Crime Against Women
Does every rapist not have parents? Does every rapist not have a teacher? Don't rapists have a family and close friends?
Then, where is the mind of a rapist coming from? Where is it getting formed-at Home, at School, at College or Neighborhood; by watching television, item songs or by using the mobile technology?
So where do we begin the prevention of such a mindset before the systems respond, which being—police, crisis centers, forensics, law, courts, prosecution, witnesses and prisons and more? More than anything else, today.
India needs a mindset revolution at the people level first, alongside all other institutions.
This social revolution to be electric and magnetic will have to be led by no other than one person—PM Modi, and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Because when PM speaks, country listens; and when PMO coordinates, the government is synergised.
Even God cannot stop such crime from taking place in Uttar Pradesh. If a woman is caught (in a rape case), then both she and the boy should be punished. They are boys, they make mistakes. There are 21 crore people in Uttar Pradesh, yet the number of such cases are the least here. |
The beginning of this revolution could be from the Ramparts of the Red Fort, in PM's first Independence Day message to the nation when the entire country will be glued to their televisions, listening.
We cannot lose this national day. In view of the gravity of the situation concerning repeated incidents of brutal rapes and atrocities concerning women. We are being internationally condemned in this regard.
Therefore, this is an open letter to our Prime Minister to please consider the following in his Independence Day message: With similar request to State Chief Minister's to follow the spirit.
Here are the messages required for this social revolution. Beginning with:
- Parents should take responsibility for the children they give birth to: They must instill a sense of responsibility in their sons and courage in their daughters equally. Responsible behaviour respects all. It is therefore necessary for parents to ensure that their homes are safe havens where no crime against a woman takes place. They have to take responsibility to be the first teachers of their children.
- Message for school teachers: Their role is not only to make students pass the class courses and get marks but ensure they learn value based life skills which ensures civility in their behaviour towards all. Persons groomed in civil behaviour do not commit rapes! They are sensitive to others dignity.
- To people at large: If they see a woman in distress, in their neighbourhood, in their community, or in a public place they must respond, intervene and not walk away as is the case today. It's about responsible citizenship.
- To his own political fraternity: To be respectful. They cannot afford to say anything which brings down the respect towards women. No casual remark which causes disrespect be tolerated. They instead need to take charge of their respective constituencies, go house to house to drive the change. Like they go house to house with folded hands to get votes! And hold corner meeting to fast track the social revolution.
- To tell the cops: That the Government will not tolerate their callous or unprofessional response to any complaint of crime against a woman. They must not accept any interference in the process of investigation. They must also be diagnostic and inform people of what is causing such crimes and ask people and all other stakeholders to do correction.
- To the District Administration: To ensure the Panchayats do not demean women's position on grounds of caste or creed. They need to mount vigil in their respective villages through community policing.
- For his own government: That it will ensure speedy justice, on all counts.
The PM need to assure country men and women that he will lead the social revolution and will set up a task force to oversee it and report directly to him. He will review the situation every three months and do all that it takes to change the mindsets that, hereafter no one will tolerate violation of a women's dignity.
Last but not the least the PM could urge the media to exercise self regulation and self restraint in maintaining the dignity of women!
6 Year Girl Raped in Bengaluru
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Rustom Kerawala, Chairman-Vibgyor High School, Bengaluru (where a six year old girl was allegedly raped by the school staff) was taken into custody on July 22. A skating instructor at the school was arrested. He had a laptop that had indecent videos of children. The alleged assault happened on July 2, but the child's parents discovered it several days later, after she complained of stomach ache and was taken to the hospital. The arrest comes after days of protests by parents and activists, who were angry at how the school handled the allegations.Finally, it’s all about self regulation and mutual responsibility. In brief—we are talking of a 6P comprehensive plan of crime prevention. It's people, politicians, police, prosecution, prisons and press. Once this revolution is announced by the Prime Minister on August 15th from the Ramparts of Redfort, it will assume a whole new dimension of seriousness. Perhaps override all the misstatements made so far by several politicians which are haunting us repeatedly!
Prime Minister Modi by giving a call for respect and safety of women and turning it into a Social Revolution will be correcting historical and cultural infirmities which have seeped into our mindsets, and are now in our DNA. The mindsets will not change in one year – it may require Modi’s this term and more. But the decline will have to get checked and hope revived!
Honourable Prime Minister Sir of what purpose will be a strong economy and policies of skill development in a country where half of the country’s population feels insecure? And lacks basic security and infrastructure?
The time has come, India owes it to itself. India owes it to the world community!
-Dr Kiran Bedi(The writer is India’s first highest ranking woman IPS officer)
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