The Centre has proposed setting up of separate units to probe crime against women in 714 police districts in the country. This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. He said, the initiative will strengthen the investigative apparatus especially for the heinous crimes against women. The cost will be shared between the States and the Centre on 50:50 basis. <br/><br/>The Minister said, the objective of setting up such units is to augment the investigative machinery of the States relating to the crime against women, especially rape, dowry death, acid attack, human trafficking and domestic violence cases involving brutalisation of women. He said, it will instill confidence and encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint and to improve the gender ratio in the state police forces for effective implementation of the legislations relating to women.<br/><br/>The Minister also informed that one hundred fifty such units have already been established. These units will also provide the additional functionalities of proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tackling organised crime, help in awareness generation and social participation in prevention of crime against women.