Author: Manjari Agrawal, III year of B.B.A.,LL.B. from Galgotias University
As of now, Women’s safety has become a major issue in India. First, let’s understand the term “crime” so, crime is an act, when a person breaching any law and that can lead a person liable to be tried in court of law. As we all know, Women plays a lot of role in India such as sister, grandmother, daughter and even sometime she is worshiped and yet, she is not safe. The crime rate against women in India is growing quickly day-by-day.In Today’s situation, Women thinks twice when she is going out of their homes, especially at night. Not even a day, when we don’t hear the news of a crime against women in India. Half of the newspaper covers with such news like women raped by men, Acid attack, Female Feticide, Dowry Death, Outraging her modesty, Marital Rape, Sexual harassment etc. It is extremely painful, when we look at the status of women’s safety especially in India where we give the status of Stature of goddesses.
The Constitution of India contributes equal fundamental rights to men and women. According to the India laws, everyone should be treated equally either women or men. They can do any type of work as per choice. But still in India women feels uncomfortable or unsafe. The main reason behind this terror is one and only crime against women.
According to the Latest statistics of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report
There is alarming rise of 40% in crimes against women and children however only 31% of IPC cases being charge sheeted.
Most of the cases under crime against women under IPC were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives’ (31.8 per cent) followed by ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (20.8 per cent),
Uttar Pradesh (56,083), Rajasthan (40,738) and Maharashtra (39,526) registered the highest number of cases from state.
Some Of Them Real Terror Stories Against Women Are As Follows
Famous case Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case[i], where a 23 year old woman on a moving bus in Delhi was raped.
In 2013 Kamduni gang rape case, where a 20 years old college student was abducted, gang raped and murdered in kamduni village.
In Jan 2017, Two men allegedly tried to molest a women while she was returning home from gym in Bengaluru.
In Nov 2022 Shraddha case, This case is still pending in the court where a women was murdered and like this case , there are many other cases which are still pending before court.
Main Reasons
1. Stereotype Mindset:- Due to stereotype Mindset, Male always believes that they are more powerful than female.
2. Delay in punishment:- In India, the judiciary takes a lot of time in providing justice to victim.
3. No hard punishment:- Every rape’s victims wants to give harsh punishment such as death penalty to accused but in India death penalty is given only in rarest to rare cases. India follows the reformative theory of punishment because according to nation , no one born criminal therefore, they gives another chance to the criminal by reforming him but this punishment does not give justice to victim.
4. Lack of awareness:- In India, Lack of awareness is one of the biggest reason in increasing rate of crime against women because our society is not ready to provide sex education which can help women to safe themselves.
5. Lack of education:- In India, Lack of education is also one of the biggest problem in increasing rate of crime against women. Due to lack of education, young children are doing child labour where they have to face a lot of crimes like physical assault, physical harassment etc. and even they are forced into prostitution.
Legislative Framework for Women In India
1. The Prohibition of child marriage act, 2006[ii]
2. The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961[iii]
3. Sexual harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,2013[iv]
4. The Indecent Representation of women (Prevention) Act, 1986[v]
5. Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971[vi]
6. The Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956[vii]
7. The Indian Penal code, 1860[viii]
8. The Commission of Sati Prevention Act, 1987[ix]
Suggestions
1. Police Patrolling:- There must be police patrolling especially at night so that the women walk freely or safely even at night.
2. Implementation of Fast Track Courts:-women’s related case should be tried in fast track courts. And establish more Fast Track court so, that the women can get justice fastly.
3. Strict Punishment:- Punishment should be hard or strict for every accused.
4. Spread awareness:- Women should know about their rights and even to educate them regarding the laws.
5. Sex Education:- Sex-education should be provided in schools and colleges so that the students are aware about sex-related crimes.
Conclusion
Crime against women is a global phenomenon. It is responsibility of all the citizen to make the women feel safe or comfortable in our society. It is the right of every women to live her life with dignity. It is not only the responsibility of judiciary but also the responsibility of every citizen to protect the women. Gender Equality is the only solution in India but still many people thinks that women are weaker than men.
So, In short either the government or the police cannot change anything in this society. We, the democratic should change ourselves and even change our thoughts regarding women. After all, every single citizen can make a government, but the government can’t make a one citizen. Its everyone duty to provide women a fearless society.
References
[i]Mukesh v. State (NCT of Delhi), (2017) 6 SCC 1 [ii] The prohibition of child marriage act, 2006, No. 6, Acts of Parliament, 2006 (India) [iii] The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, No. 28, Acts of Parliament, 1961 (India) [iv] Sexual harassment of women at workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act,2013, No. 14, Acts of Parliament, 2013 (India) [v]The Indecent Representation of women (Prevention) Act, 1986, No. 60, Acts of Parliament, 1986 (India) [vi] Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, No. 34, Acts of Parliament, 1971 (India) [vii] The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, No. 104, Acts of Parliament, 1956 (India) [viii] The Indian Penal Code, 1860, No. 45, Acts of Parliament, 1860 (India) [ix] The Commission of Sati Prevention Act, 1987, No. 3, Acts of Parliament, 1987 (India)