Women comprise only 6% of India's police forces. Which begs the question: why?

Incidences of crime against women in India are growing rapidly, which means there is a great need for more women officers in the police forces, who will help those women who come forward to report such incidents.

However, a report by the Indian Express shows that there are only about one lakh policewomen in the country's entire force - that is, just about six per cent. This is despite the fact that Home Ministry's advisories to states since 2009 have set a minimum target of 33 per cent representation of women in the police forces.

Here are some startling numbers:

- The representation of women in the force came down to 4.2 per cent in 2010 from six per cent in 2009. After that, it gradually increased and stood at 6.1 per cent in 2014.

- The exact number of policemen in the country is 1,05,325. About 81 per cent serve as constables, 7.8 per cent as head constables, 5.4 per cent as sub-inspectors, 3.4 per cent as assistant sub-inspectors and only 1.2 per cent as inspectors.

- Chandigarh has the highest number of policewomen with 14.2 per cent, followed by Tamil Nadu at 12.4 per cent, Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 11.2 per cent, Himachal Pradesh at 11 per cent and Maharashtra with 10.5 per cent.

- The lowest representations are 0.9 per cent in Assam, 1.1 per cent in Nagaland, 2.9 per cent in Meghalaya, 3.1 per cent in Jammu & Kashmir and 3.3 per cent in Tripura.

- The report also shares figures regarding crimes against women and shows that Delhi has the highest cognisable crime rate (169.1) and the highest number of reported incidents of rape (23.2 per one lakh women).

- Tamil Nadu emerged as the safest state for women with the rate of cognisable crimes standing at 18.4 and 1.3 incidences of reported rapes per one lakh women.