Question : ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN

(a) the details of the number of crimes against women including rape, gang-rape, abduction and robbery reported from various parts of the country, including National Capital Territory of Delhi during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Union Government has reviewed the status of the implementation of the various advisories/ measures to curb crime/atrocities against women by the State Governments;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has assessed/conducted any study/reviewed the reasons behind the spurt in crimes against women in the country; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.139 FOR 3.08.2010

(a) As per information available with National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 164765, 185312 and 195856 cases of crime against women have been registered during 2006, 2007 and 2008. The latest data pertains to the year 2008. State/UT-wise details of cases registered, cases chargesheeted, persons arrested, and person convicted in reference to crime against women are placed at Annexure.

(b) and (c) As per Seventh Schedule, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Constitution, and as such the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes against women, lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. However, the Union Government attaches highest importance to the matter of prevention and control of crime against women and has enacted legislations such as the Violence against Women (Prevention) Act, 2005, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, 1987 and Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000, the display of lascivious photographs/films on computer through internet, etc.

The Central Government has been constantly reviewing and strengthening the existing legislations. Amendments have also been enacted in the Code of Criminal Procedure in 2005 and 2008 to strengthen the law for prevention of crime against women and taking measures for safeguarding the interest of women.

Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a detailed advisory dated 4th September, 2009 to all State Governments/UT Administrations wherein they have been advised, inter alia, to make comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the State machinery in tackling with the problem of crime against women. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued another advisory on prevention and control of crime dated 16.07.2010. These advisories, inter-alia, advise the States Governments/ Union Territory Administrations on gender sensitization of the police personnel, adopting appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment to the persons found guilty of vilence against women, minimizing delays in investigations of crime against women and improving the quality of investigations, setting up ‘Crime against Women Cells’ in districts where these do not exist, setting up of special women courts, and improving the effectiveness of schemes developed for the welfare and rehabilitation of women who are victimized to make women more independent and self-reliant. Majority of States/ UTs have established ‘Women Cells’. Some States/UTs have also set up ‘All Women Police stations’ at district level and ‘Mahila desk’ at Police Station level.

(d) to (e): Studies have been conducted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) on ‘Crime Against Women (1982), ‘Crimes Against Women – Role of Section 498A IPC in States of Delhi and Haryana (2002)’ and ‘International Study on Crime Against Women and Death of Women in Custody (2007)’. The findings of the recent study of 2007 are that women face maximum risk of violence from people known to them like intimate partners, close family members, friends and/or near relatives. Young women who are illiterate or poorly educated and belonging to economically weaker sections of the society are highly vulnerable to gender specific crime. The measures taken by the various Governments/NGOs very often fail to reach the women victims of crime. Weak enforcement of laws, under reporting of crimes against women, non-registration of cases, inadequate number of women police personnel, lack of training and gender sensitivity of police personnel investigating crime and general awareness amongst women about their rights under the law are some of the other factors responsible for crime against women. Most of the recommendations of the studies have been conveyed to the State Governments /UT Administrations through the above referred advisories. BPR&D has also undertaken a national survey on ‘Crime Against Women’.