Kerala to launch sex offenders' registry ... first in country

The Kerala government will launch a registry of sex offenders, the first of its kind in the country, Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam said here on Thursday. The registry will contain all identification details of sex offenders and would be kept in public domain, he said while detailing plans to check atrocities against women in the state. "It will be the first in the country," he said.

Addressing the opening day of the fourth session of the 14th Legislative Assembly, Sathasivam also said that the CPI(M)-led LDF government government will set up a comprehensive relief fund for victims of sex crimes.

The announcements come days after an actress was abducted and sexually assaulted in a moving car while returning from a shooting site in Kochi.

"Though the Nirbhaya Cell under the Department of Social Justice has been functioning commendably in the state, Kerala lacked a comprehensive victim relief fund.

"Although some of the victims get some amount of money, the relief due to them for the damages they suffer are delayed due to this shortcoming," Sathasivam said.

"Government will set up a comprehensive victim relief fund to provide interim relief for victims of sex crimes, both children and adults," he said.

Sathasivam also said the increasing impunity of sexual offences due to lack of social deterrence is a growing concern all over the country.