Crime Against Women on the Rise in India - Building Gender Balanced Business

It’s dangerous being a woman in India, especially a working woman — but not particularly dangerous being a criminal who targets women.

• In 2007, more than 185,000 cases of crime against women were registered across India, up from 164,000 cases in 2006 and 155,000 in 2005.

• Convictions last year were made in only 14.9% of the cases last year, down from 17.5% in 2006 and 19.8% in 2005.

• In Delhi, where working women’s security in particular has been a concern, the conviction rate has run significantly lower than the national average: 13.4% in 2007, 12.4% in 2006 and 10.8% in 2005.

• Andhra Pradesh was the worst state, with reported crime against women totaling 24,738 in 2007, 21,484 in 2006 and 20,819 in 2005. But the conviction rate was also higher, at 15.8% in 2008, 16.6% in 2007 and 25.7% in 2005.

• In Maharashtra, the conviction rate was about 4% each year, with cases nearing 15,000 in 2007 after steady growth.

• In West Bengal, the conviction rate was 2.8% in 2007 after nearing 8% in 2006 and well below the 6% recorded in 2005.

The Times of India article