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Recently National Crime Records Bureau has released its annual crime report for the year 2020. This report is released annually at the end of the calendar year. This annual data is entirely statistical in nature and the data from state crime records bureau and district crime record bureau is collected and assimilated in NCRB data. It consists of a separate section which contains statistical data of crime pertaining to the vulnerable section of the society i.e. women, SC/STs, senior citizens and children.

According to the recent 2020 data, crimes against women have apparently decreased. The NCRB data shows that the total cases registered under the Indian Penal Code for crimes against women stood at 3,71,503 in 2020 which reduced from 4,05,326 in 2019. During the pandemic, When the population was confined to its homes, Incidences of domestic violence increased manifold at almost 2.5 times the number in 2019. 

When compared to the 2019 data, reported crimes against women in the capital has reduced by 24% that is from 13395 in 2019 it reduces to 10093 in 2020.The operative word here is reported considering the fact that the pandemic, lockdown and movement restrictions have severely constrained access to resources and law enforcement.Delhi still remains the most unsafe city for women when compared to other cities. Uttar Pradesh experiences the highest decline in the number of crime against women and West Bengal and Odisha saw the highest increase in the number of crime against women all this in comparison to the 2019 data.

The following table shows the statistics for specific categories of crimes against women in the National Capital of Delhi:

There is a reduction in the number of crimes against women compared to the NCRB data of 2018 and 2019.These are the cases that have been reported under the Indian Penal Code. In 2018, there were 13640 reported cases of crimes against women. This reduced to 13395 in 2019 to 10093 in 2020.

PURPOSE OF THE NCRB DATA

NCRB releases crime records at national level. The prime function of this data is crime prevention and detection. The data released by it is of vital importance as it not only facilitates coordination between the state and central executive machinery but also aids and assists investigators and detective agencies, courts, prosecutors, journalists, NGOs to collect and analyse the data, draw conclusions and inferences from it and enable research and correctional measures. This data gives insights to delve into the root causes for which crimes are committed and aids policy formulation.

CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN

The 2020 statistics indicates that crimes against women have gone down including incidences of rape, sexual harassment, assault etc. However, it would be unfair to accept this data indisputably. While the accuracy of the data along with its method of computation and collection is an issue, the major concern this time is the situation of the pandemic when accessibility and mobility has been severely restricted for the people especially women who lost their jobs, doubled up on the household work and also faced the wrath of her frustrated family members especially her husband. Is it widely known that the cases of domestic violence increased manifold with women trapped at homes with their perpetrator of violence. In the same era, the cases of divorce also increased by a wide margin.

CONCLUSION

It is quite easy to bring in a legislative amendment and make the rape laws or the laws dealing with crimes against women more stringent but it is very difficult to work at ground level and determine the root causes of those crimes and deal with them by understanding the perspective of the criminal. Social change will come at its own evolutionary pace however, work in the young minds of the nation can begin right now by reforms in educational institution’s curriculum, gender sensitisation, breaking of stereotypes etc. Small changes could pave way for a huge difference.

REFERENCES 

Government
Website: https://ncrb.gov.in/en/crime-india

The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/crimes-against-women-dip-by-24-cybercrimes-see-55-rise-ncrb-data/article36486113.ece

The Indian Express: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-is-most-unsafe-for-women-ncrb-data-confirms-7511261/

Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/crimes-against-women-drop-in-delhi-but-still-highest-among-union-territories-101631729099877.html

The Times of India: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/average-77-rape-cases-daily-in-2020-crimes-against-women-down-from-2019-ncrb-data/articleshow/86228139.cms

The Quint: https://www.thequint.com/news/crimes-against-women-increase-in-west-bengal-odisha-ncrb-data

Answers to Questions in the Video

Q1.Answer is a. The last statistical data is in part included under option {a} of crime in India. NCRB’s statistical branch releases three annual publications and they are a. Crime in India, b. Accidental deaths and Suicides in India and c. Prison Statistics in India. Monica was a victim of domestic violence and her case was registered under the relevant section of IPC which would be included under the crimes in India category.

Q2. Answer is d. The last statistical data is in part included under option {a} of crime in India. NCRB’s statistical branch releases three annual publications and they are a. Crime in India, b. Accidental deaths and Suicides in India and c. Prison Statistics in India.

Q 3. Answer is option [c], Police powers is a part of the state list and the seventh schedule of the constitution describes the three lists of state, centre and concurrent. Another thing to note about the Police powers of the state is that even though it comes under the state list, it is aided and supervised in its functioning, policies and reforms through financial assistance programs.