In an eerie coincidence, on Tuesday last when the Dalit women from Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras breathed her last after alleged physical atrocities and brutalization, the annual report of the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)-‘Crime in India 2019’ was also released. The incident, which is a carbon copy of the infamous Nirbhaya case of December 2012 that shook the entire nation has also triggered similar sentiments of deep angst and the political parties as usual have joined the aftermath. Over the next few days protests and candlelight marches will continue and reach great heights, only to be replaced by the ‘great national forgetfulness’ immediately thereafter. Crime against women is India’s chronic disease and keeping aside the flurry of political actions that are centering around this shameful act, it will be worthwhile to draw attention to the hard reality that the nation is gradually becoming unsafe for its women.

According to the NCRB report, there had been 4,05,861 reported cases of crimes against women in 2019 which is an increase of 7.3% over 2018 and in an average, there were 87 rape cases every day during the said year. Unsurprisingly, Uttar Pradesh, where the Hathras incident took place has topped the national chart with 59,853 incidents of crime against women which is 14.7 % of the national total. From a breakup analysis it can be found that majority of the cases under had been registered under the categories such as ‘cruelty by husband or relatives’ (30.9%), ‘assault with intent to outrage the woman’s modesty’ (21.8%), ‘kidnapping and abduction’ (17.9%).  Earning yet another bad name, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of crimes against girl children under POCSO Act and there were 7,444 cases. Also, judging the overall crime statistics of 2019 in terms of the caste factor, it’s again UP the first ranker which has reported the maximum number of cases against scheduled castes which is 11,829 and in terms of  percentage it is 25.8 of the national figure. But in per lakh population, Assam has reported the highest rate of crime against women which is 177.8, followed by Rajasthan (110.4) and Haryana (108.5).

These are uncomfortable figures for a country which ceremoniously champions the cause of progress of its women through countless flagship schemes rolled out annually with much fanfare. Now there is a cry to give exemplary punishment to the guilty. And after a lengthy legal process, if that at all comes, how many similar such unsettling incidents will occur in between is a matter to ponder.  

Disrespect to women is perhaps the biggest national shame. The current response pattern in its mitigation, cutting across all angles and stakeholders needs an urgent and serious reassessment. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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