In
particular, the torturous treatment endured by the women of
Uttar Pradesh stands out. The National Human Development
Report 2001 ranks UP as the most unsafe state for women in
India. The state with 13.4% of the crime against women,
ranks first among 27 states and five Union territories and
had its share With 20,227 cases of crime against women. It
is appalling to believe that in one single year any civil
society can inflict on its women, 2211 dowry deaths,
1958rapes, 2870 molestations, 2575 sexual harassment and
2879 kidnapping and abductions. The National Crime Records I
Bureau Report 2002 has released aforesaid set of spine
chilling statistics. Once again we have been forced to
contemplate the need to synchronize ourselves and combat the
forces which plague the state and which repress and instill
fear into the lives of women.
What
it is that ails the State has been a matter of mystery to
many. From UP came thousands of social reformers and
religious thinkers, it is the land of gods and goddesses,
the cradle of dozens of arts, literature, legendary men and
women and holy waters. Yet none of the goodness and majesty
of the state is reflected in its consideration towards
women. If this were not the case, we would not have needed
to make such efforts to equip and inform our girls and women
to combat the violence that they experience. This directory
is one such attempt to help my sisters in the State of Uttar
Pradesh, and my Team and I dedicate it to them.
I
would like to acknowledge the hard work and involvement of
all those who have been associated with the preparations of
the Directory: Sudhir Rai, Murari Chandra, Sanjay Chauhan,
Kamlesh Premi, Dorothy Komal, Raghav, Binod, Prabha Singh
and Mr. Rajni Kant. I would like to give a special word of
thanks to Dr. Milly chatterjee for coordinating this
project.
I
extend my thanks to all the organizations, both Govemmental
and Non govemmental! the District and State Administrations
for cooperating with the Team and providing all the
necessary information required for the successful completion
of this work.
Dr.
Ranjana Kumari, Director
