State Govt can’t shirk responsibility on law and order: Chidambaram

As members sought to corner him on increasing crime against women and children, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said state governments cannot shirk responsibility in implementing law and order to rein in such incidents.

Mr. Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that the Centre issued advisories to state governments from time to time on implementation of law and order.

“These advisories are intended to be directives to the state government,” he said and asked members to take up such issues with the state governments.

Mr. Chidambaram said the Centre often gets criticised for “encroaching” upon the rights of the states when such advisories are issued.

“All of us respect and zealously guard the rights of the states,” he said.

Members sought to know from Mr. Chidambaram by when the government would be able to take effective steps in curbing crime against women and children.

“The government keeps saying that law and order is a state subject and it has issued advisory to the state government. How long will the government keep making the same statements,” asked Meena Singh (JD-U).

Mr. Chidambaram said the government was in the process of setting up 335 anti-human trafficking units in the country.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has released Rs. 8.72 crore as first instalment to all state governments for establishment of 110 anti-human trafficking units, he said.

The Home Minister said the NHRC had registered 23,608 complaints regarding violation of human rights of women, including trafficking between April 2007 and January 31, 2011.

“Out of these cases, 23,254 cases have been disposed and 354 cases are pending for consideration,” he said.

During the same period, the NHRC registered 1917 complaints regarding violation of human rights of children of which 1779 case have be disposed, he said.

Mr. Chidambaram said in 39 cases of proven violation of human rights of women, the NHRC had recommended monetary relief amounting to Rs. 35.25 lakh.

In 19 case of proven violation of human rights of children, the Commission recommended monetary relief of Rs. 54.27 lakh, he said.

Kabindra Purakayastha (BJP) expressed concern over increase in crime against women, particularly those from the north east, in Delhi and said the national capital region has become a den of crime.

Mr. Chidambaram said crime against women in Delhi was a serious issue but maintained that the number of incidents have witnessed a decline in the last few months.