Crime against Women in India: Issues and Remedies

Abstract

The status and role of women in a traditional society were well defined and almost fixed as a mother, daughter, sister and wife have now been experiencing far-reaching changes. The women in modern times have been entering into certain new fields those were probably unknown to the women’s sphere of role-sets. With the change in the roles of women, the crime against women in India has also been escalating with an alarming speed. Women have been facing a number of crimes on a day-to-day basis such as rape, murder, acid attack, female foeticide, dowry death, molestation, marital rape, sexual harassment etc. The Constitution of India grants equal fundamental rights to men as well as women and ensures gender equality in all spheres of life. Women of today can opt for any job of her choice. Ironically, women feel uncomfortable or unsafe while going out for work. The main reason behind this terror is one and only, the increasing number of crimes against women. By looking at the status of women’s safety especially in India, where they have been worshipped as Goddesses, there is a need to uplift the social status of women in our society. There are a number of legal provisions for the safety of women in India, however, the legal protection provided under various laws has not been yielded desired outcomes. Therefore, this paper intends to put a light on certain crimes against women and suggest some remedies for providing a safe environment to them.