Harassment of women up by 23 per cent since Akhilesh took power in Uttar Pradesh



While the world celebrates International Women's Day today, women from Uttar Pradesh have little to celebrate.



Cases of harassment of women have gone up by 23 per cent in the state ever since the Akhilesh Yadav government took over from Mayawati.



Worrying: Since Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav (left) took over from Former Chief Minister Mayawati (right) the harassment of women has gone up



According to a report submitted by the Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission (UPSWC), the number of harassment cases against women has increased by 9,205 during the Samajwadi Party rule.



In reply to a query submitted by a Lucknow-based RTI activist, Urvashi Sharma, the UPSWC said it received 49,265 complaints between March 2012 and November 2013 - the first 21 months of the Akhilesh Yadav government - of which only 13,429 cases were disposed of by the commission.



It received 40,060 complaints between June 2010 and February 2012 - the last 21 months of Mayawati's rule - and had disposed of 28,952 cases.



"While the rate of disposal of cases was 72 per cent during Mayawati's rule, it came down to 27 per cent during Akhilesh's rule.



"Contrary to popular belief that Women Commission helps the victims in their fight against crime till it reaches its logical end, the UPSWC has revealed that it neither helps in registration of FIRs nor does it keep any record of FIRs registered with the police," Sharma said.

