Question : CRIME AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

(a) whether crime against women and minor girls has increased in the country;

(b) if so, the number of such cases reported, accused arrested/convicted, cases solved/unsolved, conviction rate achieved and action taken against the guilty during each of the last three years and the current year, State and crime-wise including rape/gang rape, acid attacks, murder, molestation, eve-teasing and dowry death;

(c) the details of the projects sanctioned and funded through Nirbhaya Fund with respect to the safety of women/girls since creation of the fund along with the number of women/girls benefitted from such projects in the country, State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the women welfare organisations/NGOs have extended their suggestions to the Government to ensure safety of women/girls in the country during the said period and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government on such suggestion; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to provide adequate safety to women/girls in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a)& (b): As per information provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 228650 cases, 244270 cases and 309546 cases were registered under crime committed against women during 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively, showing a rising trend. Similarly, a total of 33052, 38172 and 58224 cases were registered under crime against children during 2011-2013 respectively, showing an increasing trend. The details of the crimes against women and children for the years 2011 – 13 and some information pertaining to 2014 are given in http://mha1.nic.in/par2013/ParBud 2015.html

(c): Allocation from Nirbhaya Fund has been made for the following schemes:

(i) Scheme of the Ministry of Home Affairs for creating an integrated Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) platform for supporting Geographical Information System (GIS) Based Call Taking and Global Positioning System (GPS) based Police vehicle dispatch function that will help to improve the efficiency in responding to women distress calls and provide speedy assistance.

(ii) ‘Scheme on Women Safety on Public Road Transport’ administered by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

(d): Several women organization / NGO had submitted their suggestions / recommendation for improving safety and security of the women and children. Their suggestions have been sincerely considered by this Ministry.

(e): The President of India on 2nd April, 2013 has consented to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which has come into force since 3rd Feb, 2013 on crimes against women. It has enhanced punishment for crimes like rape, sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch etc. In addition, amendments are made to the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 to protect the rights of the victims of sexual assault. Some provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 were also amended.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development is working on several areas concerning women and children. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been sanctioned a sum of Rs. 321.69 crore out of the Nirbhaya Fund to implement emergency response system to attend calls from women in distress and provide them immediate assistance.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to counter human trafficking. In pursuance of this objective, the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a total number of 225 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in various districts of the country.

To create a mechanism for tracking ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed a national portal called ‘TrackChild’ which has data on ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children.

As per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India `Police` and `Public Order` are State subjects and, as such, the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, lies with the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations. However, Government of India is deeply concerned with the welfare of women and children; and through various schemes and advisories to the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations, augments the efforts of the States /UTs.

In order to augment the capacity of States in the domain of investigation of heinous crimes against women viz. rape, acid attack, dowry death and human trafficking, the Ministry of Home Affairs is proposing to set up 150 Investigative Units for Crime against Women (IUCAW) in most crime prone districts of each State on a 50 : 50 cost sharing basis with the States. The objective of these units will be to assist the local police in investigation of heinous crimes against women.