(a) whether the Government is aware of the rising cases of domestic violence in Union Territory of Ladakh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has initiated the setting up of the rescue shelter for the victims of domestic violence; and
(d) the measures being taken by the Ministry to provide assistance to the victims?
(a) & (b): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes information on crimes in its publication “Crime in India” which is available on the website of NCRB (https://ncrb.gov.in). The published reports are available till the year 2020. As per information received from NCRB, during the year 2020, in the Union Territory of Ladakh, no case under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act has been registered.
(c) & (d): The Government of India implements One Stop Centre scheme, under which a range of integrated services including police facilitation, medical aid, legal aid and legal counseling, psycho-social counseling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence or distress is provided under one roof. In the UT of Ladakh, two such centres are functional at Leh and Kargil.
Further, ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children rests primarily with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.
However, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of women and has undertaken various legislative and schematic interventions in this regard. These include legislations such as ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018’, ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013’, ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’, ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006’, ‘The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961’, etc. The schemes/ projects include One Stop Centres (OSCs); Universalisation of Women Helplines (WHL), and Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergencies; a cyber-crime reporting portal to report obscene content; safe city projects in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) including infrastructure, technology adoption and capacity building in community through awareness programmes, training and skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers; distribution of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to States/ UTs; establishment of state of the art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh; assistance to 24 States/ UTs to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories; setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy disposal of cases of rape and cases under POCSO Act; setting up/ strengthening of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the country; setting up/ strengthening of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations etc.
In addition, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to States/ UTs from time to time on various issues pertaining to safety and security of women and children, including women victims of domestic violence.
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