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The latest NCRB report from 2018 reveals that on an average, one rape case was reported every 15 minutes in India. No country for women?
If you are a woman in India, you feel unsafe on the streets, in public places, in public transport, at the ATM, in metros, at temples, even your own houses – and you are not alone.
In 2018, on an average one rape case was reported every 15 minutes. Domestic violence is the most commonly occurring crime against women. More women were killed after being raped in 2018 than in 2017.
Worrisome data? The recent NCRB report released by the government raises many questions about women’s security in this country.
It’s been 7 years since the horrifying Delhi rape case happened, and a plethora of schemes, and promises for women’s security were given soon after that. Yet, even after 7 years, women in this country live every day in fear.
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data published in India Today, 3,78,277 cases of crimes against women were reported in 2018, with domestic violence the top crime against women registered. This indicates a 7% increase from 3,59,849 in 2017. The highest numbers for crime against women was registered in UP (59,445) followed by Maharashtra (35,497), West Bengal (30,394), and Assam (27,728).
There was a 31% spurt in cases of rape with murder in 2018 as compared to 2017 – from 223 cases of rape with murder in 2017, the count increased to 291 in 2018. Assam recorded the highest number (66) followed by Madhya Pradesh (46), UP (41) and Haryana (26).
Women reported almost 34,000 rapes in 2018, suggesting that 1 rape case was reported in every 15 minutes in 2018. Among union territories, Delhi recorded the highest number of rapes at 1,217 in 2018.
In numbers under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 32,608 cases were reported in 2017 while 39,827 cases were reported in 2018 – which comes to as many as 109 children being sexually abused every day in India in 2018, showing a 22 per cent increase in such cases from the previous year.
This report again raises the question – Is basic security a lot to ask? Is proper investigation a lot to ask?
A rape case being registered every 15 minutes shows how rapes have become a ‘Roz ka (an everyday), pretty normal affair’ in our country. This reality is not just sad, it’s scary.
Out of these many cases being registered, the number of cases being solved and justice being provided is really miniscule. If it took 7 years to provide justice in the inhumane Nirbhaya case, we can’t even imagine how long it might be taking to solve, and provide justice in other cases not so much in the public eye. And this does not even take into account the cases that might not be reported.
Despite creating a fear of the law and the judiciary in the minds of people, rape cases are poorly investigated and prosecuted in India is due to the power structures conforming to deeply patriarchal societies. This gives the rapists more confidence to pursue this heinous crime.
Despite all the supposed ‘women empowerment’, the country is still run by men. Most judges are still men, most police officers and lawyers are still men. Which often ends up humiliating victims and creating fear in the minds of those affected, and a taboo against registering assault complaints. There are also very few forensic labs in the country, not enough fast-track courts, and not enough judges in them – these things are needed to be changed.
It’s high time now, that instead of just making promises we take stricter actions.
Image source: pexels
I read, I write, I dream and search for the silver lining in my life. Being a student of mass communication with literature and political science I love writing about things that bother me. Follow read more...
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