Patna,(BiharTimes): Workplaces in Bihar are increasingly becoming unsafe for women and crime against them has risen much sharply in the recent years.

According to study “Holding Up half the sky: Myth and Reality” jointly conducted by Equity Foundation Patna and Actionaid Bihar crime against women has increased by about 65 per cent in the three years period between 2008 and 2011, placing it on top among all states.

More than 870 cases of rape were reported in police in the state in 2012. Forty-five rape cases were registered in Patna alone, but chargesheets were filed only in 10 cases. About 85 per cent of rural households do not have toilets, which has also contributed to the rise in rape cases. Only 24.2 per cent families in Bihar have toilets.

The report said there were 6,186 registered cases of crime against women in 2008. The figure was 10,231 in 2011.

About 56 per cent of women in the state aged between 15 and 49 years were subjected to physical and sexual violence as against the national average of 35 per cent.

The report quoting, National Crime Records Bureau figures, said Bihar stands second in terms of dowry deaths and women abduction.

It also said that more than 1,000 cases of rape and sexual assault are pending in courts of Bihar due to paucity of fast-track courts.

Though Bihar has given 50 per cent reservation to women in urban and rural civic bodies, yet they faces several problems during the electoral process, and even after election. They are often threatened and their close family members are even beaten up and killed. Their husband are often implicated in false cases, the report said.

In many panchayats it is the husbands who call the shot and wife work only as rubber stamp. Besides, the percentage of women in Assembly and Parliament is still very low. For example, there are only 36 woman MLAs in Bihar out of total 243. This is just about 14 per cent. There are only three MPs out of 40 from Bihar.

The 20-page study said “Fresh graduates from universities are the most vulnerable targets at the workplace.