Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday declared zero tolerance for crimes against women, with rapid grievance redressal systems in all higher education institutions.
Addressing the Independence Day function at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said that he has given absolute power to the police to take necessary actions in such cases. “People who are involved in crimes against women have no place in society, they must be in jail. Nobody, how influential he may be, will be spared if involved in crimes against women,” he said.
Majhi said his government was committed to making colleges and universities safe for women by implementing initiatives like ‘Shaktishree’. “All educational institutions, especially colleges and universities, will be declared “safe zones,” with a complete ban on alcohol and drug consumption on campuses. Anti-social activities by non-students will be fully suppressed. To provide a safe environment for female students, the “Shaktishree” programme is being implemented. Instructions have been issued to establish mechanisms for swift grievance redressal in all higher education institutions,” he said.
His statement assumes significance amid the Opposition’s criticism of deteriorating law and order situation over a slew of crimes against women in the state.
The CM, however, stressed: “The law and order situation of the state is more or less under control. However, we have to strengthen and make it more effective.” He also noted that intoxication was one of the major factors behind the rise in crimes.
Majhi said that he would not hesitate to introduce a special law to dismantle organised crime and drug mafias, stressing that “goondaism, extortion, and hooliganism will be crushed.”
