241 underage girls raped in Mumbai last year

Statistics are shocking! Of the 394 rape cases registered in Mumbai last year, the majority, 241, pertained to underage girls. And from Jan 1 to Jan 26 this year, 26 rape cases were recorded in the city.

This was stated in a written reply by Home Minister RR Patil to a question by Sudhir Mungantiwar (BJP-Ballarpur), Girish Bapat (BJP-Kasba Peth) and others in the legislative assembly on Friday.

Patil said the government had been taking several measures to curb violence against women, including setting up a cell in the Mumbai police commissionerate. Special cells to aid women have also been established in all police stations.

To handle cases of atrocities and rape against women, 13 special courts have been set up, and in addition, 14 special civil courts have been established under a January 17, 2014, government resolution to dispose off cases of violence against women. And the process of setting up 25 fast-track courts has also been initiated.

Patil said a special toll-free helpline (number 103) had been started for women in distress in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai districts. For the remaining districts, the helpline number is 1091.

The women and child development (WCD) department started the 'Manodhairya' scheme in October 21, 2013, to compensate victims of rape, child abuse and acid attacks. The state home department started the victim compensation scheme this April.

The various government departments have also begun work on implementing various recommendations given in the interim report submitted by a committee under Justice (Retd) Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, which was set up to suggest measures to stop crimes against women.