There is an old saying that circulates widely as a quote and meme: “The trees kept voting for the axe, because its handle was made of wood and they thought it was one of them.” The metaphor is simple but powerful. It warns of the danger of misplaced trust in believing that those who claim to represent you will ultimately protect your interests.
In the context of modern India, this analogy resonates unsettlingly when we consider the state of women’s safety. Even as political narratives invoke the language of “Nari Shakti” and campaigns like “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao,” the reality shown by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data tells a different story.
Crimes against women continue to increase across several states, including those governed by parties that promote these very slogans. The tragic report of a 90-year-old woman allegedly raped in Madhya Pradesh on the eve of International Women’s Day highlights this painful contradiction.
When rhetoric about protecting women exists alongside a persistent pattern of violence and institutional failure, the nation should feel a sense of frustration and urgency about trusting promises that are not fulfilled.
At the same time, news that a controversial Dera chief has been acquitted in a 2002 murder case has reignited questions about the credibility of institutions tasked with delivering justice. When such developments coincide with national celebrations of women’s empowerment, they compel citizens to ask a fundamental question: which direction is India/Bharat really heading?
The NCRB Reality: State-Wise Crime Patterns
The NCRB’s “Crime in India” report provides detailed statistics, showing over 4.4 lakh cases of crimes against women annually, including rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, dowry harassment, kidnapping, trafficking, and harassment, emphasising the scale of the issue.
However, the national total conceals important state-specific patterns that highlight where the problem is most severe. Certain states consistently record the highest number of crimes against women.
Uttar Pradesh frequently tops the list in absolute numbers, followed by Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.
Although larger populations partly account for the numbers, the pattern remains troubling. When crimes are measured by rate per lakh women, several states still have alarmingly high rankings. Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Assam often report crime rates well above the national average.
Madhya Pradesh repeatedly appears in NCRB statistics as one of the states with the highest rape cases annually, and the recent assault on a nonagenarian woman underscores a systemic problem that continues to threaten the country’s safety, not just an isolated incident.
The Political Paradox
Over the past decade, the slogan “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” has been widely promoted as a flagship initiative to protect and empower the girl child. The campaign emphasises education, gender equality, and safety.
Yet, the contradiction between rhetoric and reality cannot be ignored. Several states that consistently report the highest numbers of crimes against women are governed by the same political establishment that champions the campaign. This is not merely a partisan observation; it raises a fundamental question of governance. Can slogans replace structural reform? Public awareness campaigns may generate visibility, but they cannot substitute for serious institutional transformation. The safety of women depends on effective policing, swift justice, and a societal culture that does not tolerate gender violence. Without these elements, even the most well-intentioned campaigns risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative.
Law and Order: A State Responsibility
Under the Indian Constitution, law and order remain primarily a State subject. State governments are responsible for policing, criminal investigation, and ensuring public safety. Therefore, when crimes against women increase sharply in particular states, accountability cannot be indefinitely avoided.
State administrations must ensure that police forces are adequately staffed, trained, and equipped, or citizens will feel concern and a sense of responsibility to demand accountability.
When offenders believe that the likelihood of a swift investigation and conviction is low due to police inefficiency or judicial delays, a harmful culture of impunity takes hold. To rebuild trust, reforms must include increased police training, better forensic infrastructure, and judicial processes that prioritise timely trials. These steps are essential to restore confidence and deter future crimes.
The Judiciary and the Crisis of Public Confidence
Justice is the second pillar of deterrence. A criminal justice system that delivers timely and fair judgments sends a powerful signal that society will not tolerate violence against women. Unfortunately, India’s judicial system faces significant challenges.
The slow pace of criminal trials often leads to disappointment and a call for urgent judicial reforms to restore faith in justice for victims of violence against women.
The acquittal of controversial figures in long-running criminal cases, whether due to lack of evidence or procedural errors, often fuels the perception that influence and power can sway judicial outcomes. Whether justified or not, such perceptions diminish public trust in institutions and weaken the moral authority of the justice system.
Social Degeneration or Institutional Failure?
Crimes like the rape of a ninety-year-old woman reflect more than individual criminal acts. They expose a deeper societal disease.
