The gruesome gang rape of 23-year-old
paramedical student in a moving bus in Delhi shocked entire nation.
Though the girl died after struggling for her life in hospital for
two weeks, this incident has brought a big change in security of
women in the capital.
This incident galvanised people across
the country and people's outrage was palpable when thousands of
people gathered near President's house. They braved caning by police,
water cannons in Delhi chill and teargas shell and demanded justice
for the victim and death penalty for six gang rape accused.
These protest and candle light vigils
put huge pressure on the government. Consequently, several police
officer were suspended, fast track courts were established in Delhi
to hear rape cases, Delhi Police has taken several steps to ensure
security for women, a dedicated helpline (181) has been established
to assist women in distress, all the police station in Delhi are to
have at least two women constables and a woman sub-inspector, cops
have been deployed to 100 vulnerable DTC bus stands and several other
steps have been taken to ensure safety of women.
No doubt, these steps will improve
security of women in the capital, but the whole country does not
reside in Delhi. In India a rape case takes place every few minutes.
We call Delhi the rape capital, but the highest number of rape cases
are reported in Durg-Bhilainagar, according to the data by National
Crime Records Bureau. When women to go police station to register
rape cases they face several uncomfortable questions, and many a
times the FIR is not registered, this works as a deterrent and many
girls don't register cases in order to avoid such situation.
Many a times victims withdraw the cases
due to the pressure put on them and due to rigmarole justice delivery
system in India, as they can't afford to go to district court every
month just to get another date of hearing. A huge number of rape case
are still lingering in different courts of the country.
Therefore, our focus should not only be
on the security of women in Delhi or women residing in metros, police
reforms are need of the hour. Policemen should be sensitised towards
women, the number of women police officers and constables should be
increased in all police station across the country.
Moreover, the most important of all is
patriarchal mindset of people in India. Even after 65 years of
independence the women in India continue to face discrimination,
female foeticide is still rampant in some parts of country, a huge
number of people still believe in blaming women for crime against
them.
The parents need to stop blaming their
daughter for crime against them, they should in turn control their
sons and blame and punish them even if they tease a girl. Once this
mindset is changed there would not be a need for people to come out
to protest and demand security for women.
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