(a) whether the complaints/incidents of sexual exploitation/harassment of women including at work places have been reported in the recent past;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of complaints received/registered with the National Commission for Women (NCW) during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT- wise; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government/ NCW to ensure safety/security of women including at their work places?
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)
(a) to (c): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 389 FOR 19.12. 2014 BY SHRI CHOUDHARY BABULAL REGARDING SEXUAL HARASSMENT.
(a) & (b): The numbers of complaints of sexual harassment of women at work places registered with National Commission for Women(NCW) during the last two years and current years shows an increasing trend. The State/UT wise data of complaints registered with NCW for sexual harassment of women at work places during the last three years and the current year is annexed.
(c): Safety of women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. The Government is endeavouring to put in place effective mechanisms to provide safe environment for women. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making the punishment more stringent for offences like rape. Provision for increased penalty for gang rape and causing serious injury to the victim resulting her to remain in a vegetative state have been made. New offences like acid attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism and stalking, disrobing a woman have been incorporated in the Indian Penal Code. Certain changes have also been introduced in the Code Of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC) and the Indian Evidence Act, like the recording of statement of the victim of rape and sexual assault by a woman police officer and provisions to ensure that the victims ( below the age of eighteen) is not confronted by the accused at the time of trial.
Ministry of Women And Child Development have enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 which cover all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and protect them against sexual harassment at all workplaces both in public and private sector, whether organized or unorganized.
Ministry recognize that incidence of crime against women cannot be controlled unless mindsets of people, in general, are made to change. The Government of India including NCW regularly conducts awareness creation among men and women in the society through workshops, seminars, street plays, NarikiChaupals, BetiJanmotshav at the district level. In collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj Special (Mahila) Gram Sabhas have also been conducted. Further, advertisements in the press and electronic media educating peoples about issues of domestic violence, child sex ratio and child marriage etc also being taken up. Platforms such as the International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to create awareness on issues related to women and to bring to the centre stage issues such as sex selective abortions and child marriage. Through Sablaprogramme of this Ministry, adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are imparted about their rights. Government has recently introduced the BetiBachao, BetiPadhao scheme addressing the issue of declining child sex ratio and discriminatory social construct against women.