Gender discrimination is the primary factor for growing crime against women even in a progressive state like Maharashtra.  

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The economic survey for 2010-11 states that 46.2% of the crimes registered against women were because of cruelty by husbands and relatives. The survey stressed how despite legal safeguards women in the society, including those in the working sector, continue to suffer.

The statistics show that Maharashtra ranks fifth highest in crime against women in the country. At 7.4% crime rate against women it is below only Andhra Pradesh (12.5%), Uttar Pradesh (11.4%), West Bengal (11.4%) and Madhya Pradesh (7.8%).

A source in the home department said, “The higher figures also display how conscious women are about their rights — the number of complains registered by women against the crime, both domestic and social, are brought to the police stations. Bihar, Haryana and Delhi etc appear ahead possibly because cases are not brought to the police station for registration. 

The skewed sex ratio with decline in the number of females per 1,000 male population remains to be effectively tackled by the state administration.  The concept of gender bias remains even in the economically forward region of state.

The survey also points out how often various crimes like murder, robbery are not categorised as crime against women. But women are more likely to be easy targets. The survey calls for a greater emphasis on women empowerment to enable them in decision making at home, work and politics.