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Following is the statement made by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Sriprakash Jaisawal in the Lok Sabha today in response to the Calling Attention Motion tabled by Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra regarding the situation arising out of reported increase in the incidents of atrocities on women in Delhi and other parts of the country:-
“At the outset I share the deep concern of the Hon’ble Members of this august House about the incidents of atrocities on women in the country. I would like to assure the House that the Government is fully conscious of the problem and would not spare any effort to ensure security and safety of women in the country.
2. As per all-India statistics compiled by the National Crimes Record Bureau (NCRB), the number of major crime against women such as rape, kidnapping/abduction, dowry deaths, cruelty by husbands/relatives, molestation, Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Dowry (Prohibition) Act, reported during the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005(up to March) was as follows:
2001
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1,33,935
2002
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1,32,803
2003
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1,28,230
2004
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1,33,865
January to March, 2004
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30,114
January to March, 2005
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29,932
3. It may be seen from these figures that in comparison to the year 2001, there was decline in the overall incidence of crime against women in the country during the year 2004. The figures of crime against women for the first three months of the current year also indicate a downward trend as compared to the corresponding period of previous year. However, the figures in respect of all the four years show a mixed trend.
4. The number of crimes against women reported in the NCT of Delhi under the major crime heads of dowry death, rape, molestation of women, 406 IPC relating to dowry, 498 IPC- cruelty by husband or in-laws, Dowry Prohibition Act, kidnapping/abduction and eve-teasing during the years 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 (up to 15st July) was as follows:
2001
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3,870
2002
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4,106
2003
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4,338
2004
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5,568
January to 15th July, 2004
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3,042
January to 15th July, 2005
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2,706
5. The above figures show that in comparison to the year 2001, there has been an overall increase in the incidence of crime against women in Delhi during 2002, 2003 and 2004. The figures of crime against women for the period from January to 15th July of the current year indicate a decline in the overall crime rate as compared to the figures for the corresponding period of previous year. However, it is a fact that there has been increase in rape cases in Delhi during 2003, 2004 and the first seven months of the current year.
6. The Delhi Police has taken effective steps in the recent past to check the incidence of crime against women. These steps include: (i) Strengthening of Crime against Women Cell (CWC); (ii) setting up of Rape Crisis Intervention Centres; (iii) Constitution of Special Session Courts with female judges; (iv) Investigation of rape and other related crimes by Women Police Officers or associating women police with the Investigating Officers in such cases; (v) Undertaking legal awareness and publicity campaigns; (vi) Posting of a lady police constable in PCR Vans patrolling the prominent women colleges; (vii) Posting of plain-clothes police personnel at vulnerable places in the city to curb eve-teasing and molestation and to keep surveillance on criminals; (viii) Setting up Women Help Line No. 1991; and (ix) Constitution of a round the clock “Women Mobile Team” to attend to urgent and distress/emergency calls from women; etc. As a result of these steps, there is greater awareness among women to report the instances of crime.
7. Unfortunately, in spite of these steps taken by Delhi Police, two cases of rape have occurred recently in quick succession. These cases have received wide media coverage. The first case relates to abduction of a girl from Dhaula Kuan and her rape in a moving car in the night of 7/8th May, 2005. In this case Delhi Police has been successful in arresting one of the accused persons. The Delhi Police has taken a number of steps to nab the other culprits. The second case, which was of similar nature, relates to abduction of a woman from Mayapuri and her rape in a moving car on 20th July, 2005. Delhi Police has undertaken a very comprehensive exercise to workout this case.
8. Heterogeneous character of population is one of the factors that influences the incidence of crime in Delhi. There is a positive co-relation between the growth in crime and population of the city. Besides population, other factors like floating population, urbanization and industrialization leading to migration of population from neighboring states, unemployment, economic disparity, decreasing social and family bonds also influence the incidence of crime.
9. An analysis of the data pertaining to rape cases reveals that in the year 2003, 2004 and 2005, in more than 97% cases, family members, neighbours, close friends and relatives, who had clear access to the victim, were involved in committing the rape. Therefore, the problem cannot be solved by Police action alone. Creating social awareness through education in families, schools and colleges would help to improve the attitude of the society towards women. This will go a long way in checking this crime.
10. I would like to assure the Hon’ble Members that the Government will take further steps to improve the sense of security among the women in Delhi.”
OK/AD/MM
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