2 WOMEN SAFETY
Ways to Check Crimes at Public Place:
1. Strict enforcement of laws and quick disposal of cases through fast track courts. Family Courts
have been set up in some states to adjudicate cases relating to maintenance, custody and divorce. The Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat (PMLA) evolved by the NCW is an alternative justice delivery system which is part of the Lok Adalats (People’s Courts) for providing speedy justice to women.
2. Strict patrolling and vigilance, particularly during night.
3. Gender sensitisation of the law enforcement agencies, especially the police and the judiciary through periodic training.
4. Community policing initiatives such as Mahila Suraksha Samiti and Women State Committee could help in checking crimes.
5. All-women police stations should be set up in as many states to facilitate the reporting of crime against women. In Tamil Nadu, to encourage women to approach police stations without fear the appointment of one woman sub-inspector and two women police constables in each of the existing police stations is being made mandatory.
6. Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees to create zero
violence zones. This new approach to control violence concentrates on activating Mohalla
Committees (neighbourhood groups) to tackle domestic violence.
7. Training women for self-defence.
8. Setting up of helplines for women in distress. Mobile apps that can raise alarm just by pressing a button in mobile in hour of need could be developed and used.
9. Regulation of public transport vehicles through strict licensing, GPS tracking, route advisory etc.
10. Moral overhauling of the mindset of masses through awareness and education.
B. Safety at Workplace
Women’s workforce participation has decreased from
37% in 1993-94 to 26% in 2009-10 in rural areas. For urban areas it decreased from 17% to 14%. The victimization of women at workplace together with patriarchal mindset has affected percentage of women participation in workforce. As many as 17% of working women in India have experienced sexual harassment at their workplace, according to a survey conducted by Oxfam India.
Initiatives Taken So far
Certain initiatives with regard to safety at workplace have been taken such as:
• The National Commission for Women prepared a Code of Conduct for the work place and circulated the same to all ministries, educational institutions, public and private sector undertakings and various NGOs for information and implementation. The guidelines highlight that it shall be the duty of the employer to prevent or deter the commission of any act of sexual harassment at workplace would include unwelcome sexually determined behaviour by any person either individually or in association with other persons such as eve teasing, unsavoury remarks, jokes causing embarrassment, innuendo and taunts, gender based insults or sexist remarks and unwelcome sexual overtones in any manner, touching or brushing against any part of the body, molestation or displaying pornographic or other derogatory pictures or sayings.
• The University Grants Commission has formulated a code of conduct for students and staff of Universities.
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken action to ensure that all affiliated schools and educational institutions abide by these guidelines.
• All Ministries have set up Complaints Committees to look into such matters.
• The GoI recently passed Sexual Harassment At Workplace Act 2013 in parliament on September 2012.
It is a welcome move, even though it comes 15 years after the landmark VishakaJudgement in which the
Supreme Court categorically said that harassment at workplace is a violation of right of gender equality and right to life and liberty, thus violatingArticle14,15,21.
Issues Concerning Harassment at Workplace
• In many cases, it has been found that the committees within the organizations were set up only when there were serious allegations of sexual harassment. Many working women point out that, even if there is an enquiry committee, does anyone really bother to find out what happens to the victim when the enquiry is going on? She is an object of curiosity, sympathy, disdainful glances or simply isolated by her colleagues. The work environment where sexual harassment occurs has hierarchy, norms, and constraints that profoundly affect the way people behave in that setting.
• The situation at home is worse. Instead of sympathizing with her plight or standing by her, the attitude is one of distrust and suspicion or often humiliation and shame.
• Certain individuals use their positions of relative power to engage in sexual interactions. This type of behaviour clearly constitutes sex discrimination.
• Male ego problems, sexual perversion, sexual obsession, widow-hood etc is said to be some of the reasons for their harassment.
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013
Features of the Act
Limitations
1. It defines sexual harassment as laid down by SC in Vishaka case. (Incorporated in Section 354A of IPC tabulated earlier).
2. It puts the legal responsibility on
the employer, whether government, public sector or private, to provide a safe and conducive environment for the woman worker. The onus is on the employer, and if this is not complied with, the employer is liable for punishment.
3. The provision of concrete
mechanism to enable an inquiry into individual complaints of sexual harassment and time- bound justice through the formation of Internal Complaints Committee in the institution she works or, in the case of unorganised sector (i.e., which employ less than 10 members), through the formation of 5 member local committees at various levels under the supervision of District Collector.
