the month of October, 2019.

As per report, cases of domestic violence are rising. Women face various types of harassment in their day today life. What are the steps your government being taken to facilitate the women victim?

During review meeting it has been informed that along with other measures, One-Stop Centre-Sakhi has been established in all the districts being run smoothly and in this centre, women who have faced violence are provided police assistance, medical assistance, psychological counseling, under one roof. Apart from this in these centres, legal assistance and temporary stay are also provided.  Psychological, social counselors, legal advisors and paramedical personnel have been appointed in these centres. Financial assistance of Rs 22, 000  for the provision of private lawyer for rape victims is being provided in the State. Apart from this, it has also been decided to complete the investigation of rape cases within a certain time and to open one fast track court in the districts with more than 50 pending cases in the courts of rape, molestation and mental harassment of women.  A scheme for Relief and Rehabilitation has been implemented to provide relief or medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services to acid-affected girls and women.

Declining sex ratio is another major concern of the State.  State Government needs to give special focus on this. What are you going to do in this direction?

 We all are concerned over this issue. Several steps have been taken to improve the sex ratio in the State in the past five years. We have asked the officers to work in this direction more effectively. Moreover, to curb the problem of declining sex ratio a scheme was launched by the State Government. Under the scheme the all schedule caste and BPL families whose first girl child is born on or after 2015, all families whose second girl is born on or after 2015 and the third  girl child  born on and after 2015  will get an amount of  Rs 21,000 respectively on the birth of all three daughters. The amount is deposited through LIC and when the daughter turns 18, she gets about one lakh rupees. The officers of the department have been asked to work with complete devotion and dedication and ensure smooth running of State Government schemes for the welfare and equal development of women and children in the State.

What are the directions you given to department officers for the safety of the women?

The department officials have been directed to spread awareness about the steps being taken by the State Government for the safety of women and children in the State. Besides, special emphasis should also be given on sensitisating and imparting moral education to boys. Officers have been asked to ensure that women are sensitised about the steps being taken for their security. Officers have been also asked to ensure that along with women, privacy, dignity, physical and emotional development of children is also very important and extensive efforts should be made in this direction.

What are challenges ahead in the coalition Government?

I do not see any challenge in the next five years. BJP-JJP-led coalition government will run five years smoothly

What are the issues people put before you from your constituency?

After becoming minister, I recently visited my constituency and heard the grievances  of people of various villages. Their issues were related to pension, scholarship, employment, transfer, promotion, among others. Department officers concerned have been given necessary instructions for the redressal of their grievances. 

What are the priorities for your constituency?

I thank people of my constituency for showing faith and electing me for the first time. It's because of the blessings of the people only that I got an opportunity to serve them first time. All the promises made during election will be delivered. A woman college has been recently set in my constituency. One more college is under consideration.

 International Gita Jayanti Mahotsav was organised at large scale in the State. You attended some programmes as chief guest. Your comment

State Government is organising Gita Jayanti Mahotsav at both International and district level, to connect the younger generations with the knowledge and the moral values of Bhagavad Gita. I believe Bhagavad Gita is not only a great spiritual book but also an art of living. It is a matter of pride for Haryana that Lord Krishna gave the immortal message of Gita on the holy earth of Kurukshetra. State Government is organising Gita Jayanti Mahotsav at the district level to spread the knowledge and the moral values of Bhagwad Gita to every household.

There is lot of scope in the improvement of transport system. There has been shortage of buses in the State and women are facing huge problems. There is no proper security arrangement for women and girls in buses. Your comment

The Government has decided to start women-special buses under the “Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Yojana” on pilot basis in five districts namely Ambala, Panchkula, Yamunanagar, Karnal and Kurukshetra.  The special buses are being started keeping in view the security of girl’s students. She said that women police constable would also be deputed in each such bus so as to keep a vigil on the anti-social elements. Initially, educational institutions of Higher Education would be included for to and fro facility for the girl’s students and later on other educational institutions would also be included under this scheme.  The places where big buses are not required, girl’s students would be provided transport facility by using small vehicles.

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