【2011 Archives】

011 ArchivesUS has it. The UK and Ireland have it. And now, an Indian state will have it too.

The southern state of Kerala has announced the institution of a Sex Offenders Registry following increasing attacks on women in the state. With this, it becomes the first Indian state to put out identification details of sex offenders in public domain, The News Minutereports.

It all started when a popular Kerala actress was reportedly abducted and molested in her car, an incident that led to outrage in the film industry and political parties.And last month, when a convicted pedophile was arrested in the national capital of Delhi, there were demands for a National Sex Offenders Registry.

Citizens joined the chatter over the last week and one "angry" woman started a petition on Change.org. So far, it has received close to 60,000 signatures, including that of noted Kerala filmmaker Anjali Menon, who played her part in spreading the word.

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The petition titled 'India Must Have a National Sex Offenders Registry' appeals to Union Minister For Women & Child Development Maneka Gandhi "to start a National sex offenders registry to track those convicted of sex offences."

It goes on... "If there is a list compiled by the National Crime Bureau with all the records of convicted sex offenders, it will ensure that rapists and sexual assaulters are not employed by schools and are tracked throughout their life."

India has a problem with crimes against women, what The Daily Beastcalled a rape crisis. According to one report, there were 6 rapes and 15 molestation happening each day till 2015. Another report pegged crimes against women at over 0.33 million annually.

And this is only the crimes that get reported. Most of it goes unreported and unacknowledged still owing to societal prejudice. Despite that, India ranks fourth in the global list of highest rape crimes.

The Kerala Governor said that the increasing immunity of sex offenders due to lack of social deterrence was a growing concern all over the country. And he has a point.

Hence, this unprecedented move.

Indian citizens have hailed it. Some have even called for its "nationwide" implementation.

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Good luck, India!