Safety of women in Delhi matter of great concern: Sheila Dikshit

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today expressed serious concern over the safety of women in the national capital and said the prevailing situation is not at all acceptable.

"It is a matter of great concern. It is not at all acceptable," Dikshit said when her comments were sought on the findings of a study which said the city is unsafe for women even during daytime.

Dikshit said her government would intensify campaign to prod the people of the city to contribute in their own little ways to make women feel secure.

"We will do whatever we can like intensifying campaign to make the people aware about the issue," Dikshit said.

The study conducted by Centre for Social Research (CSR) on rape cases said women are not safe even during daytime in the city

It is based on 58 FIRs lodged by rape victims in Delhi between January 2009 and July 2011 and medical-legal reports of doctors.

According to the study, as many as seven rape incidents took place between 6 AM to noon, 17 cases between noon and 6 PM and 14 victims were raped between 6 PM and midnight.

The study also claims 18 women were battered in some form or the other every hour across the country with 13 cases of statutory rape (below 10 years) and 18 cases of school or college level girls being raped. The age group of the accused varied from below 18 years to above 50 years of age.