A societal curse...
Posted 5th December 2008 at 12:07 AM by namrata_ghy
When we talk about crime and women, it includes all those violence and torture (both mental and physical) that suffered by a woman. It generally includes Domestic Violence, Sexual assault within marriage, Traditional practices, Dowry-related violence and early marriage, Son preference, Rape, molestation, Sexual harassment in the workplace, prostitution etc. Among all these rape is the fastest growing crime in the country today and as many as 18 women are assaulted in some form or the other every hour across India. Take the example of recent scenario, an American was molested in Pushkar, a British lady raped in Goa, Canadian girls attacked in Kumarakom and so on. It looks like that India as a nation has forgot, how to treat women as human beings.
Not only in India but in many other countries also, women fall victim to traditional practices and superstitions. Every society has its own custom and traditions, but all should be very careful at the time of performing all those so that it will not harm anybody both physically and psychologically. Regarding female genital mutilation, World Health Organization’s report says that about 85 million to 115 million girls and women in the whole women population have undergone some form of female genital mutilation and suffer from its adverse health effects. Every year an estimated 2 million young girls undergo this horrifying procedure. Most of the cases have been noted from African and Asian countries.
In many countries sexual assault by a husband on his wife is not considered to be a crime. However it is one of the blasted crimes against women as it is concern with the life of a woman, a wife, a mother. It is thus very difficult in practice for a woman to prove that sexual assault has occurred unless she can demonstrate serious injury. A woman always has to be very careful when explaining all because a section of people in our society always like spice in every matter. Sexual harassment in the workplace is a growing concern for women. Employers abuse their authority to seek sexual favours from their female colleague both married and unmarried, sometimes for promotions or other forms of career advancement or simply creating an untenable and hostile work environment. Women who refuse to give in to such unwanted sexual advances often run the risk of anything from demotion to dismissal. The significantly large number of sexual harassment cases reported from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
We criticize prostitution and look at them with a great hate without knowing the real fact. Many women are forced into prostitution either by their parents, husbands or boyfriends or as a result of the difficult economic and social conditions they are forced to indulge in this. A study of the cases reported under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act connotes that prostitution growing vigorously in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka where 90 per cent of the cases have been reported so far.
Latest report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), said that every hour in India two women are raped, two are kidnapped, four are molested and seven others are face violence at the hands of their husbands and the number is swiftly increasing. If we talk about the Indian states, Andhra Pradesh topped the list of crimes against women with 21,484 cases. Uttar Pradesh was a close second, with 9.9 percent of such crimes. Among 35 cities with a population of more than one million, the Indian capital topped with 4,134 cases, accounting for 18.9 percent of the total crimes again women followed by Hyderabad at 1,755 cases. The report said 8.2 percent (around 1,593) of the total rape victims were girls below the age of 15 years, while 17.4 percent (around 3,364) were teenaged girls. The cases of torture and harassment have increased in the country by 8.2 percent over the previous year (58,319). 14.5 percent of these were reported from Andhra Pradesh (9,164) itself.
Domestic violence has been increasing in India day by day. Apart from physical torture and violence the mental or Psychological torture more dangerous then other where a woman can lost her memory, her existence, her brain functioning and her mental balance. Psychological violence includes verbal abuse, harassment, confinement and deprivation of physical needs, financial and personal resources. Many assault incidents result in injuries ranging from bruises and fractures to chronic disabilities. Domestic violence has devastating repercussions on the family. Mothers are unable to care for their children properly. Often they transmit to them their own feelings of low self-esteem, helplessness and inadequacy. The most dangerous form of domestic violence is dowry, the part and parcel of Indian society. Every hour a wife has been torture for dowry and getting no help from administration as if a wife deserves it. In 1995, the National Crime Bureau of the Government of India reported about 6,000 dowry deaths every year. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), report 2006, every hour at least 18 women in the country were victimized in these the capital city reported 18.7 percent of the dowry deaths. NCRB reported that in 2006, a total of 7,618 incidents of dowry deaths were reported. Uttar Pradesh has captured the highest rank with 1,798 cases of dowry deaths, followed by Bihar with 1,188 cases. Official data says that on an average one Indian woman commits suicide in every four hours over a dowry related matter. Total 544 of dowry death cases have been registered with National Commission for Women in the year 2007; it is as if we are habituated with such kind of news. Women are also the victim of the dominancy of husband or in-laws in every sphere of life. They have to obey each and every word of her in-laws or husband whether it is necessary or unnecessary, harmful or shocking, logical or illogical.
Despite various measures to check crime in running trains by the Indian railways, women passengers continue to be the most vulnerable masses. Figures released by the ministry are that there had been 174 incidents of harassment of women passengers in running trains in 2006 against 199 in 2007.
In 1995, the National Crime Bureau of the Government of India reported about 6,000 dowry deaths every year. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), every hour at least 18 women in the country were victimized in 2006 on an average basis. The capital city reported 18.7 percent of the dowry deaths. NCRB reported that in 2006, a total of 7,618 incidents of dowry deaths were reported. Uttar Pradesh has captured the highest rank with 1,798 cases of dowry deaths, followed by Bihar with 1,188 cases. Official data says that on an average one Indian woman commits suicide in every four hours over a dowry related matter. It is very shocking that In this era of growth and development, 544 of dowry death cases have been registered with National Commission For Women in the year 2007.
Like India, In the United States a women is beaten every 18 minutes; between 3 million and 4 million are battered each year, but only 1 in 10 cases of domestic violence is ever reported. In the United Kingdom, 1 in 3 families is a victim of assault and 1 in 5 a victim of serious assault, according to a recent report by the home office. In Austria, in 59%of 1500 divorce cases, domestic violence is cited as a cause in the marital breakdown.
By knowing these facts have we even concern with the matter ‘Why’ and what is the solution? If we want to search the answer of Why, then we would not get anything because reason get confused here when the case of torture and violence come. The recent cases of crime against women including the recent Arushi murder case indicates just how much security and safety for women has deteriorated and also how much the law enforcement has collapsed in India. 25 year old Sarita was allegedly raped by both a head constable and constable on April 10th, 2008 at the CIA (Central Intelligence Authority) police station in Rohtak, northern India, and committed suicide at the regional police headquarters on the 9th of June who had left one suicide note for the police which states that, she had committed suicide because even by knowing the truth no action had been taken against the accused and her family was being threatened with dire consequences.
Violence against women is the dirtiest offence in world today. We need to think and rethink how this form of rapid harassment of women can be stopped and throw away. It needs support from including government, NGOs, administration and women themselves.
India has a plenty of laws to protect the rights of women, however the Government is often unable to enforce these laws, especially in rural areas where traditions are very strong. Not only Govt and law, but we all have to be very conscious to throw all types of evil act related to women from its root. All women should always be conscious and try to be strong physically and mentally to handle any danger or threat coming to them. A married woman is the base of a happy family. God makes all women mentally so strong that they can manage and adjust themselves on any situation. But along with this God has drawn a line, a limit of tolerance and when the level of torture crossed it may bring destruction.
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