Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has approved the final draft of the Zainab Alert Bill, which proposes conducting trials of child abduction cases in anti-terrorism courts established under the ATA 1997. “Any police officer who does not comply with the provisions of Section 8 of this act in case of missing or abducted child or any other public officer who willfully delays or hinders in providing or processing the information in accordance with provisions under this act, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description not less than one year and up to two years and a fine of not less than Rs50,000 and up to Rs100,000,” says the final draft. It is expected that final draft would be submitted in the next Senate session for approval. The bill also proposed setting up a Zainab Alert, Response and Recovery Agency ( Zarra ). The government shall, by notification in the official Gazette, establish Zarra of Missing and Abducted Children. Zarra shall consist of a director general who shall be appointed by the prime minister through public notice in such a manner and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Ministry of Human Rights. Other officers and employees shall be appointed by the DG in consultation with Ministry of Human Rights as prescribed in the rules. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) shall be devised to ensure the safety and protection of the recovered missing or abducted child in the hands of authorities.
But how strong about Zarra?
When a child goes missing or is abducted, the bill says that Zarra will activate Zainab alerts, which shall include information on physical characteristics as well as any other data that would help in identification of the child to inform the public at large and all concerned agencies. To read more from ProperGaanda: Greta Thunberg met her “Role Model” Malala Yousafazai, who said greta is the only friend she’d skip school for