In a shocking revelation, Kohima and Dimapur have emerged as most unsafe for women as the State’s highest number of crimes against women was reported from these two districts. This was stated in a report “Gender Statistics 2017-18” released by the directorate of economics & statistics on the occasion of National Statistics Day on Saturday.
The report mentioned that, in recent years, crime against women in the State had witnessed a spurt, especially cases like harassment, rape, abduction, murder and outraging of modesty.
In 2017, there were three cases each of harassment and murder, 15 cases of rape, three cases of kidnapping and abduction and 10 cases of outraging of modesty. Interestingly, maximum women in the age group of 18-30 years and 30-50 years were also arrested for crimes related to activities under special and local laws (SLL), including Immoral Traffic Act, Excise Act, NDPS Act and Explosives Act, during this period. While 24 women were arrested in 2017 under SLL, two were arrested under Excise Act and 19 for other crimes. Further, there were 52 female prisoners in 2017, of which 47 were released the same year. The report stated that 19 women were arrested under different sections of IPC, of which six cases were related to cheating, one to murder, one to robbery and six for other crimes.
According to the report, women comprised 30.35% of the total government employees, whereas the men comprised the remaining 69.65%. Also, the percentage of women in various categories of government jobs were as follows – Class I: 37%, Class – II: 31 %, Class – III: 26 % and Class – IV: 36%.
Female participation (voters) in general election witnessed an increase from 80.51% in 1969 to 91.33% (with five female candidates) during the 12th general election in 2013. Two women had contested the 6th and 7th Parliamentary polls in 1977 and 1980, with one managing to get elected in 1977.
Strength of women in police force: There were seven senior officers and 238 junior officers (sub-inspector rank and below) in civil police force, and four senior officers and 178 junior officers (from sub-inspector and below) in armed/reserved police in 2016-17.
Quoting employment exchange report, the report mentioned that 34.19 % of the total registration was women in 2011, which decreased to 34.09% in 2017. Dimapur district recorded the highest number of women registration in employment exchange. In 2014-15, female employment constituted 25.54% of the total employment and Phek district had the highest percentage of female employees in public sector, while Mon district had the highest female percentage of female employees in private sector.
In health sector, Nagaland had the lowest Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), compared to national IMR.
IMR had reduced substantially from 1.58 in 2011 to 0.17 in 2014, indicating improvement in health mechanism for infants.