Data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) suggests that crime against women has increased in Haryana this year in comparison to previous two years, triggering concern.

Opposition parties, including Congress and Indian National Lok Dal have slammed the State Government over increasing crimes against women in the State. Referring to NCRB reports, the opposition leaders said that the Haryana has stood at third ranks in crime against women across the country.

The NCRB data shows that year by year, crimes against women in Haryana are increasing rapidly. Citing NCRB data, a Congress leader said that 9511 cases of crime against women were registered. This means about 26 cases of crimes were committed daily. This increased to 9839 in the year 2016 while 11,370 in 2017. However, the recently released figures of the year 2018 by NCRB reveal that in the year 2018, crimes against women have increased by 26 percent as compared to the year 2017.

In 2018, there were 14,326 crimes against women which is an average of 39 crimes against women were committed each day. If we talk about rape cases, according to the NCRB data, 1099 rape cases were reported in the year 2017. While the number of rape cases increased by more than 17 percent in the year 2018 compared to the year 2017. The rape cases increased to 1296 in the year 2018, they added.

Understanding the gravity of the latest data and to know and evaluate the actual status of the execution of centre and State Government sponsored schemes being operated for the safety, security and welfare of the women and children, the Haryana State Commission for Women has decided to conduct 10-day- long inspection drive from January 20 at Working Women Centres (WWCs), One Stop Centres (OSCs), Mahila Ashram, Safe Houses, Women Police Stations (WPSs) and other centres set up for Women across the State.

As per reports received from the Haryana State Commission for Women, the Commission received seven complaints of gang rape from various parts of the State. Seven complaints of gang rape include one such report received from Gurugram while two from Ambala; two from Kurukshetra; one from Bhiwani and one from Hissar.

As many as 99 rape cases from April 15 to December 15 which include 10 in Hisar, 13 in Panipat, nine in Mewat, seven in Bhiwani, six in Sirsa, seven in Karnal, five each in Sonipat, Yamuna Nagar and Mahendragarh. Seven complaints of gang rape have been reported which include two each in Ambala and Kurukshetra and one each in Gurugram, Bhiwani and Hisar. Moreover, the Commission had received around 150 complaints of sexual harassment of Women at work place from various parts of the State over the last six months.

Commission chairperson Pratibha Suman said that to provide fool-proof security and welfare for women, the central and state government have set up above centres in the State.

The State government has set up around 15 Women Working Centres and 15 Mahila Ashram to facilitate the women of the State. One Stop Centres which is also known as Sakhi is an ambitious project of the Union government under the Nirbhaya Fund for providing police, medical and legal help to women victims.

"OSCs have been opened in almost all the districts of the State. This centre resolves any issue related to distress and violence against women. It also provides integrated services and facilities at a single point, saving the victims from unnecessary harassment and delay caused by hassles involved", she said, adding this centre specifically deals with issues involving crime against women and minors, including rape, molestation, domestic violence, child marriage, child abuse, sexual assault, kidnapping and dowry complaints. These centres have own staff and infrastructure.

The Commission Chairperson said that women affected by violence are provided services like police assistance, medical aid, psycho-socio counseling, legal aid and temporary stay for five days under one roof in one stop centres set up across the State. These centres not only provide legal and medical aid, but also counsel the victim till woman recovers fully and fit for rehabilitation. It has board, lodging and food facility with adequate security. The victim has no need to go anywhere, even the police station, for resolution.She further said that the Women Police Stations have been formed in each district of the State to ensure safety of women and instill among them a sense of security and confidence.

Sources in the Commission, however, said that States one-stop centre for women Sakhi is facing shortage of staff, basic infrastructure, causing problems to victims of sexual assault, dowry and domestic violence. At many Women Police Stations, the number of women staff has not been deployed. At some place male police officers has been made in-charge of Women Police Station while at few places, SI or inspector has been given additional charge.

Under such circumstances, they could not focus on dealing the cases related women effectively.

The Commission Chairperson said that to know the actual state of these centres, team members led by Commission member would conduct surprise inspections during ten days of inspection drive across the State. After inspection, reports will be sent to the State Government for further action, she said, adding the team has been formed at Commission level and this exercise would be completed within ten days.

According to her, along with district level service authority member, she led a team conduct inspection of above centres in Rohtak while Vice-Chairperson of the Commission Preeti Bhardwaj in Gurugram.

The chairperson and vice chairperson of the Commission can inspect any centres of all the districts, she added.

More:

Crime against women increases in Haryana - Daily Pioneer