Freedom from Discrimination 2.14 Women and girls are also victims oftrafficking for prostitution and cheap labour,with most ofthe victims oftrafficking being adolescent girls. According to a study ofthe Central Social Welfare Board(1996),40%ofthe population ofsex workers in six major cities ofIndia were girl children forced into prosdtudon. Further, the practice ofritual dedication ofgirl children to prostitution has been reported from some parts ofthe country, mainly Kamataka and Maharashtra. 2.15 Crimes against women are another indicator ofthe status ofwomen in a society.The crime statistics made available by the National Crime Records Bureau reveals that cases of sexual harassment and trafficking in girls have been showing an increasing trend over the years. 2.16 According to the latest available report(1998)ofthe National Crime Records Bureau, there was a 40% increase of in cases ofsexual harassment, 15.2% in cases ofdowry deaths, and 29.9% in respect of incidents reported under dowry prohibition in 1998 over the corresponding figures of 1997. Incidents under offences of trafficking in girls registered a substantial(87.2%)increase in 1998 over 1997.The National Crime Records Bureau report pointed out that, crimes against women in 1998 in all oflndia worked out to 28.1 incidents per lakh ofthe female population.The report stated that though this rate ofcrime did not appear to be alarming at first sight, it should be "viewed with caution,as a sizeable number of crimes against women go unreported due to the social stigma attached to them." 2.17 The existence ofsexualharassmentatthework place has received increasingattention inrecentyears.In a path-breaking case,' the Supreme Courtlaid doivn guidelines and norms to curb this social evil. In accordance with the directions ofthe Supreme Court in this case, a code ofconduct has been formulatedwhich requires the setting up ofa complaintcommittee in all organizations, both private and government, for investigating complaints ofsexual harassment. 2.18 As maybe concluded from the foregoing, discrimination against women and girls is still a pervasive phenomenon,even though the Constitution hassetitselfagainstdiscrimination based on sex and enjoined the State to act against such discrimination. Despite major initiatives by the State,to end discrimination through legal and policy instruments,to improve the access ofwomen and girls to education, nutrition and health care services, the ground level situation stillshows that much remains to be done.The greater empowermentofwomen and enhanced political participation at all levels ofsuch activity can help to change the scene. While the Constitution oflndia guarantees equality ofopportunity for men and women to participate in the political process and all aspects ofgovernance,the de facto position is that the fulfilmentofthis promise has this far remained illusory.The 73"^ and 74''* Amendments to the Constitution provided for increased participation ofwomen in political institutions 1 Vishakka & On v State of Rajasthan, 1997(6) SCC 241. 7