All Women Police Stations (AWSPs)

Why in news?

• The Haryana government inaugurated 21 all women police stations (AWPSs), one for each state district.
• These police stations, each with a total strength of 30 policewomen, will deal with a range of crimes against women, including rape, molestation, offences under the anti-dowry act, fraudulent marriages and others. 

Background:

• 1973 - first in Kozhikode
• 1990s - Tamil Nadu
• Now - over 500 in India

Significance:

• More focused approach (e..g - Mahila Bank)
• More comfortable for women to report crime

Evaluation:

• From the numbers the NCRB puts out, AWPSs have not been able to stem the rising graph of crimes against women. 
• In Tamil Nadu, which has the largest number of AWPSs in the country, the incidence of crimes against women is low compared to other states, but has risen since 1995. 
• Anecdotal evidence suggests that Tamil Nadu AWPSs, primarily meant to deal with dowry cases, see dispute “resolution” as their main function. 
• As a result, they tend to turn into kangaroo courts, as prone to corrupt practices as their male counterparts. 
• The policewomen, as much as policemen, lack professional training in handling crimes against women and depend on custom rather than law to deal with complaints.