International Day of the Girl Child: NCRB data paints a grim picture for Delhi

Delhi, India’s Capital, mirrors the country’s social and economic complexities — from rapid urbanisation to widening inequalities. The latest NCRB report for 2023 lays bare these challenges, revealing disturbing trends in crimes against women and children.

The city reported 13,366 cases of crimes against women, the highest among metropolitan cities, and 6,284 cases of missing children, signalling a significant concern. On the other hand, the national capital also recorded the most number of cases against minor girls, under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with 1,631 incidents involving 1,634 victims. Out of these, 1,048 were cases of rape of 1,050 minor girls, the highest among the country’s 20 metropolitan cities.

Among missing children, girls accounted for 69.5% of the total number at 8,572, with the total number of the missing (including previous years’ untraced cases) bringing the total (including untraced cases from previous years) to 12,324. However, in 2023, the proportion of girl victims fell slightly to 69.4%.

Damning statistics

Delhi ranks among the top five states for missing children, with West Bengal leading at 21,661 cases. The pattern remains similar here too, with girls accounting for over 80% of the missing cases. Among Union Territories, Delhi reported the highest number of such cases.

Across India, a total of 1,77,335 cases of crimes against children were registered in 2023 — an increase of 9.2% over 2022, when 1,62,449 cases were recorded. The crime rate rose from 36.6 per one lakh children in 2022 to 39.9 in 2023.

In percentage terms, the major offences under ‘Crimes Against Children’ in 2023 were kidnapping and abduction (79,884 cases, 45%) and sexual offences under the POCSO Act (67,694 cases, 38.2%).

Victim demographics show that 762 were aged below six years, 3,229 between six and 12 years, 15,444 between 12 and 16 years, and 21,411 between 16 and 18 years, bringing the total number of child victims to 40,846 — most of them girls in rape-related cases.

In 40,434 cases, offenders were known to the victims in 39,076 instances, including family members (3,224 cases), family friends, neighbours, employers, or other known persons (15,146 cases), and friends, online acquaintances, or live-in partners promising marriage (20,706 cases).

These figures include 40,434 cases of penetrative sexual assault (Sections 4 and 6 of the POCSO Act, often combined with IPC Section 376 for rape), affecting 40,846 victims. Aggravated sexual assault and harassment (Sections 8 and 10 of the POCSO Act, along with IPC Section 354) followed with 22,444 cases.

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Kidnapping, abduction

Kidnapping and abduction emerged as the largest contributor, with 79,884 IPC cases reported, victimising 82,106 children — a rate of 18 per one lakh. Over 58,927 were general abductions, including 37,844 instances where missing children were deemed kidnapped. Notably, 14,637 cases involved the abduction of minor girls to force marriage.

Other major IPC crimes included 1,219 murders (1,384 victims) — 89 of them linked to rape or POCSO violations — 3,050 cases of simple hurt, and 373 cases of abetment to suicide. Special and Local Laws (SLL) added further to the tally, including 6,038 cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and 1,390 under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

Police initiative

To counter these trends, Delhi Police’s ‘YUVA’ programme is engaging youth in skill development and community service to steer them away from crime. Cybersecurity awareness drives have been launched to educate the public on online threats, while dedicated helplines and patrolling units aim to enhance women’s safety. Delhi Traffic Police have intensified enforcement through stricter penalties, increased surveillance, and public awareness campaigns to reduce accidents and fatalities.

When compared to other metropolitan cities, Delhi leads in several worrying indicators. The city reported 503 murder cases, far exceeding Bengaluru’s 206 and Jaipur’s 129. While the national capital has the highest per capita cybercrime complaints, Bengaluru reported the most cases in absolute numbers. Delhi’s figures for crimes against women also exceed those of other metros, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions.

In terms of traffic accidents, the Capital reported the highest number among major Indian cities, underscoring the need for enhanced road safety measures. The surge in crimes — particularly cybercrimes and offences against women and children — points to deeper issues in policing, judicial processes, and social awareness.

While initiatives such as YUVA and road safety campaigns have raised awareness, a comprehensive approach involving stricter law enforcement, judicial reforms, and community engagement remains essential to address the root causes of crime and improve safety in the national capital.