Around 54 per cent of the 67,000 respondents -- who took part in the four-day nationwide mobile-based survey to voice their opinions on the reasons, preventive measures and punishment for tackling the heinous crime -- favoured making legislations stronger in the fight against such crime, the findings of 'Mira! Woman Empowerment Survey' said.

The study results was conducted with the help of an independent mobile video and media company - Vuclip.

About 17 per cent respondents felt a need for making police more sensitive to handle such cases, while 15 per cent of them demanded a dedicated national helpline for women and only 14 per cent of all respondents felt that setting up fast track courts would help fight crime against women.

"I came across news reports recently citing a 17-year-old survey that said 68 per cent of all judges felt that provocative clothes were an invitation to a sexual assault."

"Well, we decided to do a reality check in today's times. India certainly has moved on. Out of more than 67,000 Indians, only 12 per cent males and females felt that wearing provocative clothes led to an increase in rape in recent years. Almost half of the respondents attributed this increase to declining values and respect for women," said Judith Coley, Vice President of Marketing for Vuclip, who was in India to attend the event.

Almost half of the respondents voted for life term in jail when it came to punishment for rapists, while 26 per cent suggested death penalty.

Only 10 per cent of all respondents demanded a chemical or surgical castration, while 7 per cent felt a need for public branding or tattooing of confirmed rapists, the study said.

Approximately eight per cent of all respondents felt that the current seven-ten year jail term as prescribed by the Indian Penal Code was adequate