By: – Omkar Dattatray
India has made great strides in science and technology and in this march the role of the women cannot be exaggerated. Today a woman works in almost every field but it is very disturbing and unfortunate that women are not safe in the country. The government makes loud claims about women security and empowerment but the ground situation is very alarming and bad. Women feel unsafe and insecure everywhere and it is a matter of grave concern. We celebrate and give slogan of ‘Bati Bachao Bati Padawo' but in actual the women feel insecure in educational institutions, offices, companies, roads, cinema halls, and even in homes and thus the women at all the places are insecure. Our scriptures declare, ''yatra Sitresto Samanta Tattra Ramantya Deva'' meaning where women are respected, Gods travel there. In the Indian culture and religion women were held in high esteem as no Hindu ritual is complete without the participation of women. Such is the place and importance of the women in the Hindu religon that the names of Hindu gods begin with the names of goddesses as Laxmi Narayan, Gori Shanker, Sita Ram, Radhy Shyam and the like. We regard women as the form of Shakti and Laxmi and worship the girl child during Navratras. But today women feel very insecure in India. The atrocities and excesses against women are increasing day by day. The dowry deaths is a routine affair .The kidnappings and rapes of the women is a matter of daily occurrence and it puts us to shame .Rape of women is a heinous crime against man and god and the rapists should be given stringent punishment so that others will desist from this crime. The women safety and security is once again in news due to the brutal killing and burning of a women veterinary doctor on the outskirts of Hyderabad. This gruesome rape and subsequent burning of the women doctor has rightly been condemned by all and the protests against this crime have rocked not only Hyderabad but the whole of India. It is a very shameful act and deserves strongest condemnation and stringent punishment. The rapes and kidnappings taking place every hour and minute and puts all of us to shame and the rapes and killings happening every day have brought disrepute and shame to humanity and our society. The humans are turning brutes and are committing this anti human and anti god act for their sexual lust without any fear of the law. We have heard about the Nirbaya Hattya Kand and it is unfortunate that the culprits have not been given punishment yet and now the rape and burning of the veterinarian has shook the conscience of the country and the people have condemned this gruesome act and are demanding a harsh punishment for the culprits. Not that we do not have the laws to combat the crime of rape but the implementation of the law is a time consuming process .In the rape cases there should be speedy trial in a time bound manner so that the punishment is given in a shortest possible time so that a message goes loud and clear that the government will deal with an iron hand with those involved in the rape cases and no leniency will be shown with the brutes who commit such crimes. In the present case the culprits have been caught and they should be tried in court and the judiciary should give the punishment in the shortest possible time so that the victim is given justice and the fear of law is reinforced in the country. In our own erstwhile state we have seen and heard about the Rasana Rape case of a nomadic girl but thank god that the culprits have been given punishment. Now it is hoped that this present case of rape and killing of a doctor will be soon tried in as per of law and a the case is tried on day to day basis and life imprisonment or capital punishment should be awarded to those who have been arrested and this will instill confidence in the people especially in the women. The question is how and when the women will feel secure in the country. Women are living in perpetual fear and there is urgent need to instill confidence and security among women otherwise all tall claims of women empowerment is humbug. The act of rape is a black spot on the face of society and we should make sincere efforts to curb such heinous crime from our society .Government, NGOs, youths, voluntary organizations, teachers and academicians should work to curb this crime in the country. Along with the strong law and its implementation, there is need of awareness so that the human brutes will think several times before indulging in the crime. In any case this crime should not be allowed to happen. It is very unfortunate that this crime is happening at a fast pace and enough is enough and it is the time to put a full stop to this crime. Women dignity, honor and security are our duty and we should make honest efforts in this direction. And only then real empowerment of women and their safety has some meaning otherwise not.
(The writer is a Columnist and Social Activist)
