A Decade of Silence, A Decade of Crimes: India’s Women-Safety Indictment

Sakshi Mishra
Feb 4
7 min read

**A woman does not ask for protection as charity she demands it as a right guaranteed by law, reason, and humanity**

In the past ten years, India has experienced an alarming and unwavering increase in offences targeted at women and children. Incidents such as kidnappings, abductions, and the cases of missing girls continue to be severe issues for the country’s justice and safety systems. In spite of existing laws, initiatives, and occasional government commitments, the statistics reveal a grim narrative of escalating victimisation, enforcement deficiencies, and failures in policy.

As per the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) report titled Crime in India 2023, which is the most recent officially accessible dataset:

**When women are unsafe, the State stands guilty, not ignorant**

The number of offences against women reached approximately 448,000 cases in 2023, an increase from around 428,000 in 2021 and about 445,000 in 2022.

This results in a crime frequency of 66.2 occurrences for every 100,000 females.

In 2023, the kidnapping and abduction of women alone comprised 88,605 incidents.

Violent acts against minors saw a significant increase of 9.2% in 2023, with almost half of these cases involving kidnapping or abduction.

Perspective since 2015: A review of earlier NCRB reports indicates that as far back as 2015, incidents of kidnapping and related crimes were prevalent, with countless women and girls affected each year demonstrating that this issue has persistently existed, often escalating or remaining constant at elevated levels across various categories. From 2019 to 2021, more than 1.3 million females, including about 10.61 lakh adult women and around 2.51 lakh girls, were recorded as missing, according to data presented by the NCRB in Parliament. Madhya Pradesh notably had the greatest number of missing individuals during this timeframe.

Although certain political figures later distorted or inflated these statistics, the authentic trend continues to highlight a concerning frequency of disappearances related to human trafficking, fleeing from home, and unlawful exploitation.

These figures are not just numbers; they represent alarming and irrefutable truths. They are serious enough that no administration can realistically claim unawareness. However, they are overlooked because they do not support political agendas. Instead, fear and animosity rooted in religion or social status are created, while genuine concerns are intentionally suppressed. The public is kept preoccupied with arguments about places of worship, even as women vanish and offenses increase. The matter is not whether the government is informed but rather how long essential issues will be overlooked in favor of divisive political strategies.

In the year 2023:

Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest total of offenses committed against women, with 66,381 incidents reported.

When analyzing the data in relation to population size, Telangana had the highest crime rate, with Rajasthan and Odisha following closely behind.

Cities have also experienced these issues. For instance, in Mumbai, there was a 13% increase in crimes directed at women in 2025, and incidents involving children rose by 7%.

Why Is This Happening? Multi-Layered Causes

1. Structural Patriarchy and Social Norms

Deep-rooted social customs including male dominance, dowry pressures, familial control, and gender bias underpin many offences like cruelty, domestic violence, forced marriage, and honour crimes. These patterns are echoed in activist commentary and are persistent across regions.

2. Law Enforcement Gaps

Despite reforms, police reporting remains shallow, with large numbers of crimes unreported due to distrust, social stigma, and fear of victim-blaming. Some analysts argue that only a fraction of sexual violence cases actually reach FIRs, obscuring the real scale of the problem.

3. Criminal Networks & Trafficking

Kidnapping data suggests organised criminal involvement in trafficking and exploitation a trend that sporadic police operations uncover but large networks persist. High-profile recoveries highlight both the risk and the gaps in preventive policing.

4. Economic Pressures and Urbanisation

Rapid urban migration and economic stress have exacerbated vulnerabilities with children and young women at risk of exploitation, labour trafficking, and domestic servitude.

Right-leaning political figures frequently focus on concepts of law enforcement, enhanced policing methods, and technological advancements which encompass expedited judicial processes, tracking offenders via GPS, establishing women-only police units, and implementing digital monitoring. Certain states governed by right-wing officials (such as Uttar Pradesh) consistently showcase initiatives targeting crime reduction and successful law enforcement actions within particular urban areas.

Left-wing analysts highlight existing structural disparities, the need for socio-economic upliftment, societal gender discrimination, and biases within the policing system and custodial environments. They contend that purely punitive measures overlook fundamental issues such as education, necessary social changes, economic disparities, and proactive prevention strategies.

While both factions concur that law enforcement practices are inconsistent, they hold opposing views regarding the appropriate remedies whether to impose penalties or to pursue reforms.

The government of India has enacted numerous regulations and initiatives:

Women Safety Initiatives Extended Until 2025–26 concentrating on emergency hotlines, rapid-response services, video surveillance, and advancements in policing.

Legislations such as the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005, the POCSO Act addressing child crimes, and strengthened sections relating to intimate partner violence have been implemented for a significant time.

