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Women Safety and Issues in India UPSC Notes: Need, Provisions, Challenges & More

Last Updated on Aug 23, 2024
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Syllabus

General Studies - I

Topics for Prelims

Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policies, Government Schemes, Acts, Legislations on Women’s Safety 

Topics for Mains

Social Empowerment, Women Issues, Gender Issues, Women Empowerment

Context

Recently, the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has shocked the entire nation and has highlighted significant shortcomings in women’s safety measures. Despite legislative progress and heightened awareness in place, the violence against women remains alarmingly high. Number of incidents like domestic violence,marital rape, molestation, sexual assault, dowry-related crimes, and human trafficking is still high in India Deeply ingrained patriarchal mindset, economic disparities, and orthodox cultural practices contribute to persistent gender-based violence. Reporting of such incidents in urban areas are higher due to increased awareness, while rural regions face underreporting driven by stigma and limited support systems. 

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Data and Statistics on Women’s Safety

In 2022, there were 4,45,256 registered cases of crimes against women, a 4% increase from the previous year, equating to approximately 51 FIRs per hour. It should be noted that these are the registered cases only, many incidents in India go unreported due to many factors. These factors may be due to money and muscle power, social stigma, family pressure, death threat etc

Challenges in Addressing Crime Against Women

Women are not a weaker gender but a weak section in Indian society. Though India has a tradition of treating women with respect but still there is a huge patriarchal presence which has led to gender based violence. India which has almost 18% of world’s total population is not a homogenous society but a fully diverse society which creates more challenges in addressing this issue of women safety in India. These are some of the following challenges:

  • Patriarchal Societal Norms: India despite being a land where goddess is worshiped has deep-rooted patriarchal values that view women as subordinate, fostering a culture of violence. For example, Notorious informal groups such as Khap Panchayats in Haryana enforce rigid gender norms that undermines the autonomy of women
  • Sexual Exploitation at Workplace: Despite the Vishaka Judgement by hon’ble Supreme Court of India and Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, sexual harassment still remains prevalent. National Crime Records Bureau reports over 400 annual cases of workplace harassment, with significant issues in industries like Malayalam cinema, revealing severe gender based discrimination, violence and inadequate protections. 
  • Lack of Safety in Public Spaces: Unsafe and poorly lit public spaces increase women’s vulnerability. The infamous Nirbhaya incident in 2012 highlighted the dangers of inadequate public safety measures. The recent Kolkata rape case also highlighted some major concerns regarding women safety in offices, hospitals etc which are generally considered safe for women.
  • Lack of Adequate Infrastructure: There is significant lack in essential infrastructure, such as functional police stations especially women police stations and forensic labs, affecting crime investigation.
  • Delay in Justice: Complex laws, weak law enforcement, inefficient investigation agencies, hinder justice. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows a shockingly low conviction rate for rape, ranging from 27 to 28% from 2018 to 2022.
  • Social Stigma and Victim Blaming: Victim-blaming often results in underreporting of cases related to crimes against women. Victims often face stigma and blame from society and law enforcement, exacerbated by insensitive comments from public figures such as politicians. 
  • Others: Economic reliance on male family members can trap women in abusive relationships, particularly in lower-income families. Domestic violence which are often ignored and taken lightly, escalates to more severe crimes like sexual assault and even murder. Social media platforms have introduced new forms of harassment, such as cyberbullying and non-consensual image sharing, requiring updated legal and technical solutions. False rape accusations can create more hurdles for victims as it lowers or undermine the credibility of genuine victims, resulting in underreporting and complicating the already complex legal proceedings. 

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Laws Related to Women Safety In India

With several judicial pronouncements, pressure from informal and formal groups such as Pressure groups, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), there are legislations enacted for ensuring women safety in India. These are the following legal provisions for ensuring women safety in India:

  • Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013: This legislation is based on Vishakha Guidelines which mandates forming an Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) for organizations with over 10 employees. It also defines sexual harassment and outlines complaint procedures. 
  • Nirbhaya Act or Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013: This legislation that was enacted after the infamous Nirbhaya gang rape case was amended in 2018 and harsher penalties were made for rapes involving girls below the age of twelve and mandates swift investigations and speedy trials through Fast track courts (FTCs). 
  • Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), 2012: This Act addresses sexual offenses against children and minors. It contains strict punishments for offenders and separate fast track courts (FTCs) for speedy trials.
  • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:This Act ensures that minors are protected against the evils of child marriage.
  • Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: This Act is prescriptive as well as descriptive as it not only provides a comprehensive definition of domestic violence but also provides civil remedies for abuse within the home. 
  • Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986: This Act prohibits indecent representation of women in digital as well as print media including social media and publications. 
  • Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITP), 1956: This Act prevents the commercialization and trafficking of women, prohibits brothels and soliciting, while regulating prostitution itself. 

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Government Initiatives for Women Safety in India 
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): This scheme prevents gender-biased sex-selective elimination, ensures the protection and survival of the girl child improving the sex ratio as well as education level among girls. States like Haryana have improved its sex ratio through this scheme.
  • Nirbhaya Fund: This fund was established after infamous Delhi gang rape incident and aims to fund projects which are launched for improving women’s safety and security. 
  • One Stop Centres and Women Helplines: It aims to provide integrated support to women affected by violence and offer 24-hour emergency and non-emergency assistance.
  • Mahila Police Volunteers: To assist women in distress, volunteers are formed and deployed to act as a bridge or intermediary between Police and community.
  • Working Women Hostel Scheme: This scheme provides safe, conveniently located housing for working women. Apart from that day care facilities for their children in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas are also provided.
  • Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences: Ministry of Home Affairs in 2019 introduced this tracking system to monitor and track timely investigations of sexual assault cases, as per the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018. 
  • Emergency Response Support System (ERSS): This provides a unified emergency number (112) and coordinates dispatch of resources to distress locations. 

Conclusion 

‘Yatra Naryastu Pujyante, Ramante Tatra Devta’, this means God resides where women are worshiped. Addressing crimes against women in India requires a concerted and multi-faceted approach to tackle this evil issue. The alarming National Crime Records Bureau data highlights the need for better implementation of laws, better gender sensitization, and improved support for survivors. Gender equality and social justice cannot be achieved if half of the total population of India is not safe.

Key Takeaway for UPSC Aspirants

  • Women's safety and Gender equality in India remains a significant concern, with increasing cases of violence, harassment, and gender-based discrimination.
  • Legal frameworks like the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013, and POCSO Act, 2012, aim to enhance protection for women.
  • The Indian Constitution contains multiple provisions in the form of Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and some other provisions for empowering women.
  • There are many government initiatives in place like 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,' and 'One Stop Centres' that provide support and resources to address women's safety.
  • Social awareness campaigns, self-defense training, and educational programs are crucial in empowering women and promoting a safer environment.
  • Despite progress, challenges such as delayed justice, societal attitudes, and enforcement gaps continue to hinder women's safety efforts.

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Women Safety UPSC FAQs

The Indian government has implemented various measures, including fast-track courts for rape cases, the 'One Stop Centre' scheme, and helplines like 181, to provide immediate assistance to women facing violence.

Challenges include societal attitudes towards gender roles, lack of awareness about legal rights, insufficient enforcement of laws, and slow judicial processes.

Education empowers women by increasing awareness of their rights, building confidence, and providing the skills needed to participate fully in society, thereby contributing to their safety and justice.

India has several laws aimed at protecting women's safety, including the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2013, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The NCW is a statutory body established to safeguard the rights of women in India. It reviews legal and constitutional safeguards for women, recommends remedial measures, and facilitates redressal of grievances.

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