IT is only in the fitness of things that Nirmala Sawant, a member of the National Commission for Women strongly condemned Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s remark that ‘one small incident of rape had hurt the tourism industry a toll in dollars’. The minister was referring to the gangrape of Nirbhaya on a bus in Delhi on December 16. The objection to calling the episode a small incident was only understandable and the Finance Minister showed an incredible degree of cynicism. It may be mentioned that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a similar view of the gangrape in Park Street, Kolkata. However, the linking of the Nirbhaya episode to the decline in foreign tourism cannot be summarily dismissed. Arun Jaitley may perhaps even be complimented for bringing up the matter. There seems to be a conspiracy of silence over the rash of rapes in Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai among the authorities or in Parliament. Even women MPs appear to be apathetic in condemning such heinous crimes and pressing for speedy action. Women’s Rights activist Kavita Krishnan was absolutely on the right tack when she said that no rape was small because it violated women’s basic rights. Nevertheless, the fact that it affects tourism reflects the sullied image of ‘Bharat Mahan’. Jaitley’s remark at least recalled the enormity of these occurrences while the judiciary and the legislature seem somnolent and wasting time over when and what punishment should be meted out.
The new government has approved a Rs. 500 crore project called Nirbhaya to have a rape crisis centre in every district. But that is only scratching the surface. Around 7 million foreigners visited India in 2013 which was merely a quarter of the number of visitors to Thailand or Malaysia. A former Congress minister has asked the BJP government to crack down on violence on women. That is only to be hoped for. Jaitley’s remark is unfortunate but when there is awareness that rape and similar crimes can in effect dent the government exchequer, positive action may result.
