Chief Minister MK Stalin said the increase in reported crimes reflected a growing public trust in the police under the DMK government, as more women came forward to lodge complaints.
Published May 02, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated May 02, 2025 | 9:34 AM
Child sexual abuse. (iStock)
Synopsis: Even as reported crimes against women and children keep increasing in Tamil Nadu, an activist called for a change in the state’s patriarchal mindset, besides demanding a support system for victims.
Tamil Nadu witnessed a sharp decrease in reported dowry-related deaths over the four years from 2020, even as cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, increased by more than 100%.
Instances of violence against women and children have provided enough ammunition to the major rival political parties, the AIADMK and DMK, amidst the spike in such acts.
Blame game by the political rivals apart, government statistics over the past six years indicated a consistent increase in crimes against women, irrespective of the party in power.
More alarming is the spike in crime, including sexual violence, against children, as reflected in the Police Policy Note Chief Minister MK Stalin presented in the state Assembly on 28 April.
The year 2024 reported a 59.65% increase in crime against women compared to 2020. In 2020, the state saw 2,025 cases of violence against women, which went to 3,233 in 2024.
Crime against women.
Compared to 2020(2025), the number of crimes against women in 2024 has risen by 59.65% (3233)
POCSO cases showed a quantum jump over the past six years. Even though 2023 was a slight decline to 4,581, the number of registered cases stood at 6,969, up 125.54% from 3,090 in 2020.
The state showed improvement in some categories. Dowry-related deaths decreased from 40 in 2020 to seven in 2024. However, this is not the case with other crimes.
Stalin argued that the increase in reported crimes reflected a growing public trust in the police under the DMK government, as more women came forward to lodge complaints. However, chargesheeting and convictions rates reflected a complex story.
The past six years did not witness chargesheeting crossing the 50% mark, raising the question over the reported crimes.
Chargesheeting rate.
While the government claimed that more women were willing to report injustices because they trusted the system, others questioned whether the infrastructure was capable of ensuring justice and deterring future crimes.
BS Ajeetha, a child and women’s rights activist and lawyer, said there were two ways to interpret the rise in reported crimes.
“One, it could mean awareness campaigns are working and more victims are coming forward. It suggests that only one in four crimes might have previously been reported. But even so, the crimes themselves are continuing unabated. We need to ask — has the focus shifted too much to reporting instead of preventing?” she asked while speaking to South First.
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated funds in its recent budget for installing high-tech surveillance cameras to prevent crimes against women. Initiatives like the Pink Police, 244 All-Women Police Stations across 38 districts, and even robotic police are part of the government’s efforts.
Yet, Ajeetha argued that the state’s approach to women’s safety remained deeply patriarchal.
POCSO cases.
“Women’s safety here is still viewed through the lens of a patriarchal society. If a married woman or one living within a family structure experiences violence and decides to walk out to live independently, there is no government system to support them. For example, if a married woman with children is suffering domestic abuse and decides to leave, there’s no safe shelter or support system available for her,” she pointed out.
The activist added that society apparently expected women to endure abuse within the family structure rather than seeking independence.
“If a woman affected by domestic violence goes to a police station at night, in many places the response is just ‘Come back in the morning.’ As a lawyer, I see this being repeated. Is there a safe place she can stay in Chennai or any town? In rural areas, the situation is even worse,” she said.
Ajeetha stressed that a real change in the trajectory of crimes against women and children could happen only if the state shed its patriarchal mindset and adopted a progressive, rights-based approach. This included awareness, infrastructure, and proactive safety mechanisms.
“No government so far has focused on changing the deeply patriarchal attitude of society. Even today, public awareness is such that people believe that going to the police won’t bring any resolution. We still see ministers making derogatory remarks about women. That tells you where we are,” she added.
Ajeetha called for a cultural transformation and deep-rooted social awareness to curb crimes against women and children.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
