Lok Sabha Question No. 2143 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Cases of Woman and Child Abuse
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: D.K. Suresh, Sumalatha Ambareesh, Suresh Kodikunnil, Sougata Ray, Nalin Kumar Kateel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO.2143

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## CASES OF WOMAN AND CHILD ABUSE

## 2143.  SHRI D.K.SURESH:

SHRIMATI SUMALATHA AMBAREESH: SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: PROF. SOUGATA RAY: SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that woman and child abuse is the highest reported violence in India  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  number  of  cases  such  reported during each of the last three years in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of increased proliferation of child abuse in the country transcending barriers of economy and social strata, if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any review of the existing provisions of the laws to make it more effective to curb the issues and if so, the details and response of the Government in this regard; and
- (d) the measures being taken by the Government to create awareness and check cases of woman and child abuse?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  &  (b):  National   Crime   Records   Bureau   (NCRB)   compiles   and   publishes information  on  crimes  in  its  publication  'Crime  in  India'  which  is  available  on  the website  of  NCRB  (https://ncrb.gov.in), which also provides for State / UT wise data of crimes against women and children.  The published reports are available till the year 2020.  As  per  information  reported  by  NCRB,  the  number  of  cases  registered  under crime against women during 2018, 2019 and 2020 are 378236, 405326 and 371503, respectively  and  the  number  of  cases  registered  under  crime  against  children  during these years are 141764, 148090 and 128531, respectively. This data shows a decline in number of registered cases for crime against women and children in 2020 over the the years 2018 and 2019.

(c) & (d) :  '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  rest  with  the  respective  State  Governments.  The  State Governments are competent to deal with such offenses under the extant provisions of laws.  The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  and  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs (MHA) issues advisories from time to time on steps to be taken for effective steps to curb the crimes against women and children and for raising public awareness.

Further,  there  has  been  enactment  of  various  legislation  such  as  the  Indian  Penal Code, 1860, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence  Act,  2005,  the  Prohibition  of  Child  Marriage  Act,  2006,  the  Protection  of Children from Sexual Offenses Act, 2012 and the  Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 etc. by the Indian Parliament which addresses the issue of crime against  women  and  children.  The  review  of  legislation  /  policies  /  programs  is  a continuous process and based  on the  recommendations/ suggestions/ learning outcomes, the Government takes appropriate measure to amend the laws / policies / programs from time to time.

In addition, Government of India has introduced various schemes and projects including One  Stop  Centres  (OSCs)  for  violence  affected  women  and  girls  including  dowry harassment, Women Helplines (WHL) running on toll-free telephonic short code 181, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Swadhar  Grehs for women  facing difficult circumstances or destitution, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergency response, safe city  projects  in  8  cities  (Ahmedabad,  Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow  and  Mumbai),  training  and  skill  development  programs  for  Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers, setting up/ strengthening of Women Help  Desks  (WHDs)  at  Police  Stations,  Integrated  Child  Protection  Scheme  (ICPS), 24x7 Childline - 1098 etc to ensure safety of women and children across the country.

The  Ministry  undertakes  awareness  exercise  for  safety  and  security  of  women  and children  from  time  to  time.  Further,  the  Government,  through  institutions  like  the National Commission for Women, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and  their  counterparts  in  States  have  been  spreading  awareness  through  seminars, workshops, audio-visual,  print and electronic media etc. to sensitize the people about the  safety  and  security  of  women  and  children  and  also  about  various  provisions  of the  legislation etc.

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