The latest state economic survey for 2022-23 revealed there were 36,018 and 16,836 crimes against Women and children, respectively, in 2022-23, as reported by the office of the special inspector general of Police (prevention of crime against women and children).
The report showed maximum crimes were committed against children under the category of kidnapping – 9,594 in 2022, as against 9,555 in 2021, and 7,392 in 2020. This was followed by child rape – 3,266 in 2022 as against 3,458 in 2021 and 2,785 in 2020. While 364 cases of murder of minors were registered between 2020 to 2022, the number of cases of infanticide, foeticide, abandonment of newborns stood at 24, 21, and 302, respectively, during the period.
Similary, 11,509 cases of molestation of women were reported in 2022 as against 12,945 in 2021, and 12,664 in 2020. Cases of cruelty saw a marginal drop with 9,225 cases registered in 2022, as against 10,095 in 2021. A total of 7,193 cases of kidnapping of women were registered in 2022, compared to 7,559 in 2021 and 5,254 in 2020. The figures for rape cases stood at 5,779 in 2022, compared to 5,954 in 2021 and 4,846 in 2020. The overall crimes against women registered in 2022 was 36,018, compared to 39,526 in 2021 and 31,954 in 2020.
TheMaharashtraState Commission for Women, a statutory body which regularly holds hearings or public hearings on complaints filed by women victims, provides free legal aid and counselling Services. It organises workshops, training programmes and seminars on women related issues, self DEFENCE programmes, awareness about gender , legal Literacy, cyber crime, implementation of Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & redressal) Act, 2013, rehabilitation of acid attack victims, preparation of guidelines for creche. During 2021-22, a total of 16.63 lakh was spent on these programmes while 16.22 lakh was spent between 2022-23 up to January.