Women and Crime in India

Abstract

Article 39 of Indian Constitution mentioned about gender equaity. Inspite of that provision, gender discrimination is a common feature in Indian society. Because of widespread gender discrimination women are victims of several crimes in India. The present paper tries to analyse the pattern and trends of various crimes on women in India and also tries to focus on possible reasons. The period of study is 2011 to 2015. Apart from the analysis at national level, the crimes on women at state level and district level has also been taken into consideration. From the state wise analysis it has come out that the highest number of crimes registered in the period under consideration took place in Uttar Pradesh. Other states where the crimes on women are very high are West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh. The lowest number of crimes on women are found in Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. Relatively lesser number of crimes on women are found in North Eastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh. The socio economic structure, attitude towards women and literacy levels and male dominated society may be some of the inherent reasons behind huge number of crimes on women in India.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

Gender equality is written in Indian Constitution from its inception. Article 39of Indian Constitution it has been mentioned that equality right should be given in terms of livelihood, payment etc.  According to Article 14, the state cannot refuse equality to any person. Gender discrimination is a common feature in Indian society. Because of widespread gender discrimination   women are victims of several crimes in India.

II. OBJECTIVE AND METHODOLOGY

The objective of this paper is to analyse the pattern and trends of several types of crimes committed on Indian women. The period of study is 2011 to 2015. The secondary data from the National Crime Bureau is used for the purpose of study.

III. ANALYSIS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

Table I Crime against women during 2011-2015 under India Penal Code (IPC)

Source: NCRB

A total of 314575 cases of crime against women were reported in the country in 2015.It shows a 3.3 % decline from 2014. The total number of crimes against women were 325327 in 2014. These crimes have increased in the period 2011 to 2014. From 219142 to 325327.It only declined in 2015. Among all these crimes against women, cruelty by husband and relatives occupy the foremost position. This domestic violence can be physical, emotional, verbal and economic and sexual abuse. In India 70% of women are victims of domestic violence. The India Government enacted Protection of women from domestic violence Act 2005. In spite of that cruelty by husband and relatives on a woman is the greatest occurring crime against women. This crime increased from 99135 in 2011 to 122877 in 2014. It has declined to 113403in 2015.

This is followed by assault on women which increased from 42968 in 2011 to 82422 in 2015. The following crimes against women are accordingly, kidnappings, rape, insult to modesty and dowry deaths in 2015. Higher rates of increase are found for kidnappings and assault on woman from 2011 to 2015.  The variation of crime has been found to be positive only for kidnappings and assault on woman. In other cases variations are negative.

Table 2: Proportion of Crime against Women (IPC) in total IPC Crimes

Source: NCRB

From table 2 it comes out that proportion crimes on women (IPC) has increased from 9.4% in 2011 to 10.7% in 2015.

IV. STATE LEVEL FINDINGS

Table 3: Crime on women in selected states in 2013-2014

Table 3 shows the composition of crimes against women in some selected states for the year 2013-14. The total number of rape cases in India was 33707 which increased to 34530 in 2014. Highest number of rape cases took place in Madhya Pradesh in both 2013, 2014 and 2015. This is followed by Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in 2014 and Maharastra and Rajasthan in 2015.

Total kidnappings and abduction was 51881 in 2013 which increased to 57311 in 2014 and 59277 in 2015.  This was highest in Uttar Pradesh in 2013, 2014 and 2015.  This was followed by the states Bihar and Rajasthan in 2013, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal in 2014 and Bihar and Assam in 2015. Maximum number of kidnappings and abduction of women were registered for marriage (53% in 2015).

 Dowry death is also a very common crime on Indian women prevailing even in 21st century. It is the murder or suicide of a married woman caused by a dispute over her dowry. The majority of these suicides are done through hanging, poisoning or self- immolation. Bride burning is also very common. The cases of dowry deaths have declined by 9.7% in 2015 in comparison to 2014. In 2014 it was 8455which decreased to 7634 in 2015. Highest number of dowry deaths were found in Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The highest dowry death rates was found in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (2.3%) as compared to the national average of 1.3%. In the case of assault on women the total number increased remarkably from 45351 in 2012 to 70739 in 2013.In 2015 the cases registered was 82422. The rate of increase was 0.2% in 2015 from 2014. In the case of assault on women, Madhya Pradesh was ahead of all other states of India in the year 2013 followed by Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh. In2014 and 2015 this was highest in Maharastra followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. The highest rate of assault on women was registered in Delhi (57.8%) in 2015 compared to national average of 13.6%.The number of sexual harassment cases ( Sec354A IPC) registered in Delhi in 2015 was 24041. The numbers were 5925 in Uttar Pradesh and 4751 in Maharastra. The case of insult to modesty of a woman was highest in Andhra Pradesh in all the three years 2013, 2014 and 2015. This was followed by Maharastra and Delhi. The case has decreased by 10.8% in 2015 than 2014. Delhi was found to have the highest rate of insult to woman (16.1%) followed by Andhra Pradesh in comparison to national average of 1.4% in 2015. These cases were found to occur in office premises, places related to work and in public transport. Domestic crime and violence is the most frequent crime against women in India. The cruelty by husbands and relatives decreased by 7.7% in 2015 compared to 2014. It was 122877 in 2014 which decreased to 113403 in 2015. The highest number of such cases occurred in West Bengal followed by Rajasthan in all the three years 2013, 2014 and 2015. 20163 cases were registered in West Bengal in 2015 followed by Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh in 2013, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in 2014 and Rajasthan and Assam in 2015. The highest rate of cruelty by husbands and relatives was found in Assam (71%) in comparison to national average of 18.7%.This crime comes under domestic violence which can be physical, emotional, verbal and economic and sexual abuse.  The states where the lowest crimes took place in the period under consideration are Arunachal Pradesh and Goa.

