Some statistics
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_percap-crime-total-crimes-per-capita
Like all stats, you can interpret it the way you want. You can argue that crime reporting happens more in developed countries. You can add that the very definition of crime varies by country. Both are valid arguments. On the other extreme, if you are a proud Indian, you would still feel good that for a population of her size, India’s crime rate is remarkably low.
I would make an average of these two extremes and would conclude that the truth is somewhere between these two.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:21 am
PK,
We need to keep in mind that in countries like India, many crimes are not reported for the fear of end results. People need to be courageous in reporting the crimes. Whereas, in western worlds even a slightest verbal teasing is being reported to police and called as crime. In general more than the crimes, how quick the crimes are solved should be also considered. One example. We all know how many countless a person like Auto Shankar would have done. Were they all reported to police. No. Only when the crime went too much beyond the limits and when a leading tamil magazine published the article things came to light. This is just my thought.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am
Balaji sir,
I don’t dispute that statement. That’s why i’ve mentioned that as my points as well.
To add more, there is a clear case of crime rising in New York during the 80s. And the same crime rate decreasing as magnificantly as it went up durig the 90s. The main reason attributed is the law on abortions in the seventies.
The goes to show that crime is a function of increase in disprivileged population, lack of employment, lack of education etc. Idhu ellathileyume India lacks significantly. India houses a third of the world’s poor nu recent a engeyo padichen.
You factor in all these and you might realize that crime in India should be significantly more than what it is even after providing for the lack of reporting, the lack of awareness etc. We can attribute it to the attitude of the people. We can attribute to the history of India.
Same goes for traffic rules. Any foreigner will fear an accident every 100 mts in Indian city and yet nothing happens for the most part.
Thats why I say the truth is somewhere in the middle.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:31 am
If one has to consider giving or taking bribe is a crime, 100 crores of us are criminals. We dont report sexual abuses, child abuses. Adhellam vidu bus train la ladies poga mudiuma without facing a crime?
In my opinion indian society is in such a dire state, but I dont know what might be the solution. Porukigal dhan arasiyal vadhigal. They rule us. Pei aatchi seidhal pinam thinnum saathirangal!
September 1st, 2008 at 2:05 am
PB
Neenga solra edhayum naan dispute pannalai.
Oru country ku three kinds of growth and development are very impt - social, political and economical. I leave it to your judgement in terms of where we are in all the three in the 60 years of independence.
Y’day i went to Thiruvotriyur. It looked like Besant Nagar and Thiruvotriyur are two different continents.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
Some other stats about India that I found on the same site:
Most Murderous: 26 / 62
Richest: 140 / 204
Most Populous: 2 / 206
GDP (purchasing power parity) (per capita): 140/204
Most Corrupt: 89 / 160
Murder with Firearms : Not in the list
Most Generous: Not in the list
Most athletic: Not in the list
The most murderous numbers are slightly puzzling when compared with the crime stats that you have posted. Maybe these are pure crimes of passion ?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:05 am
BNB
I did see about the most murderous part y’day. India is in 26th. US is in 24th. Maybe murders are too strong to go unreported, except those committed by police/security forces themselves…
There is such a wide gap between the murder and the gen. crime rate since this is just a sub-set of crime and the other crimes stand higher chances of being ignored as ‘way of life’ as i and others have already commented.
My take is, for the kind of population still below poverty line (one third of the world;s poor live in India nu edhulayo padichen.. not sure), for the kind of social inequalities that exist, not to mention caste tensions, religious tensions, this should’ve been way higher. Idhu yen jasthiya illai na..well.. jasthiya illai…. avlo dhaan.
Epdi namba oorula irukara traffic indiscipline ku accidents innum jasthiya dhaan irukanumo adhu madhiri.
Naan enga company oda code base pathi kelvi pattadhile irundhu solradhu.. ‘idhu epdi innum odudhu?’ nu.. adhey aacharyam enakku India melayum irukku…Ingey innum yen periya level la prachnai varalai na.. well varalai… avlo dhaan…
BTW, naan veli naadu la irundha 3 months la naan thangi irundha hotel la ye thirudu pochu… I did not know this then. the place was so damn calm and peaceful… Che evlo amaidi nu nenechen…
kelambi varaduku oru masam munnadi i noticed that daily night 10 Pm ku cops 3 vandi la vandhu ninuttu irupaanga… I felt really safe there, until someone told the reason cops stay there at night is not exactly for ‘kaathu vaanga…’