Government is taking cognizance of reports of all missing girls and women. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles and publishes information on crime in its publication “Crime in India”. The published reports are available until the year 2021. The State/UT-wise (including Maharashtra) details of missing girls and women from the year 2019-2021 are at ‘Annexure-II’.

‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibilities to maintain law and order, protection of life and property of the citizens including investigation and prosecution of crime against women rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offences under the extant provisions of laws. However, the Government of India has taken a number of initiatives for safety of women across the country, which are given below:

1. The Criminal Law (Amendment), Act 2013 was enacted for effective deterrence against sexual offences. Further, the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including death penalty for rape of girls below   the  age  of  12  years.  The   Act  also   inter-alia   mandates completion of investigation and filing of charge sheet in rape cases in 2 months and trials to be completed in 2 months.
2. Emergency Response Support System provides a pan-India, single   internationally recognized number (112) based system for all emergencies, with computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress.
3. Using technology to aid smart policing and safety management, Safe City Projects have been sanctioned in first Phase in 8 cities (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Mumbai).
4. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a cyber-crime reporting portal on 20th September, 2018 for citizens to report obscene content.
5. MHA has launched the “National Database on Sexual Offenders” (NDSO) on 20th September 2018 to facilitate investigation and tracking of sexual offenders across the country by law enforcement agencies.
6. MHA has launched an online analytic tool “Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences” for Police on 19th February 2019 to facilitate them to monitor and track time-bound investigation in sexual assault cases in accordance with Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018.
7. In order to improve investigation, MHA has taken steps to strengthen DNA analysis units in Central and State Forensic Science Laboratories. This includes setting up of State-of-the-Art DNA Analysis Unit in Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh. MHA has also sanctioned setting-up and upgrading of DNA Analysis units in State Forensic Science Laboratories after gap analysis and demand assessment.
8. MHA has notified guidelines for collection of forensic evidence in sexual   assault cases and the standard composition in a sexual assault evidence collection kit. To facilitate adequate capacity in manpower, training and skill building programs have been undertaken for Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers. Bureau of Police Research & Development has distributed 14,950 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits to States/ UTs as orientation kit as part of training.
9. MHA has also approved two projects for setting up and strengthening of Women Help Desks in Police Stations and Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts of the country.
10. In addition to the above-mentioned measures, the Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories from time to time with a view to help the States/UTs to deal with crimes against women, which are available at www.mha.gov.in.
11. In addition to this, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has set up 733 One Stop Centres in the country. These centres provide integrated support and assistance to women affected by violence and in distress, under one roof and provide an integrated range of services including medical aid, legal aid, temporary shelter, police assistance, psycho-social counseling. .

 

                                                                                                                                    Annexure-I/1

 

Steps taken by the Govt.of Maharashtra for women safety.

 

1. Prevention of Atrocities against Women Cell-

 

A cell namely Prevention of Atrocities against Women has been created vide Government Resolution dated 29.09.1995 at State Police Headquarters, Mumbai. The cell is headed by the officer of the rank of Spl. Inspector General of Police. The various instructions from Government, circulars, guidelines issued by superiors, etc. are being circulated to field units. The complaints received regarding atrocities against women, crime against women, ill treatment by Women Cell. These complaints are enquired and monitored by the concerned police units in order to provide justice to needy women. Serious offences and cases are monitored by this cell. This cell undertakes activities like sensitization of police towards complaints against women.

 

2. Mahila Police Kaksha (Women Help Desk Police station level)-

 

In Maharashtra prevention, detection & Investigation of crime against women is dealt with by the jurisdictional police stations. The Director General of Police, Maharashtra State, Mumbai has issued instructions to create Mahila Police Kaksha in each police Station, to handle the cases regarding crime against women.

 

3)  Mahila Suraksha Samittee-

 

These committees are established in all 49 Police Units and all Police Stations across the State. These committees are providing legal assistance to the women in crises. The samittee consists of women doctors, women advocates, women professor and social worker etc.

 

 4)Special Juvenile Police Unit and Child Welfare Police Officer (SJPU & CWPO)-

 

Special juvenile Police Unit is formed in all 49 Police Units and one police officer is appointed in each Police Station all over the Maharashtra State.

 

Annexure-I/2

 

5)Counselling Centres –

 

This centers are run by Department of Women & Child Development. Total 39 centers at District level and 111 at Taluka level has been established across the State. All this centers are situated in the vicinity of Commissionerate/District Superintendent / Police Stations.

 

6) Help centers at State Transport Bus Stands-

 

To provide immediate help and assistance to women and children,  help centers / desks are established at State Transport Bus stands.

 

7)Women Help Line –

 

The Toll-free Help Line No.103 for Mumbai, Thane &Navi Mumbai & for the rest of Maharashtra Help Line No. 1091 are functioning.

 

8)Complaint Committees at work places –

 

As per the Vishakha Guidelines of Hon. Supreme Court,  New Delhi these committees are established in all 46 Police Units head quarters and State CID office, Pune. These committees are tackling the complaints related to sexual harassment at work places of women police officers / staff and other ministerial staff working in police officers.

