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Minister of State of Home Affairs Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said the government attaches the highest importance to the matter of prevention and control of crime against women. In written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Singh said: "Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a detailed advisory to all State Governments/UTs, wherein they have been, inter-alia, advised to adopt appropriate measures for swift and salutary punishment to the persons found guilty of violence against women and children, improve the quality of investigations, minimize delays in investigations of crime against women, set up 'Crime against Women Cells' in districts, advised to undertake gender sensitization of the police personnel, special women courts and initiate steps for security of women working in night shifts at call centers." "Majority of the States/UTs have established 'Women Cells'. Some States/UTs have also set up 'All Women Police stations' at district level and 'Mahila/children help desk' at police station level," he added. Jitendra Singh further said: "As per Seventh Schedule, 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Constitution, and as such the primary responsibility of prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution of crimes, including crimes against women lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations." "The Delhi Police has issued orders u/s 144 Cr. P.C. directing the BPOs, Corporate and Media Houses for taking certain steps for the safety and security of the women employees like ensuring that they do not travel alone in the cab and are dropped right at their door steps and accompanied by Security Guards," he added. The Minister of State of Home also said that as per information provided by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), data regarding criminal cases against working women particularly those working during the night hours is not maintained centrally by NCRB.

Preventive measures to control crime against women: Home Ministry