Change in mindset vital to stopping crime against women: Maneka Gandhi

New Delhi: Patriarchal mindset of the society, absence of stringent laws and slow conviction rate are among the several factors which have led to rise in crime against women in the country, Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said on Thursday

"Apart from poverty and helplessness, crime against women occur due to a number of factors like patriarchal mindset of the society, absence of stringent laws, delay in completion of trials, low conviction rate etc," the Minister said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

Gandhi further said that her ministry is endeavoring to put in place effective mechanisms to provide safe environment for women to encourage them to work, live fearlessly and reach their potential.

"Ministry recognizes that incidence of crime against women cannot be controlled unless the mindset of people, in general, are made to change," she said.

To eliminate this menace, the Government is putting in place a number of legislative and administrative measures like amending the criminal law, enacting women specific legislations, reforms in police and judicial procedures, besides creating awareness, the Minister said.

According to the data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Uttar Pradesh has registered highest number of cases of violence on women by recording 32,546 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh (32,809), West Bengal (29,826), Rajasthan (27,933), Maharashtra (24,895) and Madhya Pradesh (22,061).

Till August 4, 146 complaints of gang-rape or rape have been received by the National Commission for Women from Uttar Pradesh.