NCW recommendations to Guj Govt on Puja Chauhan case

New Delhi, July 26 (UNI) The National Commission for Women has recommended to the Gujarat Government to provide protection and shelter to Puja Chauhan, a victim of domestic violence who created a flutter by walking semi-nude on the streets in protest.

''The Commission team probed the incident and found out that Puja was not only a victim of domestic violence but also sexual exploitation from her childhood. Therefore we have made the recommendations to the Gujarat government,'' NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said.

Besides, the Commission has also directed the state Government to provide couselling to Puja, who claimed that she decided to protest in a semi-nude condition after police failed to act on her complaint that her husband and mother-in-law were torturing and beating her for dowry.

In another case, taking suo moto cognisance of news reports on female foeticide and involvement of a quack in sex determination tests in Haryana's Pataudi village, the NCW after investigating the matter has suggested to the state government surveys and raids to identify such illegal clinics and conducting birth audits to check the menace.

''To ensure that culprits get exemplary punishment, equal emphasis be given on violation of PNDT and MTP Acts... Lapses in the investigation pointed out by us in the report should be corrected,'' Ms Vyas said.

The Chairperson said the Commission had also written to the Haryana Government about the appalling condition of its shelter homes for women and made recommendations.

The recommendations include surprise checks of the facilities, and providing counselling to the inmates.

UNI