Lok Sabha Question No. 3277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-17
Subject: Rising Cases of Domestic Violence in Ladakh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 3277

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021

## RISING CASES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN LADAKH

## 3277.   SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  rising  cases  of  domestic  violence  in Union Territory of Ladakh;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has initiated the setting up of the rescue shelter for the victims of domestic violence; and
- (d) the measures being taken by the Ministry to provide assistance to the victims?

## 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).  The published reports are available till the year 2020.  As  per  information  received  from  NCRB,  during  the  year  2020,  in  the  Union Territory of Ladakh, no case under Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act has been registered.
- (c) & (d): The Government of India implements One Stop Centre scheme, under which a range of integrated services including police facilitation, medical aid, legal aid and legal counseling,  psycho-social  counseling  and  temporary  shelter  to  women  affected  by violence or distress is provided under one roof. In the UT of Ladakh,  two such centres are functional at Leh and Kargil.

Further, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children rests primarily with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws.

However, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of  women  and  has  undertaken  various  legislative  and  schematic  interventions  in  this regard. These include legislations such as 'The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018', 'The  Criminal  Law  (Amendment)  Act,  2013',  'The  Sexual  Harassment  of  Women  at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013', 'The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006', 'The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961', etc. The schemes/ projects include One Stop Centres (OSCs); Universalisation of Women Helplines (WHL), and Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergencies; a cyber-crime reporting portal to report obscene content; safe city projects in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) including infrastructure, technology adoption and  capacity  building  in  community  through  awareness  programmes,  training  and  skill development  programs  for  Investigation  Officers,  Prosecution  Officers  and  Medical Officers; distribution of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to States/ UTs; establishment of state of the art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh; assistance to 24 States/ UTs to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories; setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy disposal of cases of rape and cases under POCSO Act; setting up/ strengthening of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the country; setting up/ strengthening of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations etc.

In addition, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to States/ UTs from time to time on various issues pertaining to safety and security of women and children, including women victims of domestic violence.

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