India has long taken pride in its cultural traditions that honour women as embodiments of Shakti, the divine feminine energy. From the worship of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati to the symbolic reverence for Bharat Mata, the cultural narrative elevates women to the highest spiritual respect.
Yet the same society continues to witness female foeticide, domestic violence, sexual assault, dowry deaths, and honour killings. The contradiction is glaring.
A civilisation that reveres goddesses but fails to protect living women must face a harsh reality: cultural reverence alone is insufficient. To bridge this gap, society must promote gender-sensitive education, challenge patriarchal norms, and enforce laws against violence. Only through active social change can respect for women become a lived reality rather than just ritualistic symbolism.
The Political Economy of Silence
Another troubling aspect of crimes against women is their tendency to be politicised. When horrific incidents happen, the response usually follows a predictable pattern. Political parties blame each other, ideological groups defend their views, and the outrage gradually fades as the news cycle moves forward.
In this environment, the victim’s suffering risks being overshadowed by partisan narratives. A crime against a woman becomes a tool for political gain rather than a call for systemic change. The victim’s suffering should never be used as a political tool. A crime against a woman is not an occasion for political gain; it demands collective responsibility and institutional reflection.
Reports circulating in the public domain during the recent Holi celebrations also highlighted another troubling aspect of the issue. Social media videos and various news reports suggested that Uttar Pradesh Police detained Hindutva activist Daksh Chaudhary after allegedly harassing women during Holi celebrations, and he was subsequently released on bail.
While the full facts of the case remain under investigation and some details are based on incomplete reporting, the incident sparked widespread debate online. For many observers, the episode reinforced concerns that individuals who publicly support cultural or political causes should also be held to the same standards of accountability under the law.
When accusations of harassment intersect with political identity or ideological affiliation, it intensifies public cynicism about whether justice is applied consistently.
What the NCRB Data Reveals
The NCRB statistics provide several key insights into violence against women in India.
A notable pattern is that in most rape cases, the accused is known to the victim. Family members, acquaintances, neighbours, or friends are often involved. This challenges the common belief that strangers mainly commit sexual violence in public places.
Another important insight is that domestic violence is the largest category of crimes against women. Cruelty by husbands or relatives consistently accounts for the highest share of cases reported in the NCRB data.
Experts also believe that underreporting is widespread. Social stigma, fear of retaliation, and distrust of law enforcement discourage many victims from filing complaints. As a result, official statistics may reflect only a small portion of the actual incidents occurring across the country.
The Moral Cost to the Nation
India aims to become a major global power—an economic giant, a technological hub, and a leading voice in global governance. However, the safety and dignity of women remain key indicators of the nation’s moral and social well-being.
Crimes against women impose serious costs on society. They undermine social unity, erode trust in institutions, and damage the country’s global image. Most importantly, they cause deep psychological trauma to victims and their families.
When vulnerable individuals like children or elderly women fall victim to sexual violence, the crime goes beyond the individual. It represents a collective moral failure.
The Way Forward
If India truly wishes to honour the ideal of Nari Shakti, meaningful change must go beyond rhetoric.
Police reforms must ensure professional, gender-sensitive investigations and rapid response mechanisms for complaints of violence against women. Judicial reforms are necessary to accelerate trials and deliver timely justice. Educational initiatives must address deep-rooted societal attitudes that perpetuate gender discrimination.
Political leadership must also demonstrate genuine accountability. Campaigns intended to empower women should be judged not by slogans but by measurable improvements in safety, the delivery of justice, and social attitudes.
Conclusion
International Women’s Day should be a celebration of dignity and progress. Yet the brutal assault on a 90-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh serves as a stark reminder that India continues to struggle with ensuring the safety of its women.
The NCRB statistics reveal uncomfortable truths that cannot be ignored. States with the highest crime rates must confront these realities honestly and urgently.
Political rhetoric cannot replace good governance. Institutional accountability cannot be substituted for slogans.
If India genuinely wishes to honour Nari Shakti, it must build a society where every woman, young or old, can live without fear, where justice is swift, and where respect for women is demonstrated not just in words but in daily actions.
Until then, the question will keep echoing across the nation: Are we truly a civilisation that reveres women, or merely one that claims to?