GOVERNMENT
OF INDIA
MINISTRY
OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
RAJYA
SABHA
UNSTARRED
QUESTION NO-1917
ANSWERED
ON-01.12.2016
Increase
in sexual harassment cases
1917 Shri Harshvardhan Singh
Dungarpur
(a) the reasons for increase in the
number of cases of sexual harassment, exploitation of women in various
professions and rape cases in rural and urban areas of the country; and
(b) the preventive and punitive
actions proposed by the Ministry to protect the victims and punish the guilty?
ANSWER
MINISTER
OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI
KRISHANA RAJ)
(a) There are many reasons behind
increasing crimes against the women such as unequal economic, social and
political status of women which is an outcome of deeply rooted patriarchal
social construes.
(b) Safety of women in the country
is of utmost priority for the Government. The Government is endeavouring to put
in place effective mechanisms to provide safe environment for women. The
Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 has been enacted making the punishment more
stringent for offences like rape. Provision for increased penalty for gang rape
and causing serious injury to the victim resulting her to remain in a
vegetative state have been made. New offences like acid attack, sexual
harassment, voyeurism and stalking, disrobing a woman have been incorporated in
the Indian Penal Code. Government has also enacted the Sexual Harassment of
Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 to provide
a safe and secure environment to women at the workplace.
Apart from the above, Ministry of
Women and Child Development is implementing scheme of One Stop Centre to
provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence
including sexual harassment. The scheme aims to facilitate access to an
integrated range of services including medical aid, police assistance, legal
aid/case management, psycho-social counselling, temporary support services to
women affected by violence. Further, scheme for Universalisation of Women
Helpline intended to provide 24 hours immediate and emergency response to women
affected by violence including sexual harassment.
