Crimes against women in Mumbai< in pre-Covid days | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Mumbai records more than one offence against women every two hours (total cases in 2021: 5,543). The consolation is that the city ranks 10th among urban centres for crimes against women (see graphic) if measured per lakh population. And rape constitutes a small percentage of these cases (6.5%).
In fact, Mumbai provides a silver lining to the overall picture for the state as numbers are down compared to the pre-Covid times of 2019 when cases of crimes against women was higher at 6,519.
On the other hand, Maharashtra recorded more crimes against women in 2021 compared to pre-Covid times, according to National Crime Records Bureau data. Over 39,500 cases were filed in Maharashtra in 2021, an increase of more than 6% since 2019 when the figure was 37,144 cases. Activists said child marriage and instances of violence at home were observed the most. Meanwhile, conviction rate was as low as 14%.
A total of 4.28 lakh cases of crimes against women were registered during 2021 in India, showing an increase of 15.3% over 2020 (3.71 lakh cases). Most pertained to cruelty by spouse or relatives (31.8%), molestation (20.8%), abduction (17.6%) and rape (7.4%). The crime rate registered per lakh women population in India is 64.5 in 2021 in comparison with 56.5 in 2020, the report said.
“There were restrictions on mobility in the lockdown year of 2020 and during some months of 2021 when a spurt in instances of violence at home were observed. The victims were not only women but also adolescent girls,” said Nandita Shah of the non-profit Akshara.
As lockdown-like restrictions lifted in 2021 and mobility increased, more cases came to light. “Women that were enduring silently until then and couldnt take it anymore could have finally stepped out to report,” said activist Priti Patkar of the non-profit Prerana.
Activists added that one reason for low conviction rates in crimes against women is the absence of a victim protection programme “The victim and the family are almost entirely on their own without any support. As cases remain pending in court for years, prosecution fatigue also sets in,” Patkar said.