Working on the promise of providing security to women from the bad elements of the society, the central government led by PM Modi has pushed towards creating an online database for sex offenders in the country. The names of the sexual criminals and those who have been proven guilty of female harassment will be maintained in the database which will be known as ‘National Database of Sexual Offenders’ or NDSO. India will become the 9th country in the world to maintain a database of sexual offenders today after Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates the NDSO today. The information for the NDSO was provided by the official handle of Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Twitter.
Crimes such as rape and molestation are a problem for India, the atrocities on women and children have refused to come down even after the various steps taken by the state and the central government. The central government led by PM Modi had always proclaimed itself to be pro-women and children safety, the NDSO will make the process of securing the womenfolk and children in the country easier. The database will include information such as photographs, address, DNA, Aadhaar card, finger print and PAN card of the offenders which has been collected from jails across the country. The National Crime Records Bureau was appointed to prepare this database by the Ministry of Home Affairs. NCRB will keep working on the database and provide it as and when needed to various investigation agencies around the country.
Three categories of criminals have been made for the database; the first category will include criminals who are first time offenders for crimes which are sexual in nature and their information will be stored in the database for a period of 15 years. The second category will include criminals who have been found guilty of such crimes more than once and their records will be maintained under the NDSO for a period of 25 years. The third category will maintain a lifelong database of names and information related to the repeat and habitual offenders. The NDSO will prove to be a blessing in disguise for the investigating and security agencies who will be able to keep track of the criminals and will therefore be able to provide enhanced security to the civilians.
Apart from India countries such as the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago have been maintaining a list of sexual criminals to provide better security to the civilians. The US database is open to all for inspection and can easily be accessed by all citizens for getting information related to the sexual offenders. The other countries however maintain privacy and their databases can be accessed only by their investigating agencies, India is all set to join this list. PM Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have delivered on more promise of theirs and it is a small step in ensuring that the women of the country can lead a safer and secure life. Coupled with increasing the punishments which could be meted out under the POCSO Act this is another big step ahead towards ensuring women and child safety in the country by the PM Modi led central government.