National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes information on crimes in its publication “Crime in India”. The report includes state-wise and year-wise data of crimes against women, including domestic violence. Details regarding cases registered under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 during year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 are 437, 616, 579, 553 and 446, respectively. The data shows that there is decline in number of cases of domestic violence from 2017 to 2020.
‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children rests primarily with the respective State Governments. The State governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of law.
However, the Central Government gives highest priority to ensuring safety and security of women and has undertaken various legislative and schematic interventions in this regard. These include legislations such as ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018’, ‘The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013’, ‘The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013’, ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2006’, ‘The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961’, etc. The schemes/ projects include One Stop Centres (OSCs); Universalisation of Women Helplines (WHL), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) which is a pan-India single number (112)/ mobile app based system for emergencies; a cyber-crime reporting portal to report obscene content; safe city projects in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai) including infrastructure, technology adoption and capacity building in community through awareness programmes, training and skill development programs for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers; distribution of Sexual Assault Evidence Collection (SAEC) Kits to States/ UTs; establishment of state of the art DNA Laboratory at CFSL, Chandigarh; assistance to 24 States/ UTs to strengthen Forensic Science Laboratories; setting up of 1023 Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for speedy disposal of cases of rape and cases under POCSO Act; setting up/ strengthening of Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts of the country; setting up/ strengthening of Women Help Desks (WHDs) at Police Stations etc.
In addition, Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to States/ UTs from time to time on various issues pertaining to safety and security of women and children.
Further, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Central Government has ensured that all the institutions under its schemes such as One Stop Centres, Women and Child Help Lines, Ujjawala Homes, Swadhar Grehs, Child Care Institutions, as well the various statutory authorities under laws such as “The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005”, “The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961’, “The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006”, “The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015” etc. remain operational and available to assist women and children facing violence or in distress. Further, the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights have also taken various measures to assist women and children since the first lockdown.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
