Lok Sabha Question No. 3685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Atrocities against Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Y. S. Avinash Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3685

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## ATROCITIES AGAINST WOMEN

## 3685.  SHRI Y.S. AVINASH REDDY:

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

- (a) whether the Government has received a representation regarding abnormal increase in the cases of atrocities on women;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the details of the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (c)  :The  Ministry  of  Women  &  Child  Development  has  not  received  any representation  regarding  the  abnormal  increase  in  the  cases  of  atrocities  against women.  Further, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes the data on crime against women which is available upto the year 2021 at its website https://ncrb.gov.in/en/crime-india. As per the data reported by NCRB, the number of crimes  against  women  were  371503  and  428278  in  2020  and  2021  respectively. However, increase in the number of crimes against women may also be due to more reporting of such crimes.

'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the Constitution of India and the responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women rests primarily with the respective State Governments.

Constitution  of  India  guarantees  the  right  to  equality  and  also  provides  for positive  interventions  by  the  State  to  eliminate  all  forms  of  discrimination  against women and to ensure their holistic development and empowerment. Keeping in view the vision articulated in Constitutional provisions, Government has enacted various legislations such as the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Law Amendments of 2013 and 2018, the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 which addresses the issue of gender inequality, discrimination and violence faced by women.

Further, Government of India has introduced various schemes and projects like One StopCentres (OSCs) for assisting women affected by violence and in distress (801 OSCs approved out of which 733 are functional across the country, over 7 lakh women have been assisted); Women Helpline (WHL) a 24*7 toll free telephonic short code 181, to provide emergency and non emergency response to women affected by violence across the country(functional in 34 States/UTs) by referral service sofar

Women Helpline have handled over 1.26 crore calls and assisted over 64 lakh women till 31.03.2023; Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP); a multi-sectoral intervention by the government to address the issue of Gender biased sex selection, and related issues of Women Empowerment: and Shakti Sadan for women facing difficult circumstances or destitution under umbrella scheme of Mission Shakti.

In addition, several projects/ schemes are implemented by Central Government through other Ministries /Departments /Implementing Agencies under Nirbhaya Fund which include 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 Art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh; assistance to 28 States/ UTs to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories; setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts 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. The Government has also put in place Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences, an online analytic tool for tracking and monitoring of investigation.  A  National  Database  of  Sexual  Offenders  (NDSO)  has  also  been created.

Under Nirbhaya Fund, Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has  also  undertaken  several  initiatives,  which,  inter-alia  includes  training  and  skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers,  distribution  of  Sexual  Assault  Evidence  Collection  (SAEC)  Kits  to States/ UTs. BPR&D has also prepared Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for 'Women Help Desk at Police Stations' to ensure smooth functioning of Women Help Desks by focusing  on  four  critical  components  viz.  infrastructure,  training,  human  resource development and response mechanism. A book titled 'Women's Safety and Securitya  Handbook  for  First  Responders  and  Investigators  in  the  Police'  has  also  been prepared for the purpose of prevention and investigation of crime against women with specific reference to the crime of sexual assault, which includes investigation, victim compensation and rehabilitation. Emphasis has been laid upon appropriate behavioural and attitudinal skills of the police in course of prevention and detection of crime against women and children and interaction with victims of crime. Webinars on women safety with sensitivity, gender sensitization of police personnel etc. have also been organized by BPR&D.

Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development  has  engaged  the  services  of National  Institute  of  Mental  Health  and  Neuro  Sciences  (NIMHANS)  for  providing basic and advanced training under the project named 'Stree Manoraksha' to the staff of One Stop Centres (OSCs) across the country on handling psycho-social and mental health care needs to support the women facing violence and women in distress.

Further, the National Commission for Women (NCW), in addition to handling complaints through regular mode, also takes cognizance of the grievances relating to domestic violence reported in social media. The complaints received by NCW are acted  upon  by  coordinating  with  victims,  police  and  other  authorities  to  provide immediate assistance.

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