Union Minister Slams Jharkhand Govt Over 'Insensitive' Approach to Women's Safety, Delayed Women's Commission

Dhanbad: Union minister for women and child development Annapurna Devi on Saturday accused the state govt of being insensitive towards issues concerning women’s safety and justice. She alleged that despite more than seven years in office, the Hemant Soren-led govt has failed to constitute the state women’s commission.

Addressing the media during the Rozgar Mela organised in Dhanbad, the minister said that crimes against women, including rape, murder and other forms of violence, are frequently reported in the state, but the women often fail to get justice. “There is nobody in this govt to listen to the problems of women. It is unfortunate that even after so many years, the state still doesn’t have a women’s commission,” she said.

She alleged that state govt has not shown seriousness toward women’s welfare and protection. “Absence of a functioning commission has left many women without an institutional platform to raise their grievances,” she said.

Dhanbad BJP MP Dulu Mahato and local MLA Raj Sinha attended the programme.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the programme virtually through video conferencing, with appointment letters distributed to more than 51,000 newly recruited candidates across the country.

In Ranchi, a similar programme was held at CCL auditorium, which was attended by Union minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth, Ranchi MLA C P Singh, among others, with 132 candidates received appointment letters.

JMM spokesperson Neelam Mishra said that the process for constituting the women’s commission is underway and it will soon become functional.

Mishra termed the criticism over women’s issues as ridiculous. She alleged, “BJP workers themselves have been accused of misbehaving with women. They have no moral authority to speak on women’s dignity. Despite women’s commissions being active in BJP-governed states, women there are still deprived of justice. The condition of women in Jharkhand is better than in BJP-governed states.”