Crime Against Women On Rise; Up Over 25% During Pandemic 2020-2021

NEW DELHI: The Covid-19 pandemic is proving problematic for women in India, according to the latest report by the National Commission for Women (NCW), which confirms early signals by recording over 25 percent more complaints from disgruntled women than the previous year.

According to a study by the National Commission on Women, the commission received 26,513 complaints from women in 2020-21, up from 20,309 complaints in 2019-20, a 25.09 percent increase. In 20-21, 8,688 women petitioned NCW, alleging that their right to live in dignity had been violated.

With this, cases of domestic violence have been doubled the previous year. 6,049 new cases have been registered by women regarding domestic violence.

Cybercrime against women, harassment of married women/dowry harassment, and police passivity have all been raised. According to women campaigners, the biggest factor contributing to the rise in crime against women is the pandemic-induced lockdown, when men were forced to stay at home every day with no source of income, putting their families in a financial bind. Rekha Sharma, the chairperson of the NCW, stated that the increase in incidents makes them concerned about women and that the panel has made it easier for women to come out and report.

Congress MP Anand Sharma who leads a parliamentary panel recommended that cash transfers and moratorium loan payments be continued to empower women of the country.

“The committee notes that there was a sudden spurt in domestic violence and trafficking of women and children during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic outbreak,” said the report adding that this was due to disruption in economic activities, work from home, and family spending more time at home during lockdowns.

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