NOIDA: The number of rape cases registered in the city has more than halved in the two lockdown years of 2020 and 2021 as compared to 2019. According to the data received from the police, while 96 rape cases were registered in 2019, 42 complaints were registered in 2020. Next year 41.
However, social workers termed the dip as “nothing unusual”, noting that most people stayed indoors during the lockdown months of 2020 and 2021.
“Our teams are working vigorously to tackle crime against women. It is very important to raise awareness among them,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women and Child Safety). Vrinda Shukla,
The official said one of the biggest challenges is to make women aware of what can be considered as a crime against them and gain their trust so that they come forward and report cases. For this special women helpdesks have been set up in every police station.
Shukla said, “The dedicated helpdesk works towards the issues of women so that the cases are resolved at the earliest and chargesheet can be filed within a month.”
“We have introduced women’s beat system, under which rural areas are divided into 127 beats. Every week, beat officers of the respective police stations meet women in the villages and make them aware of the crimes against them and encourage them to raise their voices,” Shukla said.
Yogita Bhayana, founder of people against rape in India (PARI), said a fall was expected during the lockdown. “The main reason behind the drop in cases is the lockdown, when everyone was confined to homes. Had domestic rape also been reported, the number would have been higher. In such a situation, most of the accused are known to the woman. The fear of social stigma often keeps women committing crimes to themselves,” she said.
Yogita said that the police have a long way to go to make the city safe for women. “The police have a lot to do at the grassroots level, before taking credit for the numbers being low. Connectivity still remains a major issue at night and the city has a lot of dark stretches, especially towards Noida Extension. One must not forget the harassment faced for filing a complaint,” she said.
However, social workers termed the dip as “nothing unusual”, noting that most people stayed indoors during the lockdown months of 2020 and 2021.
“Our teams are working vigorously to tackle crime against women. It is very important to raise awareness among them,” said the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women and Child Safety). Vrinda Shukla,
The official said one of the biggest challenges is to make women aware of what can be considered as a crime against them and gain their trust so that they come forward and report cases. For this special women helpdesks have been set up in every police station.
Shukla said, “The dedicated helpdesk works towards the issues of women so that the cases are resolved at the earliest and chargesheet can be filed within a month.”
“We have introduced women’s beat system, under which rural areas are divided into 127 beats. Every week, beat officers of the respective police stations meet women in the villages and make them aware of the crimes against them and encourage them to raise their voices,” Shukla said.
Yogita Bhayana, founder of people against rape in India (PARI), said a fall was expected during the lockdown. “The main reason behind the drop in cases is the lockdown, when everyone was confined to homes. Had domestic rape also been reported, the number would have been higher. In such a situation, most of the accused are known to the woman. The fear of social stigma often keeps women committing crimes to themselves,” she said.
Yogita said that the police have a long way to go to make the city safe for women. “The police have a lot to do at the grassroots level, before taking credit for the numbers being low. Connectivity still remains a major issue at night and the city has a lot of dark stretches, especially towards Noida Extension. One must not forget the harassment faced for filing a complaint,” she said.
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