Central Idea

Despite a decline in overall crime rate in 2022, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report highlights a 4% rise in crimes against women.
The crime rate dropped to 258.1 per lakh population in 2022 from 268 per lakh in 2021, but crimes against women increased.

Nature of Crimes Against Women

Patriarchal Society: Activists and lawyers attribute the rise to deep-rooted patriarchal mind-sets in Indian society.
Legal Framework: Key laws for women’s safety include The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, The Dowry Prohibition Act, The Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, and others.
Implementation Challenges: Despite strong laws, their effective implementation remains a challenge.

NCRB Report Findings: Over 4.45 lakh cases of crimes against women were registered in 2022, indicating a high rate of 66.4 crimes per lakh population.
Charge Sheet Filing Rate: The rate of filing charge sheets in such cases was 75.8%.
Views on Increased Registration: Some experts view the rise as indicative of women’s increased confidence in approaching police, while others see it as a reflection of persistent inequality and societal attitudes.

Delhi’s High Crime Rate: With 14,247 cases, Delhi recorded the highest rate of crimes against women at 144.4 per lakh.
Contrast with Other Regions: In many parts of India, especially rural areas, crime registration is low, and fear of police is high.

Policing Issues: There is a lack of trained police officers for investigations, leading to poor charge sheet preparation.
Judicial Delays: Cases take years in trial courts, with appeals extending the duration further.
Fast-Track Courts: Despite their existence, fast-track courts for grievous crimes are as slow as regular courts.

Low Proportion: Women police officers’ representation in the force is low, leading to disproportionate workloads and slower charge sheeting and convictions.
Ministry of Home Affairs Data: As of January 1, 2022, women constituted only 11.7% of the total state police force.

Conclusion

Need for Strong Political Will: Effective policies and programs are required to elevate women’s status and address the root causes of gender-based violence.
Improving Law Enforcement and Judiciary: Enhancing police training, increasing women’s representation in the force, and expediting judicial processes are crucial steps.