According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Andhra Pradesh has one of the country’s highest rates of crimes against women. While the state has been in the news for a series of acid attacks on women, the state commission for women claims that Andhra tops in sexual harassment cases at the workplace, especially in government offices and the IT sector.

The Commission received 28 cases of harassment at workplaces, mostly in government departments, between March 1 and July 31, 2009. Between January and July 31 this year, 17 acid attack cases occurred in the state.

While the state is contemplating a special legislation to deal with acid attacks to ensure stringent punishment for the accused, the existing laws against sexual harassment and dowry demands don’t seem to be a deterrent.

According to the NCRB, the state has the worst record of crimes against women with 24,738 cases, including 613 dowry deaths and 1,070 rape cases in 2007-2008. Hyderabad recorded 1,931 crimes against women, making it the most unsafe city after Delhi. In 2008-09, the state recorded 930 rape cases and 345 dowry deaths. In addition, there are up to 12,000 domestic violence cases annually.

K Rajalakshmi, project director of the District Women and Child Development Agency in Hyderabad — which deals in all cases related under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 — says that alcoholism and the depiction of violence against women in the Telugu film industry compound the problem. “We receive at least three cases a day. Reasons such as alcoholism and dowry demands lead to domestic violence, with women ending up abused and battered.” In all, the state

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