Every day, we hear news about crimes against women, which is extremely disheartening. The alarming part is that the number of such cases is increasing day by day, despite ongoing debates on social media and news channels, awareness programs being conducted, and stricter laws being introduced. Yet, nothing seems to be working effectively.
This raises an important question: why have we, as a society, failed to stop these crimes? What are the potential reasons, and more importantly, what are the solutions?
There could be many reasons, but below are some key factors that I believe contribute to crimes against women:
Lack of Quality Education
India’s literacy rate is growing at a good pace. According to data shared by MacroTrends, the literacy rate stands at 76.32%, showing a 7.02% increase since 2011. While this growth is encouraging, it still means that 23.68% of the population remains uneducated, approximately 30–35 crore people, which is a huge number.
Moreover, even among those who are educated, how many truly receive social education? Social education, including awareness about social responsibilities, gender equality, women’s rights, humanity, civic sense, relationships, and more, is equally important but often neglected.
Where education is lacking, crime tends to increase. Therefore, the government needs to develop a comprehensive plan to educate more people across the country, open more schools and colleges, and run structured programs focused on social and moral education.
Unemployment
Unemployment has always been a major issue in India. While providing jobs to every individual may not be feasible, the unemployment rate can certainly be reduced if the government takes stronger action. Everyone needs a stable income to support themselves and their families. Prolonged unemployment can create financial stress within households, which may lead to emotional strain and conflicts between family members or partners.
Politics and Abuse of Power
At times, we hear news of accused individuals escaping punishment due to political influence or power. Such incidents weaken public trust in the system and embolden criminals, as they believe they can evade justice.
Lack of Stricter Enforcement of Laws
Although laws exist to address crimes against women, their implementation often falls short. If existing laws are not proving effective, they need to be made stricter and, more importantly, enforced without bias or delay.
Insufficient Awareness Programs
While we see debates on social media, news discussions, and advertisements related to women’s issues and feminism, more grassroots-level awareness programs are needed. These should reach every village and locality, led by responsible authorities, community leaders, and local administrations.
Need for Greater Alertness and Safety Awareness
Women and girls should be aware that such incidents can happen to anyone and take necessary precautions. Avoid visiting isolated places alone, especially at night, and be cautious while trusting strangers. Predators can be anywhere.
It is also important to inform parents or trusted family members about travel plans and whereabouts. Transparency and communication can help ensure safety.
