<p>Defending the decision to retain the age of consent at 18 in the anti-rape bill, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Tuesday said that the new legislation provides for stricter punishment in crimes against women.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Replying to a debate on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, in the Lok Sabha, Shinde said there should be presence of women personnel at every police station.<br /><br />He said the government had earlier agreed to lower the age of consent to 16 but decided to keep it at 18 following suggestions from political parties.<br /><br />The ordinance promulgated by the government following nationwide outrage over the gang-rape of a young woman in the capital had kept the age of consent at 18, he said.<br /><br />He said there were demands from women groups for treating stalking and voyeurism as separate crimes.<br /><br />"Provisions have been made in a manner that there is fear of law," Shinde said.</p>
<p>Defending the decision to retain the age of consent at 18 in the anti-rape bill, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Tuesday said that the new legislation provides for stricter punishment in crimes against women.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Replying to a debate on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, in the Lok Sabha, Shinde said there should be presence of women personnel at every police station.<br /><br />He said the government had earlier agreed to lower the age of consent to 16 but decided to keep it at 18 following suggestions from political parties.<br /><br />The ordinance promulgated by the government following nationwide outrage over the gang-rape of a young woman in the capital had kept the age of consent at 18, he said.<br /><br />He said there were demands from women groups for treating stalking and voyeurism as separate crimes.<br /><br />"Provisions have been made in a manner that there is fear of law," Shinde said.</p>