There have been 54 gang-rapes recorded in newspapers in India between 14 Sep 2020 and Oct 15 2020. That is, from the day of the Hathras gang-rape incident, 186 men (including at least one woman) have been involved in the collective rape of 54 victims. Of these victims,

I have been able to identify 13 as Dalit, 4 as adivasi/tribal, 1 as EBC, 1 as Muslim and 1 as speech impaired. All victims are female. 26 of these victims are minors.

The total number of gang-rapes recorded through newspapers/media in India that I have managed to triangulate for Oct 2020's first fortnight alone is 30. That is averaging at 2 gang-rapes a day, at least.

Note: The actual number is probably far more.

While public protest about rape focuses attention on this issue and forces the state to confront it, I am afraid we need more than a few policy changes to counter this epidemic. We need a massive system reboot to take care of this issue. It is just too much.

The reason we as women are on the back foot on this one is because for decades now the real threat and extent of damage done to victims is revealed too late. The data is delayed, we don't have an alert system for women at the local level, we don't have sex-offender registries.

We don't have forensic labs in every district, or those promised rape-crisis centres. We don't have designated clinics solely for administering rape kits.

We need all of this and much more.

Also, India, you're raising your sons wrong.

Gang-Rapes 2020, state-wise incidents until Oct 15, 2020

Incidents recorded for 2020 (monthly).