Interstate disparity in the performance of controlling crime against women in India: efficiency estimate across states

Abstract

The present study attempts to analyse the performance of controlling the total crime against women of 27 major states in India, considering two decadal time periods, namely, 2001 and 2011, by comparing the crime control efficiency of these states. The estimation of the technical efficiency across states and overtimes is performed by application of the stochastic production frontier techniques on decadal panel data. Hausman test ensures that random effects model is appropriate for panel regression analysing. The results show that not all states with better crime control indicators have efficient control over crime against women. The results also reveal that poor women are more vulnerable to crime, whereas political empowerment enables women to avoid crime. Again, higher female literacy rate gives the voice to the women to protest any crime against her. Finally, the study concludes that investment for maintaining the law and order alone would not result in better control of crime against women. Efficient management of the investment is also required.