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Assam prepares SOPs to curb crime against women
Assam women and child development minister Ajanta Neog said that students of a few schools and colleges have been provided with martial arts training to defend themselves from attackers
The Assam government informed the state assembly on Monday that it has prepared a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to bring down incidents of crimes against women and girl children.
Replying to a question by leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia on the first day of the winter session, women and child development minister Ajanta Neog said that more steps are being taken in this regard.
“This is the first time such a SOP has been prepared by the state government. This was done after a lot of consultations with stakeholders and a 14-day training session. It was notified last month,” said Neog.
She said that the SOP has been prepared with the approval from home and health departments as well as the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA). Neog stated that 11 special women cells have been formed in 11 districts of the state to deal with crimes related to women and girl children.
The minister said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has also been signed by the departments of women and child development and home with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to create more such cells and provide them with required training and expertise.
“As a pilot project, students of a few schools and colleges in Kamrup and Dhemaji districts have been provided with martial arts training to defend themselves from attackers. Such trainings would be carried out in all districts in a phased manner,” Neog stated.
She added that 18 fast track courts have been set up in 13 districts to deal with cases of crimes related to women and girl children and 2,665 cases have been transferred to these courts.
“Reports by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in past five years show that crimes against women have been increasing in Assam. In 2020, the number of such crimes was around 21,000 while it rose to nearly 26,000 last year,” said leader of Opposition, Saikia.
“We want the state government to set up women help desks in all police stations and fast track courts in all districts. Similarly martial arts training should be provided in all schools and colleges,” he added.
According to NCRB, Assam has recorded the highest rate of crime against women in India consecutively for the last five years. Rate of crime against women in Assam last year was 168.3, which is way higher than the national rate of 64.5. Delhi, considered the most unsafe place for women, came second with 147.6 and Odisha third with 137.8.
Rate of crime is calculated as the number of total crimes recorded per 100,000 population. In 2017, the rate of crime against women in Assam was 143.3, it was 166 for 2018, in 2019 the figure was 177 and last year it was 154.3.
