Kolar : Karnataka State Women’s Commission chairperson Manjula Manasa has said that the number of sexual atrocities had increased significantly in the district and the police were not properly responding to the complainants.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Women’s Commission and district administration here on Wednesday, she said that considerable number of complaints were being received from the district alleging sexual harassment. She said that child marriage, illicit relationship, prostitution, atrocity against women, domestic violence, polygamy were on the rise in the district.

The police have not been responding positively to the woes of the victims. The police officers – police sub-inspector and those below him – are neglecting the safety of women. “The police force has been earning bad name because of such heartless people. A wrong message is being conveyed to society,” she said. The funds released by the union and state government for women empowerment have not been properly utilised she added.

The chairperson said that there had been a spike in cases of human trafficking in Kolar. A total of 32 complaints alleging sexual harassment have been received from the district so far. The deputy commissioner and superintendent of police should look into these complaints and submit a report to the commission at the earliest, she said.

“Safety of women is the responsibility of one and all. Hence, every member of society should shoulder the responsibility of women’s safety. All police stations in the district should have women helpline and complaints from women should not be neglected for any reason,” she added.

Reservation has been provided to women in local bodies such as zilla and taluk panchayats and municipalities. However, the husbands of the women elected to these local bodies have been calling the shots. The main reason for this is that women lack knowledge of politics. “A majority of women are ignorant of the facilities provided by the government, functioning of women’s commission, Mahila Santwana Kendra and state and central laws. Educated women cannot write a complaint properly. The exploited are not getting justice due to the mistakes in the complaints,” Manjula Manasa noted.

Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Trilok Chandra, Superintendent of Police Dr Divya Gopinath, Kolar Gold Fields SP Bhagwan Das, Women’s Commission secretary Kavitha N Mannikeri were present.