Increase in Crimes Against Children

As per information available with the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 33,052 cases, 38,172 cases and 58,224 cases were registered under crime against children during 2011-2013 respectively, showing an increasing trend.

The increase in registration of crimes against children can be attributed to the several measures taken by the Union Government along with State Governments / Union Territory Administrations to enforce mandatory registration of offences with regard to crimes against children.

As per the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India `Police` and `Public Order` are State subjects and, as such, the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crime, lies with the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations. However, Government of India is deeply concerned with the welfare of children; and through various schemes and advisories to the State Governments / Union Territory Administrations, augments the efforts of the States /UTs.

The President of India on 2nd April, 2013 has consented to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which has come into force since 3rd Feb, 2013 on crimes against women. It has enhanced punishment for crimes like rape, sexual harassment, stalking, voyeurism, acid attacks, indecent gestures like words and inappropriate touch etc. In addition, amendments are made to the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 to protect the rights of the victims of sexual assault. Some provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 were also amended.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development is working on several areas concerning women and children. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, has come into effect from 14th November, 2012 is a special law to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been sanctioned a sum of Rs. 321.69 crore out of the Nirbhaya Fund to implement emergency response system to attend calls from women in distress and provide them immediate assistance.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to counter human trafficking. In pursuance of this objective, the Ministry of Home Affairs has established a total number of 225 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in various districts of the country.

To create a mechanism for tracking ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed a national portal called ‘TrackChild’ which has data on ‘missing’ and ‘found’ children.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary in a written reply to Dr. T.Subbarami Reddy in the Rajya Sabha today.

[PIB]