33% rise in rape cases of Dalit women in five years

The BJP government is continuously claiming that the condition of Dalits is improving, incidents of Dalit atrocities have come down. By washing the feet of sanitation workers, using Ambedkar’s picture and other symbols, the BJP is claiming to be Dalit friendly in various ways. But the figures tell a different story.

Rajya Sabha MP Jawahar Sarkar asked a question to the Home Ministry about the increasing crimes against Dalits and minorities in the House. To which the written reply was given by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on 20 July 2022.

The figures which he has given in his answer for the last five years are shocking and expose the government propaganda that woos Dalits. Let us see from the point of view of these figures, what has been the status of Dalit oppression in the country in the last five years.

Crime against Dalits increased by 23% in the last five years

According to the written reply given in Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, a total of 40,801 cases of crime against Dalits were registered in 2016, 43,203 in 2017, 42,793 in 2018, 45,961 in 2019 and 50,291 in 2020. Went. Thus we can see that in the last five years there has been a steady increase in the cases of crime against Dalits year after year. While the total number of crimes was 40,801 in the year 2016, it increased to 50,291 in 2020. That is, there has been a 23% increase in crimes against Dalits in the last five years. This is a very worrying situation and is exposing all the claims and propaganda of the government being Dalit friendly.

33% rise in rape cases of Dalit women

It is noteworthy that even among Dalits, Dalit women suffer the power of the so-called upper castes and the most brutal form of the caste system. The Dalit woman’s body is seen as a ground to show manhood, superiority, strength as well as to have fun, teach a lesson and take revenge. Dalit women have been facing horrific cruelty in the last five years. The data presented in the Rajya Sabha confirms that there has been a steady year-on-year increase in rape cases against Dalit women in the last five years. In 2016, 2,541 cases of rape of Dalit women were registered, 2,714 in 2017, 2,936 in 2018, 3,484 in 2019 and 3,372 in 2020. These figures show that there has been an increase of about 33% in the cases of rape of Dalit women in the last five years. That is, one-third increase has been registered. Every day 9 cases of rape of Dalit women are registered.

Justice late and dark

First of all, we have to understand that these numbers are only of those cases which reach the police. There will be many cases which are suppressed and remain unrecorded. We also need to see what is the status of the cases that are registered. Do the victims really get justice? In the year 2020, a total of 50,291 cases of crime were registered against Dalits, out of which only 3,241 cases were sentenced. That is, only 6% of the cases have been punished. Same is the case with rape cases of Dalit women. A total of 3,372 cases of rape of Dalit women were registered in the year 2020. Out of which chargesheets were presented in only 2,959 cases and sentencing in only 225 cases. That is, only in 6% of cases. This figure is raising questions from the police administration to the judicial system and is losing the pole of all government claims.

(The author is a freelance journalist and trainer. You also investigate claims and viral messages related to government schemes.)