New Delhi, Dec 8 : The incidence of crimes against women has surged, with a 4% rise observed across various States and Union territories. Additionally, a notable increase of 12.3% was documented in 19 Metro cities in 2022 compared to the previous year. 

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases, reaching 65,743, involving crimes against women under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special and Local Laws (SLL), with an impressive 75.6% chargesheet rate.

Surprisingly, Maharashtra follows Uttar Pradesh closely in this concerning trend, registering 45,331 cases and boasting an 80.6% chargesheet rate. In contrast, Rajasthan documented 45,058 cases of crimes against women, accompanied by a lower chargesheet rate of 54%.

Despite Maharashtra being home to the commercial capital of India, Mumbai, and its reputation as a city that never sleeps, recent data challenges the notion of it being a completely safe haven. The state, often perceived as one of the most progressive, especially for working women, faces an alarming rise in crimes against women.

Maharashtra has a historical legacy of championing women's rights, with figures like Savitribai Phule, the first educated woman in India. She and her husband, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, pioneered women's education by establishing India's first girls' school in 1848 in Pune, leaving an indelible mark in history.

The NCRB report highlights that the majority of crimes against women under the IPC were registered under categories such as 'Cruelty by Husband or His Relatives' (31.4%), 'Kidnapping and Abduction of Women' (19.2%), 'Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty' (18.7%), and 'Rape' (7.1%). The crime rate per lakh women population increased to 66.4 in 2022, compared to 64.5 in 2021, as stated in the NCRB report.

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