Odisha government planning to set up all-women court soon
The odisha government is planning to setup an all women court soon , deputy chief minister pravati parida said on sunday .
deputy cm announced that the state will soon establish a fully women-operated court to address crimes against women, marking a significant step toward gender-sensitive justice.
Whole Court Led by Women – The specialized court will be staffed entirely by women, including judges, lawyers, clerks, and administrative personnel. Pravati Parida emphasized that this setup would empower survivors of sexual violence to speak openly during trials.
The move will be a game-changer for cases of crime against women or those involving women. A rape survivor can speak openly in such court without any hesitation or shame, she said.
Parida also spoke on the Shakti app launched by the government for ensuring safety of women in the state. Giving an example, she said a rape survivor will no longer have to go through the ordeal of narrating what happened with her before the court. Instead, she can record her statement in the app which can be used in the court, she said.
Parida urged the OWM to consider upskilling women journalists or help women who want to pursue journalism but aren’t able to do so due to financial constraints.
On the occasion, journalists Sobha Surin and Sumitra Sahoo were felicitated with OWM Awards for excellence in journalism and cash reward of Rs 5,000 each. The annual magazine of OWM ‘Arohi’ was also released.
Shakti App: Reducing Trauma for Survivors-
In the same event, the Deputy CM highlighted the state’s Shakti app, launched by chief minister mohan majhi as a complementary tool to streamline legal processes. The app allows survivors to digitally record their testimonies, which can then be submitted as evidence in court. The app aims to spare survivors of sexual assault cases the repeated trauma of recounting their ordeal to multiple authorities—police, doctors, and judges.
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