TheCaptain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Government has set up a state-levelcommittee to regularly track, monitor and ensure speedy investigation in allsexual offences against women and children, with clearly defined SOPs to guidethe investigation process.
Thedecision was taken at a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief SecretaryVini Mahajan, who announced that the six-member committee, headed by theAdditional Chief Secretary, Home, will review the progress of sexual assaultcases on a monthly basis.
Shealso ordered immediate training of 500 medical officers to ensure no delay inthe conduct of examination and documentation in sexual assault cases.
Thesedecisions were in line with directives of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh toensure time-bound investigations in cases of crime against women and children,and improve the prosecution rate in such cases.
Themeeting also reviewed the status of the Punjab State Victim Compensation Schemeand Nirbhaya Fund proposals submitted to the Centre.
TheStandard Operating Procedures (SOPs) finalised by the government will helpofficers concerned to fast-track investigations and improve conviction rate insexual assault cases, said the Chief Secretary, after the meeting.
Shealso directed the Police Department to depute women police officers, to bedesignated as 'Women Safety Officer', as person-of-contact with every schooland college of the state to check and coordinate on such cases.