 

9)Preventive Action for Eve-Teasing-

 

Instruction and circulars are issued by office of DGP, MS, for preventive such incidents. Foot patrolling, patrolling in college area,  Nakabandi , etc are organized regularly by Police units. The lecturers on security measures and existing laws are being delivered in school and college level.

 

10)Sensitization of Police Officers and Men towards the Complaints of Women –

 

Laws & amended laws related to crime against women & children and gender issues of Women & Children are included as Curriculum in basic training programme of Police Officers at Maharashtra Police Academy Nashik, and all Police Training Schools and refresher courses at unit head quarters.

 

Annexure-I/3

 

11)Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) –

 

Total 45 Anti Human Trafficking Units have been established all over the Maharashtra. Regular training workshops have been held for police officers. NGOs and prosecutors to sensitize them regarding Anti Human Trafficking and its seriousness and impact on society, to develop victim friendly approach and to enhance their investigative skills. 45 Anti-Human Trafficking units are established in the state of Maharashtra.

 

12)Investigative Units Crime against Women –

 

To investigate various atrocities on women specially rape, dowry death, kidnapping & abduction, human and immoral trafficking, domestic violence etc., Investigative Units Crime against Women have been established in all Police units vide Government                 Resolution No. PAW-0616/C.R.492/Spl. -6 dated 12.10.2017.

 

13)Justice Dharmadhikari Committee-

 

To prevent crime against women Govt.  has constituted committee  underthe chairmanship of retired Justice Shri. Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari. This committee submitted Five interim reports and a final report to Govt. These suggestions received through interim reports has been accepted by the Government.

           

14) ManodhairvaVoiana –

 

Women&  Child Welfare Dept  has implemented this scheme since 02/10/2013 for rehabilitation of victim of rape and acid attack. The compensation given under this scheme is revised by Government Resolution No. Misc.2017/C.R.255/Desk.2 dated 30.12.2017. This scheme gives compensation as below-

 

Sr No	Type of Crime	Compensation Min. Rs.                                   Max. Rs.
1	Sexual Offence against Children	3,00,000/-	10,00,000/-
2	RAPE	3,00,000/-	10,00,000/-
3	Acid Attack grievous face injury/handicap	3,00,000/-	10,00,000/-

 

Annexure-I/4

 

15) Domestic Volence Act 2005-

 

To protect the women from domestic violence, this act has come in force. To implement this act Protection Officers are appointed by Women and Child Welfare Dept, in all districts and the detail information is consolidated by the said dept, however the review at the district level is taken by the district committee headed by Dist. Collector.

 

16)Dowry Death

 

The District Vigilance Committee was formed in each district of Maharashtra State as per Government resolution no. DPA-1083/80519/CA-3, Dated 29/1/1985. The District Collector was the president of this cell & the Superintendent of Police, Social Welfare Officer, advocate, women medical officer, principal of local college, social worker and member of women organization were working in this cell.

This Committee has been modified as  per the resolution by Women & Child Welfare Dept. no. Ml SC-2011/C.R. 26/Ka-2, dated 2/11/2011. District collector is the president of this Committee. Meeting of this Committee is organized by the District collector once in a three months. This Committee works for various issues related to women atrocity such as Dowry, Domestic Violence, Immoral Trafficking, Devdasi, etc.

Police Commissioner / Superintendent of Police have been appointed as District Level Officer.

Police Inspector/ Police Sub Inspector working on Women Suraksha Committee has been appointed as Police Station Level Officer.

 

17)   Prevention of Female Foeticide-

 

For the effective implementation of (1) Pre- Conception and Pre- Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act – 1994 (PCPNDT).

 

(2) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act-1971 (MTP) the Police Officer of the rank of Dy. SP/ACP has been appointed as a Nodal Officer.

 

Annexure-I/5

18) Social Awareness programmes-

 

The Social awareness programmes are conducted by respective departments such as Home dept., WCD, Labour dept., Public Health dept., Social welfare dept., as per their subjects by using medias such as T.V., cable network, radio, advertisement boards, news media, pamphlets etc.

 

19) Investigative Units Crime against Women-

 

To investigate various atrocities on women specially Rape, Dowry Death. Kidnapping & Abduction, Human and Immoral Trafficking, Domestic Violence etc., investigative Units Crime against Women have been established  in all Police units vide Government Resolution No. PAW-0616/C.R.492/Spl.-6 dated 12.10.2017

 

20) Bharosa Cell by Nagpur Police-

 

“One Stop Crisis Centre” is the initiative of Central Govt. to provide immediately all sort of Aid to the victim of Sexual Assault under the one roof. In the line of same Nagpur Police established Bharosha Cell. It may be a first such initiative from Police Department in the country.

 

21) Special Task Force-

 

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, New Delhi in Criminal Writ Petition 76 of 2018 had directed formulation of “Special Task Force" for implementation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012". “Special Task Force” created in All Police Units will work under the Overall Supervision of the Special Inspector General of Police, PAW, M. S., Mumbai.

 

It is circulated to All 49 Police Units.

  

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Ajay Kumar Mishra  in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

*****

RK/AY/SM/AKS/RR/703

 

Source: Crime in India

Note : '+' Combined data of erstwhile D&N Haveli UT and Daman & Diu UT during 2019

*' Data of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir State including Ladakh during during 2019

 

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