No. of Cases of Rape and Assault on Women

No. of Cases of Rape and Assault on Women show an Increasing Trend During 2011-13


The Number of cases registered for rape, assault on women with intend to outrage her modesty and insult to the modesty of Women has shown an increasing trend between the year 2011-13. As per the provisional data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which is available up to 2013, the number of such cases registered in 2013 were 117035 in 2013, 79447 in 2012 and 75744 in 2011. In 2013, the highest number of such cases reported were in Maharastra (13827) followed by Madhya Pradesh (13323) and Andhra Pradesh (13267).

Safety of women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. The Government is endeavouring to put in place effective mechanisms to provide safe environment for women. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making the punishment more stringent for offences like rape. Provision for increased penalty for gang rape and causing serious injury to the victim resulting her to remain in a vegetative state have been made. New offences like acid attack, sexual harassment, voyeurism and stalking, disrobing a woman have been incorporated in the Indian Penal Code. Certain changes have also been introduced in the Code Of Criminal Procedure (Cr.PC) and the Indian Evidence Act, like the recording of statement of the victim of rape and sexual assault by a woman police officer and provisions to ensure that the victims ( below the age of eighteen) is not confronted by the accused at the time of trial.

Ministry of Women And Child Development has enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 which cover all women, irrespective of their age or employment status and protect them against sexual harassment at all workplaces both in public and private sector, whether organized or unorganized.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.


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Cases Registered Under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 Show an Increase During the Period 2011-13

The number of cases registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 has shown an increasing trend during the period 2011-13. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data which is available till the year 2013, the number of such cases registered were 222 in 2013, 169 in 2012 and 113 in 2011. In the year 2013, highest number of cases registered are in Tamil Nadu (56) followed by West Bengal (43).

The reasons for child marriage are complex and it is mindset problem which considers girl child as a burden. Social customs, tradition, illiteracy, poverty, low status of women in society, lack of awareness about consequences of child marriage are some of the other reasons that encourage the practice of child marriage.

The Resolution titled ‘Strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage : challenges, achievements, best practices and implementation gaps’ was adopted by consensus at the 24th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September, 2013. India supported the resolution and made a statement.

Government of India is concerned about the prevalence of Child Marriages in the country and put in place necessary legislation viz. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) 2006 to tackle the problem. The States/UTs from time to time are being regularly pursued for effective implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Further, State Governments are requested to take special initiative to delay marriage by coordinated efforts on Akha Teej—the traditional day for such marriages; Advertisements in the press and electronic media educating peoples about the issue of Child Marriage etc also being taken up. Platforms such as the International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to create awareness on issues related to women and to bring to the centre stage issues such as child marriage. Through the Sabla programme of this Ministry, adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are imparted training with regard to legal rights of women which also includes the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Relief and Rehabilitation of female victims of violence

24 States & 7 UTs have formulated the Victim Compensation Scheme under provisions of Section 357 A of Code of Criminal Procedure.

The compensation part of the rehabilitation of victims of violence including rape is governed by provision of Section 357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure which states that every State Government in co-ordination with the Central Government shall prepare a scheme for providing funds for the purpose of compensation to the victim of crime including rape. As per section 326 A of the IPC, Criminal Law Amendment Act 2013 apart from making punishment stringent, for acid attack, it provides for just and reasonable fine to meet the medical expenses of the victim and this shall be paid to victim. The amendment also provides that all the hospitals, public or private, have been mandated to provide free medical treatment to all victims of acid attack and rape. The Ministry is implementing “Ujjawala”- a Comprehensive Scheme for Prevention of Trafficking and Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-Integration and Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking for Commercial Sexual Exploitation.

Under the Legal Service Authority Act 1987, all women are entitled to free legal aid.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), has introduced a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for setting up One Stop Centre (one Centre in every State/UT). The scheme aims at facilitating/providing medical aid, police assistance, legal counseling/court case management, psycho-social counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence for implementation during the remaining period of 12th Five Year Plan i.e. 2015-2016 and 2016-2017.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is also administering Swadhar and Short Stay Home Schemes for relief and rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances, including the victims of rape.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.

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Number of cases registered under Domestic Violence Act, 2005 show a declining trend over last three years

The number of cases registered under Domestic Violence Act, 2005 has gone down over the last three years. As per the provisional data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) which is available up to 2014, the number of such cases registered were 531 in 2014, 4204 in 2013 and 16351 in 2012. In the year 2014, the highest number of such cases were registered in Uttar Pradesh (265), followed by Kerala (124).

Safety of women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. The Ministry is endeavouring to put in place effective mechanism to provide safe environment for women to work and live and fulfil their potential. Ministry recognize that incidence of violence against women cannot be controlled unless mindset of people, in general, are made to change. Continuous awareness creation among men and women in the society through workshops, seminars, street plays, NarikiChaupals, BetiJanmotshav are being undertaken at the district level. In collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj Special (Mahila) Gram Sabhas have also been conducted. Further, advertisements in the press and electronic media educating peoples about issues of domestic violence, Child Sex Ratio and Child Marriage etc also being taken up. Platforms such as the International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to create awareness on issues related to women and to bring to the centre stage issues such as sex selective abortions and child marriage. Through Sabla programme of this Ministry, adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are imparted about training with regard to legal rights of women.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today.