V. DISTRICT LEVEL FINDINGS

Table 4: Districts recorded more than 2000 cases of crime on women in 2015

Source: NCRB

Table 4 highlights the number of total crimes more than 2000 recorded in 2015 in districts of some states of India. In this Mumbai Commissionarate was in the top of the list and Dhubri of Assam was in the bottom of the list. Four districts of West Bengal were included in the list. These are South and North 24 Paraganas, Murshidabad and Nadia.

VI. TOTAL NUMBER OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN IN INDIA

Taking into account the scenario of total crimes on women in India we find that the number continuously increasing from 219142 in 2011 to 325327 in 2014. In 2015 it decreased to 314575. The rate of decrease is -3.3. But again the number increased to 338954 in 2016, 359849 in 2017and 378277 in 2018.

Taking into account the state wise analysis it has come out that the highest number of crimes registered in the period under consideration took place in Uttar Pradesh. Other states where the crimes on women are very high are West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh. The lowest number of crimes on women are found in Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. Relatively lesser number of crimes on women are found in North Eastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh.

Cruelty by husband and relatives is in the top position among all the crimes on women.  This is followed by assault on women, kidnappings, rape, insult to modesty of a woman and dowry deaths. Low level of education and socio economic background is an important factor causing domestic violence.

VII. POSSIBLE REASONS AND PREVENTION OF CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

The socio economic structure, attitude towards women and literacy levels and male dominated society may be some of the inherent reasons behind huge number of crimes on women in India. The states with higher levels of crimes on women are found to have relatively lower literacy levels. As found in Uttar Pradesh (69.72%), Rajasthan (67.06%) Andhra Pradesh (67.66%) and Bihar (63.82) in 2011 census. On the other hand Himachal Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala and Goa are found to have higher levels of literacy levels and lesser number of crimes on women. Maharastra and Delhi have higher levels of literacy levels, 82.91% and 86.34% respectively but crime rates are higher in these states. In West Bengal the crimes on women are high with high level of literacy (77.08%). So illiteracy may be one of the important reasons but not the only reason behind crimes on women.

In North Eastern states the social structure accepts the domination of women which led to lower crimes on women.

Therefore socio economic factors like attitude towards women, gender equality consciousness may help to improve the situation. Strict laws and quick application of these laws will help in bringing down these crimes. But just laws to protect women are not enough. Social media and Government awareness and sensitization programmes may help to bring changes in the attitudes towards women. Emphasis on  women education and financial independence along with  social and cultural awakening is necessary to stop crimes against women.            

Conclusion

Crimes on women in India have increased in the period under consideration. From the state wise analysis it has come out that the highest number of crimes registered in the period under consideration took place in Uttar Pradesh followed by West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh. The lowest number of crimes on women are found in Arunachal Pradesh and Goa. Relatively lesser number of crimes on women are found in North Eastern states like Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh.Cruelty by husband and relatives is in the top position among all the crimes on women. In the district level, Mumbai Commissionarate was in the top of the list and Dhubri of Assam was in the bottom of the list. Four districts of West Bengal were included in the list. These are South and North 24 Paraganas, Murshidabad and Nadia. The socio economic structure, attitude towards women and literacy levels and male dominated society may be some of the inherent reasons behind huge number of crimes on women in India.

References

[1] Addesh K. Devgan, Crime Against Women and Child, Cyber Tech Publications, New Delhi 2008 [2] Bedabati Mohanty, Violence against women, Kanishka Pu blishers, Distributers, New Delhi, 2005 [3] Directorate of Census Operation, 1991, 2001 2011, Census of India, Literacy tables, New Delhi [4] National Crime research Bureau, Government of India [5] Y Guruppa Naidu, Violence Against Women in India, Serials Publications, New Delhi, 2011

Copyright

Copyright © 2022 Dr. Mahananda Kanjilal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.