4. The Act include domestic worker and defines it as a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration whether in cash or kind.
5. Those who do not comply with the Act's provisions will be fined up to Rs 50,000. Repeated violation would be punished with higher penalties.
6. At least 50% of nominated members in Internal or Local Committee must be women. 1. The majority of the female workforce is in the unorganized agricultural sector. This is where there are problems in the Act. The Act’s definition of the unorganized sector, taken from the National Commission of Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector Report, is “an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers and engaged in the production or sale of goods or providing service of any kind whatsoever and where the enterprise employs workers, the numbers of such workers is less than ten.” The number of workers was mentioned in NCEUS definition because enterprises employing over 10 were covered under the provisions of Factory Act. Thus, this definition of the unorganized sector is more applicable to small or tiny enterprises in manufacturing, trade or service sectors.Along with this, the NCEUS had very specifically included agricultural sector “enterprises” and its workers within the unorganized sector. The specification of workers “to be less than ten” would effectively remove landlords and rich peasants owning large tracts of land and employing over
10 agricultural workers from the ambit of the law. It is essential to end any ambiguity in the definition by specifically including farms and agriculture and related work in the Act.
2. The Act lacks clarity on the inclusion of the armed forces and all paramilitary forces within its purview. With the increasing number of women being employed in the defence services, there is no reason why they should be excluded.
3. If a complaint is found to be “malicious” or a woman has produced a “misleading document,” she is liable for punishment. This will discourage victims from filing complaint as she risks losing her job.
4. The Bill has a specific clause that prohibits publication of the identity of the accused even if he is found to be guilty of sexual harassment. One can understand if the concern is limited to protecting the identity of the victim or witnesses or even the respondent during the pendency of the inquiry. Men like Gopal Kanda, or those in high office guilty of such actions, will no doubt be relieved at such legal protection afforded to their public persona and image by the proposed Bill.
5. Based upon complaint of the victim, the committee is to conduct an
enquiry and submit its recommendation to the employer (or DM) who is required to take action. The punishment for misconduct is as per the service rules of the employer ( if it exists), else as per the rules of the act. The Act is, however, silent on the situation where employers’ service rule contains less stringent punishment provisions.
9 ©
C. Dowry: An Evil
It is the money, goods or estate that a woman brings to a marriage. It is a gift demanded or given as per a pre- condition for a marriage. Generally, an important part of the power relationship between spouses and their families relates to dowry and its ramifications.
In 1961, the GoI passed Dowry Prohibition Act, making the dowry demands in wedding arrangements illegal. There are also sections in IPC that deal with dowry like:
• Section 304 B:
Related to dowry deaths.
Stipulates that death of a woman within 7 years of her marriage by burns or bodily injury with evidence of cruelty or harassment by her husband or his relatives in connection with a demand for dowry is ‘dowry death’ and punishable with imprisonment for not less than 7 years.
• Section 406:
Related to recovery of Streedhan (it is what a woman can claim as her own property within a marital
household. It may include jewellery, gifts, and dowry articles) .
Non bailable and cognizable offence.
• Section 498A
For any act of cruelty, imprisonment of Husband or his relative for upto 3 years plus fine.
Non-bailable and Non Compoundable (once a case is lodged, there can’t be a compromise).
Despite these provisions, we witness a dowry death every 77 minutes. Women commodification is rampant in society, and more severe in the high class educated people as is evident from dowry hierarchy shown below.
Issues Concerning Dowry related Crimes
• Section406 of IPC hardly demarcates boundary between dowry and Streedhan. This has been misused in demanding dowry.
• Law commission in 2012 as well as Justice Malimath Committee2003 has suggested to amend Sec498A
since its non-compoundable nature kills chance of reformative justice.
• In India we have no provision for protection of a complainant, not even under the Prevention of Dowry
Act. A woman who has complained of harassment goes back to the very people against whom she has
complained. What security can she possibly feel in such a situation, and how can she continue to act on her complaint? She obviously continues to be victimised often paying the ultimate price. Many complainants are faced with eviction from the family home, are cut off without maintenance, and are unable to follow the complaint precisely because they have no means to do so.
• There are rarely any eye witness who are prepared to give evidence against the murderers as the crime is committed within the four walls of a home and those who are present inside are those who are committing the crime.
• Due to an increasing trend towards consumerism, people see dowry as an avenue to fulfil their otherwise impossible dreams.
