By Jenniefer Dkhar
Shakespeare writes in his play Hamlet “the world is an unweeded garden, that grows to seed: things rank and gross in nature.” The good and the bad thrive together. We are a society that is made of both men and women. What has become of our world and our society is a matter of great wonder and shock. Corruption, child labour, sexual harassment, rape, murder and many more is a part of the society we live in. This is our world. Our children grow along with these social evils that are ruining their minds and conscience. They see the events unfolding before their eyes and it gets ingrained in their minds. They are affected and so is society. When the young see that there is virtually no punishment for a crime committed they become brazen. News about rapes are now routine. Women have always been regarded as the weaker sex who had been and who continue to be trampled upon. This must change.
On the 8th of March, the entire world celebrated International Women’s Day; a day that recognises the worth, achievements and the existence of a woman. The Day that started off internationally as an assertion of women’s political and social rights has today emerged as a day that cheers and celebrates women. Various programmes were chalked out throughout the world, our country and even our state. Why not? We women have as much right to existence on this earth as our male counterparts. The stereotypical outlook of women as the weaker sex need to be wiped out and a more gender centric understanding should be brought forth. It is important that men understand the worth of a woman and value her prowess, her strength and her desire as well.
This year the UN theme for International Women’s Day 2013 was “A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women.” The UN theme is apt and crucial. There is indeed great need to realise the existence of violence that girls and women suffer on the streets, at educational institutions, at work places and even at home. In a nut shell, let’s say everywhere else and in every nook and corner of the world women are victims of atrocities. Concrete steps need to be taken to sensitise both men and women about violence that are meted out on a girl child and women. An assurance to realise respect that a woman ought to have must be adhered to. Therefore unanimously we must work towards keeping and retaining this promise of eradicating violence against women.
The International Women’s Day 2013 theme is “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum.” As much as it is important for women to sympathise and empathise with the situations of pain and hurt that another woman may be subjected to it is equally important for our male counterparts to understand the same. Men should be made aware of the role they are to play in the society.
The Indian scenario at this point in time is sad and dismal. Every day we are brought face to face with a bitter truth of crimes against a girl child and women. Women are falling prey to abuse, rapes and murder. What is even more disturbing is the sadistic nature of men who find pleasure in violating even a minor. We read of girls at the age of 6 – 7 years and even as tender as 3 years being raped and even murdered. It is baffling to the mind to even hear of such cruelty on a child who could barely speak.
The question that comes to mind is what has become to this world? Why have we deteriorated to the extent that we are becoming less human? Why are crimes widespread? Why do crimes go unchecked? Why is the authority concerned not able to curb and control these crimes? Who is responsible? Are we to blame the legal system? Are we to blame ourselves? What positive contribution can be made towards controlling such crimes? What could an individual do to help control these atrocities? Pathetically nothing; for the simple reason that we rely on our legal system and why shouldn’t we? Our forefathers have worked so hard to bring forth before us laws that are meant to order our lives. Yet it’s about time that we realise how weak our constitution as well as the legal system is; so very soft on perpetrators and always tough on the victims. Our legal system works at a snail’s pace and on several occasions it fails to even make a start. What the court of law demands is for the perpetrator to not only confess to his crimes but to have witnesses as well as material evidence. More than usual these cases are never brought to book for they either fail to present a witness or the witness turns hostile. What emerges is unduly prolonging court cases where the perpetrator simply escapes the punishment he genuinely deserves.
It is really ironic that in the meanwhile the criminal is allowed to go scot free, may even commit similar crimes and lead a regular life daily till the time he is convicted, if at all that happens. In the midst of this, the real sufferers are the victims and their family members whose loss is irreparable and irretrievable. Crimes have always been committed at a very quick pace for the criminals’ conscience is dead and also because there are no stringent laws to not only teach them a lesson but also to cite their cases as examples that no one can escape the manacles of the law. The law must be feared for it is the only way by which an individual in a democratic country can find redress. Sadly our legal system is very weak. We may argue that it is not always justice denied in all cases but delay is no merit. Slackness in awarding punishment only encourages more crimes giving vent to cannibalistic instincts defying the legal system and the dictates of God. How many of the court cases have actually resulted in conviction of the criminal? Fast track court is the need of the hour to tackle crimes related to children and women.
The National and State Commission for Women should sincerely work towards a more effective system to deal with crimes against children and women. The truth is WE must work collectively! If the government, the police, the law, the Women’s Organisation and we as individuals do not work diligently to curb and curtail crimes we will continue to sip our daily morning cup of tea with the bitter toast of yet another girl being raped or murdered. It is a sad state of affairs indeed for every girl and woman of this generation.