7618 Dowry Deaths in 2006

NEW DELHI: More than 6,000 dowry-related cases are registered on an average annually, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the Lok Sabha has been informed.
As per data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in the year 2004 the number of dowry deaths reported were 7,026, in 2005 the figure was 6,787 and in the year 2006 the figure was 7,618.
Cases registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act were 3,592 in 2004, in 2005 it was 3,204 and in 2006 the figure increased to 4,504, Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury told the House.
Chowdhury said, "the National Commission for Women has made certain recommendations in this regard and they are currently under examination."
The minister said that in view of growing incidents of eve-teasing, in January 2006, the Commission had forwarded certain recommendations for amendment of the laws.
The recommendations included new provision regarding unlawful sexual contact and amendment to section 509 IPC. They are under consideration, she said.
To a separate question, Chowdhury said the government is providing grants to Non-Government Organisations under the scheme "An Integrated Programme for Street Children".
On children being forced to become sex workers, she said, "As per the study commissioned by the ministry - 'Girls/women in prostitution in India' - common factors for entry into prostitution are illiteracy, lack of vocational skills, economic distress, migration, consumerism, ill-treatment by parents, desertion by spouse and dejection in love."
She said the ministry was implementing a scheme 'Ujjawals' with a component of preventing trafficking.