As the recent Kolkata rape case has been making headlines, there has been a sudden increase in similar news reports. The question that arises in our minds is why these cases seem to be increasing. The first and foremost point is that rape cases have not suddenly increased; they have always been prevalent. The media has simply decided to report and publish more stories because the audience has shown a sudden interest, and this is troubling.

According to the NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) Data, there were 4,45,256 cases of crime against women in 2022, which means 51 FIRs every hour. This statistic only reflects the cases that are registered, while many go unreported. As citizens, we often don't take these cases seriously unless they are so heinous and brutal that they shake us to our core.

In this article, I will discuss some reasons why such cases have been increasing over the past decade. Although it's impossible to pinpoint all the reasons, I will focus on the political and social factors, as well as where we, as a society and as a system, are falling short.

1. Low Conviction Rate

   "Justice delayed is justice denied." The conviction rate in rape cases is between 27 percent to 28 percent, which is very low considering the increase in such cases across the country. This means that out of 100 accused, not even 30 receive conviction. Given the quote above, can we say that justice has been denied to many victims? While we know that these cases require thorough investigation, we must develop a system to speed up the investigation process and punish the accused of such serious crimes as quickly as possible. This would help victims and women across the country regain their faith in the judiciary. We have made amendments to laws for women's safety over time, but these changes will have little impact if conviction rates remain low. Before considering new laws, we must focus on properly enforcing the existing ones.
    

2. Easily Available Porn Videos and Internet

   I am ashamed to inform you that while most of us were feeling sorrow for what happened in Kolkata, many Indians were searching for videos of the incident and the name of the victim on porn websites. This shows how much some people in our country have fallen. Many of these websites are banned in name only; those who want to access them can easily do so online. We have seen a sudden increase in cases where minors are accused of rape. In my opinion, the easy availability of porn and internet access is one of the reasons. With smartphones available to everyone nowadays, children who lack the sense to discern right from wrong can easily search for such content and become addicted. Parents also bear responsibility for this, as they provide children with phones without proper monitoring.
    

3. Inadequate Law Enforcement

   The police force in our country lacks the training and sensitivity needed to handle cases of sexual harassment and rape. I have seen many instances where the police do not even register the FIR immediately. For example, in a recent case in Badlapur, Maharashtra, where two minor girls were sexually harassed by their school teacher, the police delayed filing the FIR by over 12 hours. This issue goes beyond just filing FIRs; the police often fall short in conducting thorough investigations and in how they interact with victims who have gone through traumatic experiences.
   
   Under Indian law, police officers who fail to register a complaint of sexual assault can be sentenced to up to two years in prison. However, Human Rights Watch found that police don't always file a First Information Report (FIR), which is the first step in starting a police investigation, especially if the victim is from a poor or socially marginalized community. In many cases, the police either refuse to file the FIR or pressure the victim's family to "settle" or "compromise," especially if the accused belongs to a powerful family or community.
    

4. Victim Blaming

   Victim blaming is very common in our Indian society. We often hear statements like, "What was she wearing?" or "Why was she out late at night?" These people forget to consider that we've seen cases where the victims were a baby in a diaper or an elderly woman in a saree, and they were "safe" in their own homes. Instead of finding ways to blame the victim, we should encourage them and try to make them feel secure so that those who can speak up can fight for themselves. We should treat them with respect because they are not the ones who did wrong; they are the victims of rape.
   
   An old case involving an Indian woman, Aruna Shanbaug, is particularly tragic. Her rapist received a 7-year sentence for ruining her life and later got his job back after serving his sentence. Meanwhile, Aruna remained in a vegetative state for 42 long years. Before this traumatic incident, she was about to get married, but her family disowned her afterward. She spent her entire life in a small, locked room in a hospital. The person who committed the crime went on with his life as usual after serving his sentence, while she was disowned by her family, went into a coma, and spent her life confined to a hospital room. Even her plea for euthanasia was rejected by the Supreme Court.
    

5. Lack of Education and Awareness

   The lack of education and awareness about consent and sex is one of the reasons for harmful behavior and attitudes. Much of what people learn about sex comes from pornography, which is highly misleading, fosters lust, and is not the right platform to learn about such a serious topic. There is a stigma in our society where talking about sex is considered immoral, but it is better to educate kids on this rather than letting them satisfy their curiosity through unreliable sources on the internet. Teach them the importance of consent, the appropriate age for sexual activity, the risks of sexually transmitted diseases, and also educate girls about the difference between good touch and bad touch so that no one can take advantage of their innocence.
    

6. Less Focus on Women's Safety in Politics

   In India, politics is one of the most talked-about topics. We often hear politicians making promises to the people, with most of these promises focusing on caste, religion, and wealth. However, women's safety is rarely at the forefront of their agendas, even though this is the issue that needs the most attention.

7. Media Influence

   Media Influence The media is considered the voice of the people, but it has been quite disappointing. While they have recently started reporting on rape cases, where was this energy before the Kolkata incident? Instead of focusing on real crime news, they show interviews with politicians discussing irrelevant topics. While I understand the need for TRP, the media should also fulfill its duty with the utmost honesty and responsibility.
    
8. Unreported Crimes
   Most crimes against women in India go unreported, raising concerns about how many perpetrators are moving freely in the country. This situation shows that the public is losing faith in the law; victims are afraid to come forward because society fails to provide a safe space for them to share their stories. Additionally, those in power often use their influence to avoid consequences. According to NCRB data from 2020, approximately 28.9% of the child population experienced some form of sexual crime, yet only 65.6% of these crimes were reported.
    
9. Lack of Awareness
   About Legal Assistance Victims of sexual assault, particularly from poor and marginalized communities, also lack effective legal assistance. A 1994 Supreme Court ruling says that police should provide sexual assault victims legal assistance and keep a list of legal aid options – but they rarely do. There are many authorities that can provide them with free legal aid, but the victims are not aware of them.

Conclusion
In conclusion, these are not the only reasons for the increase in cases of rape and sexual harassment, but they are areas where we can improve and work towards building a better society for women. I urge the women in power and those with influence to stand up and advocate for other women in the country, becoming the voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves. I hope we can make our beautiful India a safe country for every woman around the world.

Reference:

• https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/child-sexual-abuse-in-india-alarming-statistics-lifelong-impact-how-to-heal-2416285-2023-08-04
• https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/11/09/india-rape-victims-face-barriers-justice
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-records-51-cases-of-crime-against-women-every-hour-over-4-4-lakh-cases-in-2022-ncrb-report/articleshow/105731269.cms