Union Government moots setting up of dedicated investigative unit on crimes against women

If a new proposal mooted by the Union Home Ministry’s fructifies, we may soon have dedicated investigative units set up across the country, to exclusively probe crimes against women such as rape, dowry death and acid attacks, which would also have 1/3^rd representation for women.  

Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh

The Union Home ministry has recently mooted the idea of setting up of dedicated investigative units on crimes against women (IUCAW) in 20% of the districts in each state, and expressed willingness to bear half of the financial burden for the same. The units, each of which will have 33% representation of women in its staff, shall help augment the investigative machinery of the states as regards heinous crimes against women and encourage women to lodge complaints of offences targeted at the fairer sex.

Union Home minister Mr. Rajnath Singh, in a recent letter to all state chief ministers, mooted the setting up of 150 such IUCAW units in most crime-prone districts, on a pilot basis. These units will entail an annual expenditure of Rs 84 crore, of which Rs 42 crore will be borne by the Centre.

Singh, while emphasizing on the need to strengthen investigation, prosecution and trial of crimes against women, told the chief ministers that the IUCAW units may comprise 15 personnel, of which five may preferably be women. The states will have flexibility to decide whether to create new posts or designate staff from the existing police strength.

As per the home ministry's proposal, each IUCAW will be headed by an additional SP assisted by two DSPs. “Of the total 2,250 personnel required for the 150 IUCAWs, 750 will be women," a ministry release said on Monday.

The objective of the dedicated IUCAWs, as envisioned by the Union Home Ministry, is to investigate cases referred to them; augment the investigative machinery of the states in relation of heinous crimes against women such as rape, dowry death and acid attacks; encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint; and improve the gender ratio in the state police forces, which was adversely impacting effective implementation of laws relating to women. 

Mr. Rajnath Singh also emphasized that the units would perform additional functions such as proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tacking organized crime, monitoring proper implementation of the legislative provisions, awareness generation and promotion of community participation in checking crimes against women.