New step proposed for women's safety
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

New Delhi, January 05 2015: The Centre has proposed to set up 150 special investigative units on a pilot basis, in some of the most crime-prone districts in the country to probe grievous offences against women, particularly rape, dowry harassments, acid attacks and human trafficking.

As part of the new initiative, the Home Ministry has proposed to set up investigative units on crimes against women (IUCAW) in 20 per cent districts of each State on a 50:50 cost sharing basis with the States.

In a letter to Chief Ministers, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that there is a need to strengthen various elements of the criminal justice system, namely, investigation, prosecution and trials by Courts to deal with the issue of rise of crimes against women.

The Union Home Minister said the objective of these units will be to investigate cases referred to them, augment the investigative machinery of the States in relation to the heinous crimes against women, especially rape, dowry death, acid attack and human trafficking.

The units will also instill confidence and encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint and improve the gender ratio in the State police forces which is adversely impacting effective implementation of the legislations relating to women.

Besides, these units will have the additional functionality of proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tackling organised crime, monitoring proper implementation of the legislative provisions, helping awareness generation and promotion of social participation in checking crimes against women, an official statement said.

The Ministry has proposed to set up 150 such IUCAWs units initially on a pilot basis in most crime-prone districts of each State.

Each IUCAW will be headed by an officer of the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police assisted by two DSPs.

Out of the total 2,250 personnel required for the 150 IUCAWs, 750 will be women.

This will involve a total expenditure of Rs 84 crore annually, out of which Rs 42 crore will be provided by the Centre.

Elaborating on the IUCAWs, the Home Minister told the Chief Minsters that these units may consist of 15 personnel, preferably five among them being women.

The States will have full flexibility on whether to create new posts or to designate from the existing strength.

The Minister said that these measures will help in ensuring higher conviction rate in different States to check crimes against women and human trafficking.

Singh has also advised the States to set up separate fast-track Courts to deal with these cases expeditiously.

He has also assured all possible assistance to the States in taming the menace of crimes against women.

The Union Minister said that though all these issues are State subjects, yet his Ministry would like to augment the efforts of the States in this matter.

There were 3,09,546 incidents of crime against women in 2013 in comparison to 2,44,270 in 2012 .

Andhra Pradesh reported 10.6 per cent of total such cases in the country (32,809 out of 3,09,546 cases).

The proportion of IPC crimes committed against women under total IPC crimes has increased during last 5 years from 9.2 per cent in the year 2009 to 11.2 per cent during 2013 .

Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest number of rape cases (4,335), assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty (8,252 cases) and West Bengal has reported highest number of importation of girls from foreign country (9 cases) accounting for 12.9 per cent 11.7 per cent and 29.0 per cent respectively of total such cases reported in the country.

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