Nature, Extent and Characteristics of Violence against Women

Violence against women can be broadly classified into three categorizes, criminal violence (rape, abduction, murder etc), domestic violence (dowry-deaths, wife battering, sexual abuse maltreatment of widows or elderly women etc.), and social violence such as forcing the wife/daughter-in-law to go for female foeticide, eve-teasing, refusing ti give a share to women in property, forcing a young widow to commit sati etc. the analysis here is focused on the first two types of violence using the data from National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB), 2010 (Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India). According to NCRB, 2010 violence against women a total of 2,13,585 incidents of crime against women were reported in the country during 2010 as compared to 2,03,804 during 2009 recording an increase of 4.8% during 2010. These crimes have continuously increased during 2006 - 2010 with 1, 64,765 cases in 2006, 1, 85,312 cases in 2007, 1, 95,856 cases in 2008, 2, 03,804 cases in 2009 and 2, 13,585 cases in 2010. Andhra Pradesh, accounting for nearly 7.1% of the country's population, has accounted for 12.8% of total crimes against women in the country by reporting 27,244 cases. West Bengal with 7.6% share of country's population has accounted for nearly 12.2% of total crime against women by reporting 26,125 cases in 2010. The rate of crime against women has increased marginally from 17.4 during the year 2009 to 18.0 during 2010. Tripura reported the highest rate of crime against women at 46.5 during 2010.

Crime against women head wise analysis

Rape : An increasing trend in cases of rape has been observed during 2006 - 2008. A mixed trend in the incidence of rape has been observed during 2008 - 2010. These cases reported an increase of 7.2% in 2007over 2006, an increase of 3.5% in 2008 over 2007, a decline of 0.3% in 2009 over 2008 and an increase of 3.6% in 2010 over 2009. Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest number of Rape cases (3,135) accounting for 14.1% of total such cases reported in the country . However, Mizoram has reported the highest crime rate 9.1 as compared to National average of 1.9. Rape cases have been further categorised as Incest Rape and other Rape cases. Incest rape cases have decreased by 10.3% from 321 cases in 2009 to 288 cases in 2010 as compared to 3.6% increase in overall Rape cases. Maharashtra (44) has accounted for the highest (15.3%) of the total such cases reported in the country. There were 22,193 victims of Rape out of 22,172 reported Rape cases in the country. 8.9% (1,975) of the total victims of Rape were girls under 14 years of age, while 16.1% (3,570) were teenaged girls (14-18 years). 57.4% (12,749) were women in the age-group 18-30 years. 3,763 victims (17.0%) were in the age-group of 30-50 years while 0.6% (136) were over 50 years of age. Offenders were known to the victims in as many as 21,566 (97.3%) cases. Parents /close family members were involved in 1.3% (288 out of 21,566) of these cases, neighbours were involved in 36.2% cases (7,816 out of 21,566) and relatives were involved in 6.2% (1,344 out of 21,566) cases.

Kidnapping and Abduction : These cases have reported an increase of 15.7% as compared to previous year (25,741). Uttar Pradesh (5,468) has accounted for 18.4% of the total cases at the National level. Delhi UT has reported the highest rate at 9.5 as compared to the National average of 2.5.

Dowry Deaths : These cases have increased by 0.1% over the previous yea r (8,383). 26.4% of the total such cases reported in the country were reported from Uttar Pradesh (2,217) alone followed by Bihar (1,257) (15.0%). The highest rate of crime (1.3) was reported from Bihar as compared to the National average of 0.7.

Tortures (cruelty by husband & relatives): ‘Torture' cases in the country have increased by 5.0% over the previous year (89,546). 18.9% of these were reported from West Bengal (17,796). The highest rate of 26.0 was reported from Tripura as compared to the National rate at 7.9.

Molestation : Incidents of Molestation in the country have increased by 4.9% over the previous year (38,711).Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest incidence (6,646) amounting to 16.4% of total such cases. Tripura has reported Incidents of Molestation in the country have increased by 4.9% over the previous year (38,711). the highest rate (10.4) as compared to the National average of 3.4.

Sexual Harassment : The number of such cases has decreased by 9.5% over the previous year (11,009). Andhra Pradesh has reported 45.8% of cases (4,562) followed by Maharashtra 11.8% (2,524). Andhra Pradesh has reported the highest crime rate 5.4 as compared to the National average of 0.8.

Importation of Girls : A decrease of 25.0% has been observed in such cases as 36 cases were reported during the year 2010 as compared to 48 cases in the previous year (2009). Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal have reported 8 cases each accounting for two-third of total such cases at the National level.