(a) whether the violence against women are increasing in the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to curb such cases?
(a) whether the violence against women are increasing in the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to curb such cases?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISHRA)
(a)& (b): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.
Further, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes statistical data on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”. The published reports are available till the year 2020. Data published by NCRB does not show this trend.
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However, Government has taken the following measures to control and deal with the cases concerning crime against women:-
i. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 was enacted for effective deterrence against sexual offences. Further, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of girls below the age of 12 years. The Act also inter-alia mandates completion of investigation and filing of charge sheet in rape cases in 2 months and trials to also be completed in 2 months.
ii. Emergency Response Support System provides a pan-India, single internationally recognized number (112) based system for all emergencies, with computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress.
iii. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a cyber-crime reporting portal on 20thSeptember, 2018 for citizens to report obscene content.
iv. Using technology to aid smart policing and safety
management, Safe City Projects have been sanctioned in
first Phase in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai,
Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow & Mumbai).
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v. MHA has launched the “National Database on Sexual Offenders” (NDSO) on 20thSeptember, 2018 to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country.
vi. MHA has launched an online analytic tool “Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences” to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018.
vii. In order to improve investigation, MHA has taken steps to strengthen DNA analysis units in Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories. This includes setting up of State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Unit in Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh. MHA has also sanctioned setting-up and upgrading of DNA Analysis units in State Forensic Science Laboratories in 23 States/UTs.
viii. MHA has notified guidelines for collection of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases and the standard composition in a sexual assault evidence collection kit. To facilitate adequate capacity in manpower, training and skill building programs have been undertaken for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers. Bureau of Police Research & Development has distributed 14,950 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to States/ UTs as orientation kit as part of training.
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ix. MHA has also approved two projects for setting up and
strengthening of Women Help Desks in police stations and Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts of the country.
x. In addition to the above-mentioned measures, MHA has been issuing advisories from time to time to States/UTs to deal with crimes against women, which are available at www.mha.gov.in
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