TIRUPUR: In the fast developing town of Tirupur, fondly hailed as `Employment Express', the number of crimes against women is on the rise thanks to rapid urbanisation, large-scale migration of workforce and lack of awareness.

The data available at the Tirupur All Women Police Station (AWPS) clearly shows the upward curve in the crime graph. As on October 24, the total number of complaints lodged by women is 820 this year against 581 in the previous year.

Sad fact

``It is a sad fact that the number of elopement cases, pre-marital and extra-marital cases, are high here compared to other places. Till date we have registered 105 cases this year. It was 60 during 2004. Elopement is mostly among migrants,'' says a woman police officer.

Describing this a byproduct of widespread migration to this small town from various parts of Tamil Nadu and the low-level of awareness among women, the officer said that they had registered 12 cases relating to minor girls leaving home without the permission of legal guardians, presumably out of love this year. It was six last year.

0The number of registered cases may be the tip of the iceberg. Numerous small cases might have gone unreported, says another officer.

Special team

The Assistant Superintendent of Police, V. Balakrishnan says that the increasing floating population, lack of fear and awareness among the vulnerable age group of 16-35 are the reasons.

The ASP has formed a Special Team comprising inspector of AWPS, member, district advisory committee for crime against women, counselling expert from NGO and a woman advocate.

It will visit hosiery units and set up sub-committees at unit level to examine cases of sexual harassment.

Tasks before team

The Supreme Court ruling insisted on forming Vishaka sub-committees at every unit, women constituting 20 per cent of its workers. According to sources, the Tirupur police sent circulars to 1,500 export houses and hosiery units last December to which only four responded.

Counselling

Providing counselling to the vulnerable age group, creating awareness among women about their legal rights, offering psychological treatment if necessary are the tasks before the Special Team, the ASP said.

Mobile counselling unit will be reactivated and visit villages to offer aggressive counselling.

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