• For some people, paying dowry at their daughter’s marriage is an investment for fetching high dowry through their son’s marriage.
• Some others, including women discuss on ‘marriage with high dowry’ with pride. Generally, marriages
with pomp and show are preferred.
• The girls too think that it is their right to take dowry with them when they go to the husband’s house.
• Another feeling among the mothers-in-law is that when she herself brought dowry from her house at the time of her marriage, why shouldn’t she take dowry for her son.
Way Forward To Counter The Menace of Dowry
• Amend Section 406 and 498A of IPC as suggested by Malimath Committee.
• Strict enforcement of laws and sensitization of enforcement agencies.
• Attitudinal Change in society that treats women as a commodity.
• Each one of us can set examples through “AdarshMarriage”, i.e., noble marriage by denying dowry grant in any form- cash or kind.
• Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees to create pressure on those in society who demand dowry.
D. Domestic Violence
Physical violence as well as explicit forms of aggression are used by the more powerful in the household as methods to ensure obedience of the less powerful and therefore is related to power dynamics in a household. At every stage in the life cycle, the female body is both the objects of desire and of control. Domestic violence includes not only inter-spousal violence, but also violence perpetrated by other family members. Domestic violence includes, harassment, maltreatment, brutality or cruelty and even the threat of assault - intimidation.
Domestic Violence is a grave concern for Indian Society. Till 2005, remedies available to a victim of domestic violence in the civil courts on the ground of divorce and in criminal courts (vide sec498A) were limited. Remedies were linked to matrimonial proceedings, and the relationship outside marriage was not recognized.
Due to such limitations, GoI enacted Domestic Violence Act in 2005 that extends to whole of India. Some of the features of this act includes:
• Beneficiaries
Women in domestic relationship with the respondent
Children also covered. Other can also file complaint on their behalf.
• Violence recognized can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse.
• Cognisable and Non-bailable offence
Issues Concerning Domestic Violence
• According to a survey, illiterate women face more violence than literate women. Relationship between abusive behaviour and level of education has been found to be statistically significant.
• According to survey findings of Visaria (1999) joint family tends to offer women some protection or acts as a deterrent to husbands using physical force to subdue them.
• Some of the reasons given by the women were financial matters, behaviour with in-laws, back- biting, talking to any male without the liking of the husband, asking for money, preventing him from drinking and husbands personality traits.
• One of the main cause why domestic violence prevails and continues is the lack of alternatives among the victims. Women and children may be economically dependent on abusers. Elderly people and children may feel too powerless to escape. Language or cultural barriers may isolate victims from seeking help.
• Victims generally feel, it is better to suffer in silence than to be separated from loved ones. They keep hoping for improvement, but it is normally observed that, without help, violence gets worse
• Family members may be unaware of the help that is available from the local agencies. They may also be unaware of their legal rights.
Way Forward To Counter The Menace of Domestic Violence
• Strict enforcement of laws and quick disposal of cases.
• Strengthening of Alternate Dispute Disolution mechanism like Lok Adalat etc.
• Gender sensitization of enforcement agencies.
• Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees (Mohalla Committees)
to tackle domestic violence.
• Economic empowerment of women.
Conclusion
Every single day single women, young girls, mothers and women from all walks of life are being assaulted, molested, and violated. The streets, public transport, public spaces in particular have become the territory of the hunters. While the ones already hunted down weep in silence or in disdain, the rest fight their way to a basic life with dignity. There is an unspoken war on the streets. Young school and college going girls use books to shield themselves, other women wear full-covered attire to protect their bodies, and others avoid the mere glance of the roving gaze.
We don't need to look at statistics to confront the horrid truth. News stories of women from all over India being raped, beaten, killed are flashed across us day after day – and we all are aware of it. The fatal Nirbhaya gang-
rape saw an outpouring on the streets of Delhi – protests decrying the fragile status of women in India. Candle light marches, editorials examining the patriarchal and sexist traditions of our country, an awakening on social media – even conversations on streets revolve around the night they cannot forget: the night that took Nirbhaya.
This is the time we own up to ourselves. We stand by each other. Tall and proud. Brave and unfazed. This is the time we own up to India. No more Harassment. We want what we deserve - for us and for our daughters – a safer India for women.
Copyright © by
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of .
Ways to Check Crimes at Public Place:
1. Strict enforcement of laws and quick disposal of cases through fast track courts. Family Courts
have been set up in some states to adjudicate cases relating to maintenance, custody and divorce. The Parivarik Mahila Lok Adalat (PMLA) evolved by the NCW is an alternative justice delivery system which is part of the Lok Adalats (People’s Courts) for providing speedy justice to women.
2. Strict patrolling and vigilance, particularly during night.
3. Gender sensitisation of the law enforcement agencies, especially the police and the judiciary through periodic training.
4. Community policing initiatives such as Mahila Suraksha Samiti and Women State Committee could help in checking crimes.
5. All-women police stations should be set up in as many states to facilitate the reporting of crime against women. In Tamil Nadu, to encourage women to approach police stations without fear the appointment of one woman sub-inspector and two women police constables in each of the existing police stations is being made mandatory.
6. Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees to create zero
violence zones. This new approach to control violence concentrates on activating Mohalla
Committees (neighbourhood groups) to tackle domestic violence.
7. Training women for self-defence.
8. Setting up of helplines for women in distress. Mobile apps that can raise alarm just by pressing a button in mobile in hour of need could be developed and used.
9. Regulation of public transport vehicles through strict licensing, GPS tracking, route advisory etc.
10. Moral overhauling of the mindset of masses through awareness and education.
B. Safety at Workplace
Women’s workforce participation has decreased from
37% in 1993-94 to 26% in 2009-10 in rural areas. For urban areas it decreased from 17% to 14%. The victimization of women at workplace together with patriarchal mindset has affected percentage of women participation in workforce. As many as 17% of working women in India have experienced sexual harassment at their workplace, according to a survey conducted by Oxfam India.
Initiatives Taken So far
Certain initiatives with regard to safety at workplace have been taken such as:
• The National Commission for Women prepared a Code of Conduct for the work place and circulated the same to all ministries, educational institutions, public and private sector undertakings and various NGOs for information and implementation. The guidelines highlight that it shall be the duty of the employer to prevent or deter the commission of any act of sexual harassment at workplace would include unwelcome sexually determined behaviour by any person either individually or in association with other persons such as eve teasing, unsavoury remarks, jokes causing embarrassment, innuendo and taunts, gender based insults or sexist remarks and unwelcome sexual overtones in any manner, touching or brushing against any part of the body, molestation or displaying pornographic or other derogatory pictures or sayings.
• The University Grants Commission has formulated a code of conduct for students and staff of Universities.
• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken action to ensure that all affiliated schools and educational institutions abide by these guidelines.
• All Ministries have set up Complaints Committees to look into such matters.
• The GoI recently passed Sexual Harassment At Workplace Act 2013 in parliament on September 2012.
It is a welcome move, even though it comes 15 years after the landmark VishakaJudgement in which the
Supreme Court categorically said that harassment at workplace is a violation of right of gender equality and right to life and liberty, thus violatingArticle14,15,21.
Issues Concerning Harassment at Workplace
• In many cases, it has been found that the committees within the organizations were set up only when there were serious allegations of sexual harassment. Many working women point out that, even if there is an enquiry committee, does anyone really bother to find out what happens to the victim when the enquiry is going on? She is an object of curiosity, sympathy, disdainful glances or simply isolated by her colleagues. The work environment where sexual harassment occurs has hierarchy, norms, and constraints that profoundly affect the way people behave in that setting.
• The situation at home is worse. Instead of sympathizing with her plight or standing by her, the attitude is one of distrust and suspicion or often humiliation and shame.
• Certain individuals use their positions of relative power to engage in sexual interactions. This type of behaviour clearly constitutes sex discrimination.
• Male ego problems, sexual perversion, sexual obsession, widow-hood etc is said to be some of the reasons for their harassment.
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013
Features of the Act
Limitations
1. It defines sexual harassment as laid down by SC in Vishaka case. (Incorporated in Section 354A of IPC tabulated earlier).
2. It puts the legal responsibility on
the employer, whether government, public sector or private, to provide a safe and conducive environment for the woman worker. The onus is on the employer, and if this is not complied with, the employer is liable for punishment.
3. The provision of concrete
mechanism to enable an inquiry into individual complaints of sexual harassment and time- bound justice through the formation of Internal Complaints Committee in the institution she works or, in the case of unorganised sector (i.e., which employ less than 10 members), through the formation of 5 member local committees at various levels under the supervision of District Collector.
4. The Act include domestic worker and defines it as a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration whether in cash or kind.
5. Those who do not comply with the Act's provisions will be fined up to Rs 50,000. Repeated violation would be punished with higher penalties.
6. At least 50% of nominated members in Internal or Local Committee must be women. 1. The majority of the female workforce is in the unorganized agricultural sector. This is where there are problems in the Act. The Act’s definition of the unorganized sector, taken from the National Commission of Enterprises in the Unorganized Sector Report, is “an enterprise owned by individuals or self-employed workers and engaged in the production or sale of goods or providing service of any kind whatsoever and where the enterprise employs workers, the numbers of such workers is less than ten.” The number of workers was mentioned in NCEUS definition because enterprises employing over 10 were covered under the provisions of Factory Act. Thus, this definition of the unorganized sector is more applicable to small or tiny enterprises in manufacturing, trade or service sectors.Along with this, the NCEUS had very specifically included agricultural sector “enterprises” and its workers within the unorganized sector. The specification of workers “to be less than ten” would effectively remove landlords and rich peasants owning large tracts of land and employing over
10 agricultural workers from the ambit of the law. It is essential to end any ambiguity in the definition by specifically including farms and agriculture and related work in the Act.
2. The Act lacks clarity on the inclusion of the armed forces and all paramilitary forces within its purview. With the increasing number of women being employed in the defence services, there is no reason why they should be excluded.
3. If a complaint is found to be “malicious” or a woman has produced a “misleading document,” she is liable for punishment. This will discourage victims from filing complaint as she risks losing her job.
4. The Bill has a specific clause that prohibits publication of the identity of the accused even if he is found to be guilty of sexual harassment. One can understand if the concern is limited to protecting the identity of the victim or witnesses or even the respondent during the pendency of the inquiry. Men like Gopal Kanda, or those in high office guilty of such actions, will no doubt be relieved at such legal protection afforded to their public persona and image by the proposed Bill.
5. Based upon complaint of the victim, the committee is to conduct an
enquiry and submit its recommendation to the employer (or DM) who is required to take action. The punishment for misconduct is as per the service rules of the employer ( if it exists), else as per the rules of the act. The Act is, however, silent on the situation where employers’ service rule contains less stringent punishment provisions.
9 ©
C. Dowry: An Evil
It is the money, goods or estate that a woman brings to a marriage. It is a gift demanded or given as per a pre- condition for a marriage. Generally, an important part of the power relationship between spouses and their families relates to dowry and its ramifications.
In 1961, the GoI passed Dowry Prohibition Act, making the dowry demands in wedding arrangements illegal. There are also sections in IPC that deal with dowry like:
• Section 304 B:
Related to dowry deaths.
Stipulates that death of a woman within 7 years of her marriage by burns or bodily injury with evidence of cruelty or harassment by her husband or his relatives in connection with a demand for dowry is ‘dowry death’ and punishable with imprisonment for not less than 7 years.
• Section 406:
Related to recovery of Streedhan (it is what a woman can claim as her own property within a marital
household. It may include jewellery, gifts, and dowry articles) .
Non bailable and cognizable offence.
• Section 498A
For any act of cruelty, imprisonment of Husband or his relative for upto 3 years plus fine.
Non-bailable and Non Compoundable (once a case is lodged, there can’t be a compromise).
Despite these provisions, we witness a dowry death every 77 minutes. Women commodification is rampant in society, and more severe in the high class educated people as is evident from dowry hierarchy shown below.
Issues Concerning Dowry related Crimes
• Section406 of IPC hardly demarcates boundary between dowry and Streedhan. This has been misused in demanding dowry.
• Law commission in 2012 as well as Justice Malimath Committee2003 has suggested to amend Sec498A
since its non-compoundable nature kills chance of reformative justice.
• In India we have no provision for protection of a complainant, not even under the Prevention of Dowry
Act. A woman who has complained of harassment goes back to the very people against whom she has
complained. What security can she possibly feel in such a situation, and how can she continue to act on her complaint? She obviously continues to be victimised often paying the ultimate price. Many complainants are faced with eviction from the family home, are cut off without maintenance, and are unable to follow the complaint precisely because they have no means to do so.
• There are rarely any eye witness who are prepared to give evidence against the murderers as the crime is committed within the four walls of a home and those who are present inside are those who are committing the crime.
• Due to an increasing trend towards consumerism, people see dowry as an avenue to fulfil their otherwise impossible dreams.
• For some people, paying dowry at their daughter’s marriage is an investment for fetching high dowry through their son’s marriage.
• Some others, including women discuss on ‘marriage with high dowry’ with pride. Generally, marriages
with pomp and show are preferred.
• The girls too think that it is their right to take dowry with them when they go to the husband’s house.
• Another feeling among the mothers-in-law is that when she herself brought dowry from her house at the time of her marriage, why shouldn’t she take dowry for her son.
Way Forward To Counter The Menace of Dowry
• Amend Section 406 and 498A of IPC as suggested by Malimath Committee.
• Strict enforcement of laws and sensitization of enforcement agencies.
• Attitudinal Change in society that treats women as a commodity.
• Each one of us can set examples through “AdarshMarriage”, i.e., noble marriage by denying dowry grant in any form- cash or kind.
• Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees to create pressure on those in society who demand dowry.
D. Domestic Violence
Physical violence as well as explicit forms of aggression are used by the more powerful in the household as methods to ensure obedience of the less powerful and therefore is related to power dynamics in a household. At every stage in the life cycle, the female body is both the objects of desire and of control. Domestic violence includes not only inter-spousal violence, but also violence perpetrated by other family members. Domestic violence includes, harassment, maltreatment, brutality or cruelty and even the threat of assault - intimidation.
Domestic Violence is a grave concern for Indian Society. Till 2005, remedies available to a victim of domestic violence in the civil courts on the ground of divorce and in criminal courts (vide sec498A) were limited. Remedies were linked to matrimonial proceedings, and the relationship outside marriage was not recognized.
Due to such limitations, GoI enacted Domestic Violence Act in 2005 that extends to whole of India. Some of the features of this act includes:
• Beneficiaries
Women in domestic relationship with the respondent
Children also covered. Other can also file complaint on their behalf.
• Violence recognized can be physical, sexual, emotional, verbal, psychological, and economic abuse.
• Cognisable and Non-bailable offence
Issues Concerning Domestic Violence
• According to a survey, illiterate women face more violence than literate women. Relationship between abusive behaviour and level of education has been found to be statistically significant.
• According to survey findings of Visaria (1999) joint family tends to offer women some protection or acts as a deterrent to husbands using physical force to subdue them.
• Some of the reasons given by the women were financial matters, behaviour with in-laws, back- biting, talking to any male without the liking of the husband, asking for money, preventing him from drinking and husbands personality traits.
• One of the main cause why domestic violence prevails and continues is the lack of alternatives among the victims. Women and children may be economically dependent on abusers. Elderly people and children may feel too powerless to escape. Language or cultural barriers may isolate victims from seeking help.
• Victims generally feel, it is better to suffer in silence than to be separated from loved ones. They keep hoping for improvement, but it is normally observed that, without help, violence gets worse
• Family members may be unaware of the help that is available from the local agencies. They may also be unaware of their legal rights.
Way Forward To Counter The Menace of Domestic Violence
• Strict enforcement of laws and quick disposal of cases.
• Strengthening of Alternate Dispute Disolution mechanism like Lok Adalat etc.
• Gender sensitization of enforcement agencies.
• Development of a community-based strategy of neighbourhood committees (Mohalla Committees)
to tackle domestic violence.
• Economic empowerment of women.
Conclusion
Every single day single women, young girls, mothers and women from all walks of life are being assaulted, molested, and violated. The streets, public transport, public spaces in particular have become the territory of the hunters. While the ones already hunted down weep in silence or in disdain, the rest fight their way to a basic life with dignity. There is an unspoken war on the streets. Young school and college going girls use books to shield themselves, other women wear full-covered attire to protect their bodies, and others avoid the mere glance of the roving gaze.
We don't need to look at statistics to confront the horrid truth. News stories of women from all over India being raped, beaten, killed are flashed across us day after day – and we all are aware of it. The fatal Nirbhaya gang-
rape saw an outpouring on the streets of Delhi – protests decrying the fragile status of women in India. Candle light marches, editorials examining the patriarchal and sexist traditions of our country, an awakening on social media – even conversations on streets revolve around the night they cannot forget: the night that took Nirbhaya.
This is the time we own up to ourselves. We stand by each other. Tall and proud. Brave and unfazed. This is the time we own up to India. No more Harassment. We want what we deserve - for us and for our daughters – a safer India for women.
Copyright © by
All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of .
No comments:
Post a Comment