Women in India face violence throughout their lives from womb to tomb. They are considered inferior to men economically, socially, educationally and politically. Women rarely report violence due to social stigma and lack of support. Reasons for violence against women include low sex ratios leading to issues like rape and trafficking, as well as discrimination against girls through practices like female foeticide and denial of resources. Women face abuse, harassment and exploitation at various stages of life from childhood through adulthood and old age. Strict legal actions and social reforms are needed to protect and empower women in India.

1. Dr.Vijay Kumar
PG-2

2. India a Nation which calls itself liberated and
independent, but still women here are physically,
mentally and sexually abused by man.
In India women face violence at every stage of life
cycle from womb to tomb. Women almost never
report the violence to a legal body and keep a tight
lipped silence for life. Women face torture,
humiliation and exploitation by the same society
which worships them.
Janani janmabhumishcha swargadapi gariyasi

3. (i) Women is consider inferior to man –
Economically Socially Educationally Politically
(ii) Role of Media : It is common to have scene of
sexual harassment or rape in Indian movies.
(iii) Low Rate of Punishment of Guilty : Lack of
evidence Lack of guidance Loop holes in existing laws
Reasons for increase in reporting of violence

4. Low sex ratio : Imbalance in sex ratio (less girls more boys)
rise in polygamy, rape, eve-teasing/molestation cases
Discrimination against a girl child: Discrimination - less
nutritious food, malnutrition, unfit for reproduction, high
maternal/infant mortality rate .
Violence within community or society at large scale Sexual
harassment, molestation Rape Kidnapping & abduction Sexual abuse
Stripping & shaming of women Trafficking Forced prostitution Caste &
communal violence .
Violence in difficult circumstances like wars & riots Rape Sexual
harassment & abuse

5. Human Development Index and Gender Inequality Index
According to the UNDP Human Development Report
2011, India ranks 134 in the Human Development Index.
India ranks 129 out of 187 countries in the Gender
Inequality Index.
Gender Inequality Index is a composite measure
reflecting inequality in achievements between women
and men in three dimensions: reproductive health
(Maternal Mortality Ratio & Adolescent Fertility Rate),
empowerment (Female and male population with at least
secondary education & Female and male shares of
parliamentary seats) and the labor market (Female and
male labor force participation rates).

6. ADULTHOOD CRIMES COMMITTED Physical and mental cruelty
by her own family members Kidnapping and abduction Human
trafficking Buying and selling of girls Prostitution Rape Eve-
teasing/molestation
MARRIED WOMAN CRIMES COMMITTED Dowry harassment/
dowry death Physical and mental cruelty by her husband and his
relatives Denial by husband to take care of livelihood Adultery/bigamy
by husband Rape Kidnapping & Abduction Eve teasing/molestation
WORKING WOMAN CRIMES COMMITTED Rape Eve
teasing/molestation Sexual harassment at work place Low/unequal
wages
OLD WOMAN CRIMES COMMITTED Denial for maintenance
Physical and mental cruelty by husband/children
Abortion, Female Infanticide, Foeticide, Son preference in India
According United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF): 50 million girls
and women are missing approximately 105 female births for every 100
males. less than 93 women for every 100 men in the population.
gender discrimination Female foeticide Dowry system

7. An earlier study of amniocentesis procedures conducted
in Bombay hospital 95.5 per cent of foetuses identified as
female were aborted compared with a far smaller
percentage of male foetuses. Decline of sex ratio in the 0-
6 age group from 945 girls per 1000 boys 927 girls per 1000
boys in 2001 decline of 18 per cent.
Sexual abuse of female children
Approximately 20% to 25% of women are sexually abused
when they were children. approximately 30% are relatives
of the child, (fathers, uncles or cousins) around 60% are
others, (friends of the family, babysitters, or neighbors)
strangers are the offenders in approximately 10% of child
sexual abuse cases. Most offenders who abuse pre-
pubescent children are pedophiles.

