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Gujarat: One Rape Per Day, Three Women Molested Every Day Since 2014
5 Dec 2019 11:46 AM GMT
Gujarat has been often proclaimed to be a safe state for women, but as per a report by The Times Of India – which assessed figures from the state crime records bureau (SCRB) – it has come to light that at least one rape was reported in Modi’s home state every day since 2014.
The report also shows that there were 1,200 cases of molestation reported every year – averaging to 3 women molested every day.
In 2018, the number of rape cases rose to 572 – higher than 424 reported in 2014.
In 2019, up to September, Gujarat reported around 400 rape cases and between 2015-2019, Gujarat reported a total of 2,775 of such incidents.
Ahmedabad can be called the ‘rape capital’ of the state with 70 cases being reported in 2018.
Surat is next in line with the second-highest number of rape cases reported between 2015-2019, at 214.
Save the Children, a global non-profit organisation said in their report in 2014, that Gujarat reported the most number of sexual abuse cases than anywhere else in the world.
According to the report, over 63% of girls in Gujarat reported sexual abuse with Madhya Pradesh (57%) and West Bengal (56%) falling second and third respectively.
A chapter in the report highlighted the impact of conflicts – communal riots – on a girl child.
The state has also seen many incidents of trafficking of women and girls. Official numbers from Gujarat show that there were 14 cases of importation of girls and 264 cases pf immoral trafficking between 2015 and 2019.
| Year | Crimes Against Women Reported | All India Rank (Based On % Share To All-India Crimes Against Women) | Increase/Decrease In Rank – being + or – for the state |
| 2002 | 5373 | 12 | – |
| 2003 | 5735 | 10 | ↓ 2 places (-) |
| 2004 | 6211 | 10 | – |
| 2005 | 6343 | 9 | ↓ 1 place (-) |
| 2006 | 7279 | 8 | ↓ 1 place (-) |
| 2007 | 8260 | 7 | ↓ 1 place (-) |
| 2008 | 8616 | 8 | ↑ 1 place (+) |
| 2009 | 8009 | 11 | ↑ 3 places (+) |
| 2010 | 8148 | 12 | ↑ 1 place (+) |
| 2011 | 8815 | 12 | – |
| 2012 | 9561 | 11 | ↓ 1 place (-) |
| 2013 | 12283 | 10 | ↓ 1 places (-) |
| 2014 | 10837 | 14 | ↑ 4 places (+) |
| 2015 | 7762 | 15 | ↑ 1 place (+) |
| 2016 | 8532 | 15 | – |
| 2017 | 8133 | 15 | – |
(Source:NCRB)
As per the table above, there was a steady deterioration in the position of Gujarat as a ‘safe state’, until 2008. It was listed amongst the top 10 Indian states which had the highest number of crimes recorded against women in 2008, standing at the 8th position.
But since 2014, there has been a sudden improvement in its rank, as it jumped 4 places to become 14th in the number of crimes recorded, from the 10th position it held in 2013.
The recent case of gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old minor girl from Vadodara has raised the question of women’s safety in the Prime Minister’s domicile.
The 14-year-old girl was learning how to drive at the Navlakhi Ground located along Palace Road in Moti Bagh area when the incident took place. At that time, she was accompanied by a friend who was helping her.
The rapists are currently at large and their identity is unknown to the authorities. Teams of local police personnel have been formed to identify and nab them.
Also Read: 14-Year-Old Girl Dragged Behind Bushes, Gang Raped In Vadodara
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