Pune, Mumbai shelter homes most unsafe for women: NCRB

Mumbai: Shelter homes of Pune were the most unsafe ones for women in 2017, recording 26 cases of sexual harassment, followed by Mumbai (24), data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows. This is the first time NCRB has given a break-up of sexual harassment cases based on location—harassment at workplace, public transport, shelter homes and other places, including home.

The report reveals that overall Delhi (613) continued to record the highest number of sexual harassment cases—assault on woman with intent to outrage modesty under IPC section 354(A)—and Mumbai second. In 2017, Mumbai reported 391 cases, down from 672 the previous year. Among states, Maharashtra is third with 2,910 cases after Uttar Pradesh (5,830) and Madhya Pradesh (2,985).

In Mumbai, most of the harassments (337 cases) were reported in public places, gardens and residential areas.

Delhi also reported the most number of sexual harassment cases at work place (25), followed by Hyderabad (24), Pune (14), Mumbai (12) and Bengaluru (7).

According to Lek Ladki Abhiyan, a movement started by Varsha Deshpande, no shelter home in Maharashtra follows a standard operating procedure (SOP) or undergone any audit. “Not even one percent of sexual harassment cases come out. This is because such shelters are operated by party workers. We have repeatedly approached the government to introduce an SOP but there is no positive reply,” said Deshpande.

”Even the money allotted for the well-being of these shelter homes are eaten up. At present I have got at least five sexual harassment cases from shelter homes across Maharashtra, including one from Deonar,” said Deshpande.

When contacted, Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women, said they have carried out training in the government sector and taken the initiative forward to bring shelter homes under one roof. “The internal committees that are set up both in government and private sectors do not have the teeth to act on complaints of sexual harassment. Members of such committees are not aware of the law and are afraid of taking any action against seniors. This was one of the reasons few people coming forward to lodge complaints. We have asked the government to make it compulsory for the staff of corporate sector to undergo online training on sexual harassment to make them aware of their rights,” said Rahatkar.

A senior IPS officer said they have increased street patrolling and started installing CCTV cameras at important places in Mumbai. “No place is safe for women in the city. Harassment can take place even at home or at the place where the person resides. So it is not just shelter homes. We have increased patrolling and action is taken immediately. Of late, people have started coming forward to register cases which is clearly visible with the number of cases recorded every year,” said the officer.

Psychiatrist Harish Shetty said that in a stressed world, anonymity emboldens those with antisocial traits to act criminally. Those living in shelter homes have no voice, awareness or courage to shout against such violence. Helplessness makes them most vulnerable. “Committees empowered by the Vishaka judgement needs to be active. Shelter homes need to be supervised effectively by the state and surprise visits a must. Bombay HC orders in the last two years need to be followed to the T. The shelter homes should not be run or taken care by NGOs, the government should bring all the homes under a common roof because hardly any case comes out and settled inside,” said Shetty.

IPS officer-turned-lawyer YP Singh said that in shelter homes it is easier to manipulate the mind of a girl because of psychological reasons and because of the underlying sense of subservience. This stimulates the minds of men prone to deviant behaviour. “The laws are well set in place, but the problem is of poor implementation and the emergence of the phenomenon of false complaints. Creating and investigate and machinery which is credible, and fair could go a long way in solving this difficult problem,” said Singh.

Former State DGP Pravin Dixit said most dangerous places are homes. “it’s necessary to be most alert from these so called relatives as they are most dangerous and know when to exploit the solitudes. In other places installation of CCTV is useful to catch the culprits,” said Dixit.

Assault on woman with intent to outrage modesty under IPC section 354 (A) (Sexual harassment) for 2017

Unsafe places for women victim of sexual harassment

Total Sexual harassment cases

City---------------------------------2017------------2016

Delhi----------------------------------613----------------741

Mumbai-------------------------------391----------------672

Kanpur--------------------------------162----------------91

Pune-----------------------------------140---------------305

Bengaluru-----------------------------135---------------151

Total Sexual harassment cases

State-------------------------------2017------------2016

Uttar Pradesh-------------------------5830--------------9422

Madhya Pradesh----------------------2985--------------3128

Maharashtra---------------------------2910--------------4057

Andhra Pradesh-----------------------1146--------------1305

Karnataka------------------------------828---------------703

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City-----------------------------Work or office premises

Delhi------------------------------------------25

Hyderabad------------------------------------24

Pune------------------------------------------14

Mumbai---------------------------------------12

Bengaluru-------------------------------------7

State-----------------------------Work or office premises

Telanga------------------------------------------117

Maharashtra-------------------------------------82

Kerala--------------------------------------------53

Haryana------------------------------------------50

Madhya Pradesh/Uttarakand--------------------27

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City-----------------------------Public Transport

Delhi------------------------------------------27

Ghaziabad------------------------------------9

Hyderabad-----------------------------------9

Bengaluru------------------------------------8

Mumbai---------------------------------------5

State-----------------------------Public Transport

Bihar---------------------------------------106

Maharashtra-------------------------------93

Uttar Pradesh------------------------------86

Kerala--------------------------------------44

Karnataka----------------------------------41

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City-----------------------------Shelter Homes for women/child

Pune--------------------------------------26

Mumbai-----------------------------------24

Hyderabad--------------------------------7

Bengaluru---------------------------------2

Delhi--------------------------------------1

State-----------------------------Shelter Homes for women/ child

Uttar Pradesh------------------------------239

Andhra Pradesh----------------------------65

Maharashtra-------------------------------64

Gujarat------------------------------------27

Haryana-----------------------------------26

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City-----------------------------Other places

Delhi--------------------------------------560

Mumbai-----------------------------------337

Kanpur------------------------------------162

Ghaziabad---------------------------------119

Bengaluru---------------------------------118

State-----------------------------Other places

Uttar Pradesh------------------------------5500

Madhya Pradesh---------------------------2844

Maharashtra-------------------------------2671

Odisha-------------------------------------1100

Andhra Pradesh---------------------------1041

(Other places: public places (roads), gardens, home, residential areas)

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