CPI Leader Criticizes Legislative Implementation in Wake of New Bill

CPI leader Annie Raja criticized the lack of implementation of existing women and child protection laws in India, following the passage of the Aparajita Women and Child Bill by the West Bengal assembly. She noted that sensational issues often lead to new laws but lack effective execution and budgetary support.

The day after the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Law Amendment) Bill passed in the West Bengal assembly, CPI leader Annie Raja criticized the lack of implementation of existing legislation aimed at safeguarding women. 'The issue isn't the lack of laws, but their implementation,' Raja stated in an interview with ANI. She emphasized that India has enacted numerous laws to protect women's dignity and safety, yet their implementation remains inadequate.

Raja further remarked that new laws or amendments often emerge as a response to public outrage following media sensationalism. However, she pointed out that such legislative changes frequently fall silent shortly after their inception due to poor execution and insufficient budget allocations from the central government. 'Whenever an issue grabs media attention, a new law is hastily formed to manage the public's fury, but the root problem persists due to the non-implementation of these laws,' she added.

The assembly passed the Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill, 2024, after a tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking after tabling the bill, stressed its necessity for securing women's dignity and warned of wider societal repercussions if Bengal's issues are not addressed. She also mentioned her unreceived correspondence with the Prime Minister regarding this matter, highlighting her previous opposition to hastily-passed federal bills without state consultation.

(With inputs from agencies.)