The Indian government has been under pressure by women's human rights activists to take action to protect women since the gang rape in December which resulted in the death of a young woman. Home Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde recently gathered law enforcement officials from around the country to consider how to improve protection for women.
In response, officials have planned to recruit women for every police station in Delhi, and to increase the number of police women across the country. In addition, a committee led by a retired Supreme Court Justice is expected to draft amendments to the law on rape. And, a new special fast-track court has been established to deal with cases of murder, rape, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence.
Additional measures include more police patrols at night, checks on bus drivers and their assistants, banning tinted windows and curtains in the buses, and a telephone hotline for women. Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said “A serious message needs to be sent in dealing with such heinous crimes.”