Nevertheless, issues with enforcement and delays in prosecution are overwhelming. In 2023, more than 182,000 cases were awaiting investigation, and 2.3 million cases were awaiting trial.

Was the ₹2.3 million said to be earmarked for the safety of women actually utilized, or does it merely exist in official documents? There is minimal noticeable change in reality. It is crucial to question whether this money is truly enhancing the security of women or if it is being discreetly redirected towards political extravagances such as private aircraft, overseas trips, and ceremonial gatherings under the convenient guise of “women’s safety.” If a country is unable to provide even fundamental protection for women despite such financial allocations, it raises significant concerns about its future. This shortcoming is evident on a global scale: India is positioned 131st out of 181 nations on the Women, Peace and Security Index (2025–26), which evaluates justice, inclusion, and safety for women, categorizing it as one of the poorest performers worldwide. At the same time, India ranks 118th out of 147 countries in the World Happiness Report 2025, revealing widespread discontent regarding quality of life, safety, and dignity. These rankings reveal a stark realitywhile governments may announce initiatives and budget allocations, women continue to experience a lack of safety in their homes, public spaces, and workplaces. This situation reflects not just administrative failure; it signifies a constitutional shortcoming in upholding the rights to life, liberty, and dignity.

A State that fails to convert financial resources into safety and policies into protective measures is not only letting down its women but also compromising its ethical and legal integrity.

The actions taken by the government regarding the safety of women reveal a complex and significantly inconsistent scenario. On a positive note, federal crime statistics gathered by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) have added a level of openness and responsibility. Furthermore, the success of specialized task forces and rescue missions has led to the recovery of abducted children in various instances. In some areas, local initiatives like women-only police departments, emergency hotlines, surveillance cameras, and the incorporation of technology into law enforcement have demonstrated limited but observable benefits. Nonetheless, these initiatives are heavily eclipsed by systemic shortcomings. The considerable under-reporting of offenses continues to skew the actual situation, delays in the judicial and investigative processes greatly prolong the quest for justice, and the inconsistency in implementation across different states creates significant risks in safety measures. Most importantly, the lack of real-time and comprehensive data collectionespecially for tracking long-term developments from 2015 to 2025 weaken evidence-driven policy formation, enabling significant oversights in women’s safety to continue unaddressed for prolonged periods.

Tackling the issue of violence against women necessitates urgent and enforceable reforms in legal and policy frameworks instead of mere symbolic actions. Nationwide implementation of fast-track courts for crimes motivated by gender should be established, accompanied by stringent trial timelines to minimize backlog and rebuild trust in legal outcomes. Both federal and state authorities must adhere to specific performance standards, correlating funding with tangible results such as the quality of investigations, rates of convictions, and the efficiency of community policing efforts. Initiatives for prevention should begin at an early stage, incorporating interventions at the community and school levels that include education on gender sensitivity, easily available safe shelter options, and trustworthy local mechanisms for reporting incidents. The accountability of police forces requires enhancement through the establishment of independent oversight organizations, the use of mandatory body cameras, regular audits of community policing practices, and the appointment of liaisons focused on victim support. Lastly, transparency in data management needs substantial improvement, which can be achieved through the annual public disclosure of detailed statistics on missing persons and state-specific action plans that trace back to 2015, facilitating analysis of long-term trends and encouraging evidence-based policy decisions rather than just reactive measures.

India's commitment to fairness and justice is compromised by the alarming increase in violence directed at women and the ongoing kidnappings of girls. Official statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau reveal close to five hundred thousand offenses against women occurring as recently as 2023, paired with ongoing cases of abduction, indicating that just having legal measures in place is insufficient.

An approach that includes legal, social, and political changes is essential at this time. If there is no ongoing accountability and transformative changes implemented, each decade from 2015 to 2025 will seem as though a generation has been wasted due to violence, lawlessness, and stagnant policies. Let this information serve as a crucial alert that the State can no longer overlook. Prior to envisioning any ideological future, the government needs to first carry out its fundamental constitutional responsibility to ensure the safety of women in this nation. Phrases like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” lose their meaning when daughters are taken, violated, and silenced without consequences. Ensuring the welfare of women is not an act of kindness, mere appearance, or a form of propaganda it is an essential duty under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution. A country that fails to secure the dignity, safety, and freedom of its women lacks the moral right to discuss culture, nationalism, or advancement. Until every woman can exist without fear, no slogan, ideology, or political narrative can be deemed valid. The safety of women must transition from being a campaign strategy to becoming the State's utmost priority enforced, accountable, and non-negotiable.

SOURCES@ Women, Peace and Security Index 2025/26 (Global Report), World Happiness Report 2025 (Global Well-Being Data), Crime in India NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau)