Status Of Women In India
The status of women in India has changed many times in history. It experienced a great decline from the ancient to the medieval period and was once again revived in independent India. The Constitution of India grants women equal rights as men and currently Indian women are taking part in every sphere of the job market of the country and also actively taking part in business and politics. However, numerous problems continue to exist and threaten the freedom, safety and security of women India. Crime rate against Indian women vary significantly in different parts of the country with some placing like the national capital of Delhi facing extremely high crime rates against women. Women in India are subject to several violent crimes like rape, acid throwing, marital rape, forced prostitution, dowry killings, and others. Unfortunately, the country was ranked as the worst G20 country for women by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in 2012.
Increased Incidents Of Crime Against Women In India: A Disturbing Trend
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 3,37,922 cases of crime against women were recorded in the year 2014. This figure is a 9.2% increase from the previous year’s report of 3,09,546 cases of crime against women recorded in the country. The crimes have also increased over the years. In 2010, 2,13,585 cases were reported which increased to 2,28,649 cases in 2011, then to 2,44,270 cases in 2012, and 3,09,546 cases in 2013. The figures of 2014 are thus the highest. 11.4% of these crimes were reported from Uttar Pradesh which houses 16.8% of the country’s female population. West Bengal which hosts 7.5% of the country’s female population accounted for 11.3% of total cases of crimes
against women in 2014.
Why Is Crime Against Women In India Increasing?
The figures provided above leave no doubt that the number of cases of reported crime against women in India have increased over the years. The most common among these crimes have been acts of domestic violence against women by husbands and relatives. The higher crime rate could mean either or both of two things:
The incidence of crime against women has actually increased over the years.
or
The women are now confident enough to report crimes committed against them or against other women they know.
Crime Rate Against Women By Indian State
If we look at the table above, we will find some surprising results. According to the report provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Government of India for 2014 on crime rate by Indian states, we find that the Union Territory of Delhi, the capital of the country, is unsafest for Indian women. Also, according to the present report, the northeastern state of Nagaland is the safest for women in India.
Why Is Delhi So Unsafe For Women?
Delhi, a Union Territory of India and the national capital, is the unsafest place for Indian women as per the report by NCRB. According to a Times of India report, 94% of women in the city feel unsafe or very unsafe and 96% feel unsafe after sunset. So what makes Delhi so unsafe when the city is actually the seat of the central government of the country?
According to some, the poor sex ratio of Delhi and surrounding states, especially Haryana, reveals the perception of women in the society in the region. Female infanticide is rampant in Haryana and Punjab and other atrocities against the female child are also common in the neighboring states of Delhi. This only means that most men borne and bred in such societies have not learned to respect women as free individuals. Independent women in such societies are frowned upon and often become the targets of crime by men who cannot tolerate their freedom. Since Delhi is a modern city with modern amenities, famed universities, schools, and colleges, and also with plenty of work opportunities, modern women from all parts of the country are attracted to the city. At the same time, Delhi also attracts men from surrounding states in search of work or study. Many of these men have been brought up learning that women roles are confined to homes and housework. For them, the independent women in the city are a big shock which often makes them commit acts where they try to dominate the woman’s free spirit with their gender-biased attitude. Thus, rape, domestic violence, and other crimes against women in Delhi are so high.
Lack Of Safety Of Women In Other Unsafe States Of India
Like Delhi, disrespect for women on the part of men is a top cause of crimes committed against women in other states of India reporting the highest rates of crime against women like Assam, Rajasthan, and Tripura. Other factors triggering high crime rates include lack of safety for women, the insufficient lighting of streets, lack of signboards, crowded public transport, lack of safe public toilets, lack of effective and visible police personnel, etc.
No comments:
Post a Comment