In what can be termed as a severe indictment of the Mayawati government, the National Commission for Women, on Tuesday, termed the state government as being “insensitive” to crime related to women.
NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said that the role of the police in Uttar Pradesh was also far from satisfactory.
“The one complaint that I hear from everyone who comes from UP is that ‘no one listens to us.’ If the government and the police become sensitive to issues related to women, such cases can be checked effectively. Proper and prompt investigation will lead to an increased conviction rate and will, in turn, act as a deterrent. Sadly, this is not happening in UP,” she said while talking to reporters here on Tuesday.
Claiming that UP topped the chart in crime against women, Dr Vyas pointed out in 2010, the state had reported 2052 dowry death cases, 1,290 rape cases, 2,660 molestation cases, 4,903 kidnapping cases, 20,77 eve teasing cases and 7,468 cases of atrocities on women under section 489A of IPC.
“These are the cases that had been reported and registered by the police. I am sure that a much larger number of cases go unreported because everyone knows how difficult it is to get a case registered here,” she explained.
Talking about the general trend of crime against women, the NCW chairperson said that the trend had registered an increase in the country and though the government had made strict laws, their implementation by state governments was needed to yield the required results.
“The governments will have to become sensitive to such issues. Take the case of Rupam Pathak in Bihar. Viewed from a social angle, it is obvious that her patience was tried to such an extent that she was forced to take the drastic step.”