In response to an increasing trend of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls, the Odisha Durskarma Nibarana Abhiyan has initiated steps to examine the causes and find ways and means to bring it down substantially.
Addressing a Press meet here on Saturday, Abhiyan convenor Dr Bikash Das said that a State-level citizen convention on the issue of rape and sexual abuse would be organised to find out solution to the problems as it seems that the law enforcement mechanism and the existing penal provisions do not help either prevent or curb such crime.
Based on the findings of the convention, a memorandum shall be submitted to the Chief Minister demanding stringent action against the culprits.
Notably, the State Government has submitted a report in the Assembly which reveals that there is an increasing trend of rape and sexual abuse of women and girls in the State. As many 1,978 rape cases have been lodged in 2014 and 2,251 in 2015.
Simultaneously in 2016 and 2017, 1,983 and 2,221 cases were registered respectively. A record number of 2,502 cases of rape and molestation have been lodged in 2018. In first three months of 2019, as many as 552 cases have been lodged.
Campaign chairperson and senior journalist Pradosh Pattnaik expressed his dissatisfaction on the issue and said that in spite of the penal laws, the crimes are still increasing which hurts the sentiments of the civil society groups.