National Poll on rape: 100 percent want stricter laws

The State of the Nation survey conducted by CNN-IBN after the brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old in New Delhi has revealed that the nation thinks laws against rape are not strict enough, and it blamed the police for cities being unsafe.

The poll was conducted by Gfk mode in ten cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chennai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bangalore and Kochin — between 7 and 12 January. A total of 2,617 persons above the age of 18 were interviewed.

The poll saw 100 percent of respondents saying punishment for rape accused should be increased.

For the most suitable punishment for crimes against women, like rape, 50 percent voted for death penalty, 23 percent voted for chemical castration, 14 percent advocate life imprisonment, while 11 percent wanted the rapist to be stoned or flogged in public.

On who is to blame for such crimes in the country, majority held the police responsible for justice not being delivered for crimes against women with seven percent blaming corrupt lawyers, 16 percent blamed slow process of the Indian justice system, 17 percent held the law itself responsible for such crimes, while 20 percent blamed the police for in efficiency and corruption. However, 40 percent of the respondents held the entire system responsible.

Though half of the respondents felt that death penalty should be the punishment for such brutal crimes, 64 percent felt that rapists may kill victims fearing death penalty.

Around 68 percent are of the opinion that death penalty for cases like the Delhi gangrape can stop crimes.

On the issue of speedy justice 89 percent think that time-bound trial is required.

When asked if men are falsely accused of rape in some cases, 64 percent respondents said they are, while 44 percent said men aren’t falsely accused.

A large chunk of people thought that self-defence can be a solution with 92 percent respondents saying that schools and colleges should have compulsory self-defence classes for girls.

While a small group of people are still skeptical, 80 percent of respondents felt that the Delhi gangrape will change the way such cases are dealt with in future.

You can watch the State of the Nation show conducted by Sagarika Ghosh here .