Bhubaneswar: Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida on Monday said the state government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards gender-based violence.
Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida was addressing a state-level workshop on ‘Gender-Based Violence and Trauma-Informed Care of Survivors’ organised here by the Odisha State Commission for Women.
“Gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, safety, and freedom of the victims,” she said.
“Our society will be empowered when women are empowered and lead the way to progress. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility to prevent gender-based violence and raise awareness about it,” Parida added.
Parida, who is also the Minister for Women and Child Development, further stated that the government is committed to the empowerment of women and is actively working towards this goal.
She suggested focusing on the skill development of survivors residing in ‘Sakhi One-Stop Centres’ for women in distress, to help integrate them into mainstream society, restore their self-confidence, and provide them with means for sustainable living.
She also advised police personnel to handle cases related to gender-based violence with sensitivity.
On this occasion, Shubha Sharma, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, said that all state government departments must work in coordination to prevent gender-based violence.
“The main objective of this workshop is not only to provide empathy but also to create a safe environment for survivors,” she said.
Attending the workshop, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Crimes Against Women and Children Wing, Shyni S, stressed the need for a change in societal mindset.
Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative and Country Director for Bhutan, emphasised the collective responsibility to eliminate gender-based violence.
