Women's safety and gender equality

It is a matter of grave concern that while crimes against women have risen in Assam, the conviction rate has declined. The declining conviction rate exposes the hollowness of promises and assurances of ensuring the safety of women from all kinds of crimes. The conviction rate in crimes against women in the state declined to 4.4 in 2019 from 9.5 in 2015. Data furnished by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Lok Sabha in March revealed that the national average of conviction rates marginally increased from 21.7 in 2015 to 23.7 in 2019. The number of cases of crimes against women pending in the state increased from 34,537 to 66,251 at the end of 2019 while the number of such pending cases in the entire country increased from 10.82 lakh to 15.63 lakh present a gloomy picture of women's safety. Poor conviction rates are reflective of most criminals going unpunished for their crimes while such impunity emboldens other criminal offenders to perpetrate similar crimes against women without any fear of law. The gruesome murder of Nandita Saikia, a bright college-going student in Dhemaji district is not a case in isolation but is a wake-up call for all stakeholders of the criminal justice system to take note of how poor conviction rates have left women in the state unsafe and more vulnerable to crimes. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its recent report expressed concern over "abysmally low" conviction rates in crime against women and children and expressed the view that it shows "a serious mismatch" between the measures adopted and their implementation. The Committee observed that the stringent provisions in the law have not acted as deterrence in preventing crimes against women and children and have made a very limited impact. "This is a matter of grave concern for the nation, and it becomes important to understand the efficacy of laws in preventing crimes against women and children," notes the committee and recommended all states and Union Territories to undertake a study on the effectiveness of laws. The committee also flagged its concern over the failure to operationalize all sanctioned Fast Track Courts (FTC) for speedy disposal of pending cases of crimes against women and children. State Governments set up FTCs in consultation with High Courts to expedite disposal of pending cases against women and children. Official data show that altogether 1,734 FTCs helped disposal of 33 lakh long-pending cases over 11 years from 2000-01 to 2010-11. As of May 31, altogether 8744 cases are pending in 15 FTC in Assam while 9,23,492 cases are pending in 956 FTC functional in 24 States and Union Territories. There is scope for increasing the number of FTC for expeditious disposal of pending cases as the 14th Finance Commission approved the establishment of 1800 FTCs for five years for cases of heinous crimes; cases involving senior citizens, women, children for Rs 4,144 crore. Recruiting more women in police forces is critical to instilling confidence among women and girl children to report every incidence of crime without any hesitation and apprehension. In the absence of the desired ecosystem at the police stations many crimes against women and children going unreported which allows the perpetrators to repeat such offences not just against the same victim but also target other vulnerable women and children. Against reservation of 33 per cent of non-gazetted posts from constable to Sub-Inspector, Assam Police have only 7.64 per cent women personnel which is only indicative of women recruitment in police not being on the list of priorities of successive governments. Assam Police authorities setting up a Cyber Forensic Laboratory at the cost of Rs 3.93 crore under the Ministry of Home Affairs scheme of Cybercrime Prevention Against Women and Children is a timely measure to curb rising crimes against women and children. The laboratory will ensure proper collection and preservation of digital evidence related to cybercrime but building awareness among citizens to report cybercrimes against women and children is of paramount importance. The State Government giving wide publicity to the pan-India single helpline number '112' under Emergency Response Support System which provides access to police, medical and fire services in emergencies and also provides for integration with other helplines for emergency services, including women and child helplines can boost confidence among women and girl children to report a crime instantly and seek immediate help so that the culprits can be nabbed and the victim can be protected. The view expressed by the parliamentary committee that "the heinous crimes that are still taking place against women and children indicate that contemporary society is seriously lacking to qualify the litmus test of any civil society is to see how well educated, well protected and adequately respected its women are" is also a caution against delinking crime against women from issues of gender equality.