UNION HOME MINISTER REVIEWS CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS

Minister concerned over delay in implementation of women’s distress alarm button on mobile phones

New Delhi, 17 June [PIB]: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the Centre-State Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi today. The Minister was given a briefing by top officials on Women’s Safety issues, criminal tracking network, cybercrimes and modernization of prisons.

While reviewing the progress of the Crimes and Criminal Network Tracking and Systems (CCTNS) Project, it was observed that even though the project is in advanced stage of implementation, few States and Union Territories like Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Lakshadweep, Manipur and Rajasthan are still lagging far behind. The Home Minister said that he will personally take it up with the concerned Chief Ministers and UTs Administrator.

Reviewing Crime Against Women – Nirbhaya Fund Project, it was informed that a Project for providing speedy assistance to respond to the calls from women in distress was approved by the Union Cabinet on 04 Feb, 2014.

Distress/ emergency alarms generated by woman, by pressing a button on her mobile phone will land at Police Control Room which would immediately arrange to dispatch emergency PCR van to assist the individual in distress. The proposed system is to be implemented in the identified 114 cities.

The Home Minister raised concern regarding the delay in kicking-off the project. It was decided that the Project should be implemented in an expeditious manner. He desired to review it personally soon with all stakeholders.

Regarding the Cyber Crime Project, the Home Minister stated that India had 916 million phone subscribers and 239 million internet users currently and the incidence of cybercrime recorded in 2012 is only 3,477 crimes (2,876 under IT Act and 601 under IPC).

Considering the number of users, the incidence of crime reported is negligible because of lack of awareness and the lack of capacity in the law enforcement agencies which don’t have enough capacities to handle serious incidents of cyber crimes. Current technology developments and industry best practices are slow to reach Law Enforcement Agencies, lack of enough trained manpower, equipment and incentives for the Forensic Support units and lack of adequate understanding technology crimes and the applicability of digital evidences by the prosecutors and judiciary. Mr. Singh directed that an appropriate body working in the software industry be utilised for providing the guidance and mentorship to the police in the States to enable them to develop their capacities to fight cybercrime.

Reviewing the improvement of prison conditions across the country, the Home Minister asked for modernization of prisons project to be implemented on priority.