8. Prostitution has always been a major issue in India. India is estimated
to have 2 million female sex workers.. ACCORDING TO Human Rights
Watch, there are approximately 15 million prostitutes in India. NGOs
like STOP and MAITI in Nepal, report that most trafficking in India
(both trans-border and in-country) is for prostitution.
FACTS ON PROSTITUTION -There are approximately 10 million
prostitutes in India. There are more than 100,000 women in
prostitution in Bombay, Asia’s largest sex industry center. 90% of the
100,000 women in prostitution in Bombay are indentured slaves.
At least 2,000 women are in prostitution along the Baina beachfront
in Goa. There are 300,000-500,000 children in prostitution in India Of
1,000 red light districts all over India, cage prostitutes are mostly
minors, often from Nepal and Bangladesh.

9. In India, "high supply zones" for women in prostitution : Karnataka
( Bijapur , Belgaum and Kolhapur) Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra and
Tamil Nadu are considered as common Since prostitution is illegal in
many countries, it is difficult for prostitutes to come forward and ask for
protection if they become victims of rape or want to escape from brothels
Child prostitution in India Statistics of the survey done show:-
City Population & Prostitute Population -Bombay 10 million ,100,000
Calcutta 9 million ,100,000 Delhi 7 million ,40,000 Agra 3 million ,40,000
A survey conducted by Indian Health Organization of a red light
area of Bombay shows:-
1) 20% of the one lakh prostitutes are children.
2) 25% of the child prostitutes had been abducted and sold.
3) 6% had been raped and sold.
4) 8% had been sold by their fathers after forcing them into incestuous
relationships.
5) 2 lakh minor girls between ages 9yrs-20yrs were brought every year from
Nepal to India and 20,000 of them are in Bombay brothels .
6) 15% to 18% are adolescents between 13 yrs and 18 yrs.

10. Rape In most of the cases the victim is branded as a woman of
loose morals. Child and adolescents rape are on the rise, about
58% are below 16 years. In recent years girl children in the age
group of 6_12 years have been more victimized.
: Marital Rape / Spousal Rape Marital rape is non-consensual
sexual assault in which the perpetrator is the victim's spouse .
marital rape is prevalent throughout society. Women’s bodies
are outraged, regardless of their educational qualifications, class
or status.
Violence Against Women – Facts According to the NCRB
statistics 2010, there has been a 4.8% increase in crime against
women as compared to 2009.
22,172 cases of rape were recorded in 2010. 8.9% of the total
victims of Rape were girls under 14 years of age, while 16.1% were
teenaged girls (14-18 years) and 57.4% were women in the age-
group 18-30 years.
.

11. Dowry- derived from the ancient Hindu custom of KANYADAN•,
STRIDHAN & VARADAKSHINA•.
Dowry System
Beginning The Dowry System was initiated with the intention
of providing security for a girl in case of any unexpected
circumstances after marriage.
When the dowry amount is not considered sufficient or is not
forthcoming, the bride is often harassed, abused and made
miserable. According to Government figures there were a total
of 5,377 dowry deaths in 1993, an increase of 12% from 1992
According to UNICEF "more then 6000 bride burnings or other
deaths were reported in 1997

12. Sati in India.
The efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy- impacted the movement to
outlaw this practice. In 1987 an eighteen years old widow, Roop
Kanwar, committed Sati in a village of Rajasthan. Roop was
forced to commit Sati. The case went to court, but no one was
charged with her murder . Even in the year 2000, we hear about
Sati occurring in rural villages
.
Widows of India.
A glaring gender discrimination exists in India over the
centuries. Whereas a widower can remarry as many times as he
likes, a widow cannot remarry irrespective of her age. Since
child-marriages were common, position of child-widows was
pitiable, since their very existence or seeing their face early in
the morning was considered a bad women. The Miseries of a
Widow Woman with shaven head and red sari

17. Women victims of violence should be given special attention
and comprehensive assistance. legal measures should be
formulated. Awareness against gender biases
Strict & fast legal action should be taken against who are
involved in violence related activities against women.
Strengthening and increasing of non-Govt organizations.
Family counseling centers must be set up. need to motivate the
poor families to utilize the various schemes started by the Govt.
for their welfare.
Violence against women does not end by merely bestowing of
judicial rights or by making women literate. Most urban women
are literate today but they are also victims of domestic violence.
It is imperative that women must be morally strong and
empowered.
There is need of social awakening and change in the attitude of
masses, so that due respect and equal status is given to women.