Cabinet approves POCSO Act amendment for death penalty against child sexual crimes

The government intends to bring key legislations in the ongoing session

Modi Shah garland PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah at a BJP parliamentary party meet | PTI

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet approved amendments to the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, including death penalty for sexual crimes against children. The cabinet also passed a slew of proposals of various ministries, including a Transgender Bill aimed at ending the marginalisation of the community.

On the economic front, the cabinet committee on economic affairs approved the third phase of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. In this phase, 1.25 lakh km road length will consolidated at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crore. The focus will be on roads linking habitations to rural agricultural markets, schools and hospitals. In another cabinet decision, the government has decided to bring a bill banning unregulated deposit schemes.

On the social front, the government intends to bring key legislations in the ongoing session of the parliament, the primary one being the POCSO Amendment Bill 2019. Briefing about the cabinet decisions, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the provisions will make punishment more stringent for sexual crimes committed against children, including death penalty. The amendments also provide for fines and imprisonment to curb child pornography. The amendment is expected to discourage the trend of child sexual abuse by acting as a deterrent, owing to strong penal provisions incorporated in the Act. It intends to protect the interest of vulnerable children in times of distress and ensures their safety and dignity.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 will also be introduced in the ensuing session of Parliament. Javadekar said the bill provides a mechanism for their social, economic and educational empowerment. The bill seeks to benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalised section and bring them into the mainstream. “This will lead to inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society,” the minister said.

According to the stated purpose of the bill, “the transgender community is among one of the most marginalised communities in the country because they don’t fit into the stereotypical categories of gender of ‘men’ or ‘women’. Consequently, they face problems ranging from social exclusion to discrimination, lack of education facilities, unemployment, lack of medical facilities and so on. The bill shall empower the transgender community socially, educationally and economically.”

Javadekar said Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019, would be introduced in the current session. “The bill will help tackle the menace of illicit deposit-taking activities in the country, which at present exploit regulatory gaps and lack of strict administrative measures to dupe poor and gullible people of their hard-earned savings,” the minister said.

The bill was earlier considered by the Lok Sabha in its sitting held on February 13, 2019. After discussion, the same was passed. However, it could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha. So, the bill will have to passed again by the Lok Sabha.

As part of its labour reforms, the cabinet also approved the introduction of the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Bill, 2019, in the Parliament. This proposal would enhance the coverage of the safety, health and working conditions provisions manifold for workers and employees of nine major sectors to all establishments having 10 or more employees. The New Code has been drafted after amalgamation, simplification and rationalisation of the relevant provisions of the 13 Central Labour Acts.