Before "Damini's" death, the prime minister called assuring women's safety his government's "highest concern." He said women's emergence in public "is accompanied by growing threats to their safety and security."

"Women and girls represent half the population, and our society has not been fair to this half," Singh said in a speech Thursday. "Their socio-economic status is improving, but gaps persist."

The Indian government announced plans Thursday to "name and shame" convicted rapists by posting their names, images and addresses on official websites, according to the Times of India.

And the Cabinet plans to set up a commission to look into rape cases and suggest measures to improve women's safety. This group has three months to submit its report to the government. Singh said his "government is examining, on priority basis, the penal provisions that exist for such crimes and measures to enhance the safety and security of women."

"I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agendas to help us all reach the end that we all desire -- making India a demonstrably better and safer place for women to live in," the prime minister said.