Growing signs of women’s safety in the country
Since the genesis of humanity, woman has played a key role in the formation of man from birth. Her essential multitasking roles as mother, daughter, sister, housewife, etc. come out unscathed. It is rightly said that no one has seen God, but if God exists, it is in the form of the mother (birth giver), which brings the woman to the highest pedestal of divine virtues.
Despite these multiple roles played by women, it is true that they have been subjected to unspeakable violence, misery, generalized discrimination, exploitation, deprivation, scarcity and malnutrition, and they are despised in the patriarchal world. of dominance.
However, with the advent of the industrial revolution in the 18th century and with the growth of nuclear family units, there was a growing need for female empowerment all over the world. As a result, India has enacted 39 women centered laws over the past two centuries so that women can live enlightened lives with freedom, dignity and individual honour, with full gender justice and with equality with men.
The Constitution of India as well as various laws promulgated and the rules resulting from it provide for equality between men and women without discrimination and with equal opportunities in all areas of human activity.
Yet, in practice, women are discriminated against against men despite gender awareness in all segments of society. public administration, including education, health and other activities such as religious rituals. Soon after independence in 1947, the government of India established a Social Social Welfare Division within the Ministry of Home Affairs to give national attention to the comprehensive development of women and children, which was later upgraded to a full-fledged Social Welfare Department which eventually became the Ministry of Development of women and children.
In 1993, the National Commission for Women was established with the power of a civil court to guarantee the human rights of women throughout the country. Yet all kinds of violence and crimes against women have increased so much that the country has come to be known as the world’s worst place for women.
Nevertheless, with the emergence of a democratic system of governance based on the rule of law, women have taken the lead and are no longer subordinate to men as they are free from any restriction, control or dictatorial influence, and are independent, at least on paper, that is to say in the law books and Constitution. However, the patriarchal domination is still there. For all intents and purposes, there are hindrances to women as daughters, sisters, wives, daughters-in-law, etc.
India is traditionally perceived as a Manuvadi country where women are despised and objectified. The current Union NDA government is a staunch supporter of the gospel truth of the Manusmirti. Not surprising while even the highly vaunted Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
(Save girl child Educate daughter) introduced by the Union Government NDA with great fanfare hit home. Two-thirds of the funds allocated to such a commendable program were spent on advertising the Prime Minister; too bad for the concern expressed by the government for the empowerment of women.
It is of grave concern to the public that despite the toughest rape laws enacted in 2013 following the most horrific rape of a medical student in December 2012, cases of rape and violence against women and girls have increased more than three times. And the the culprits are innocent due to the lack of law enforcement, the callousness of the official apparatuses like the police with their unfair, biased and insensitive investigations, the judiciary not be fair and sensitive to women, civil society being apathetic to the elevation of women, and boys being preferred to girls. The result was the pursuit deprivation and discrimination against women. Again women have made their mark in all walks of life wherever they had equal chances.
Yet, it is a worrying sign that the NDA government has drastically reduced the allowance for female security from Rs 313.13 crore in 2017-2018 to Rs 81.75 crore as revealed by the latest official data. Meanwhile, Nirbhaya Fund, established following the horrific rape incident of December 2012 for women’s safety, is not being used properly to tackle the increase in crimes against women, a parliamentary report has revealed.
The allocation of Rs 313.30 crore for women safety programs included Rs 84.40 crore for Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), Rs 200 crore for prevention of cyber crime against women and children (CCPWC) and 28.90 crores for programs related to Delhi Police, indicating a decrease in attention to women’s safety.
With regards to safe cities projects for women in eight cities of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Lucknow and Ahmedabad launched at a cost of Rs 2919.55 crore in 2017-18, the certificates of use have not yet been received from States/Union Territories. The same goes for Rs 200 Crores for Central Victims Compensation Fund (CVCF) as a one-time grant from Nirbhaya Fund to States and Union Territories for women compensation. victims of acid attacks, rapes, trafficking, etc. ; no one knows how the allocated amount was spent.
The parliamentary report also reveals that the Nirbhaya Fund has been misused for construction and construction purposes rather than for the actual security of women. Such allocations defeat the very purpose for which the Nirbhaya Fund was established.
The rise of fundamentalism, chauvinistic nationalism and macho leadership has made it more difficult to defend women’s rights. Nevertheless, it is a battle for gender equality in a era of macho politics.
The fight for gender equality must be waged at home, in educational institutions, in government establishments and in corporate offices to end discrimination against women and girls and change the mindsets of people around the world in order to establish meaningful respect for women and full gender justice. Government and the law alone are not enough to address the threat of crimes against women.
One can understand the people’s battle cry following the recent grisly rape and murder of a Hyderabad vet and the government’s knee-jerk reactions to it. But we must all reflect and fight against crimes against women, fight for gender justice at all levels and hold everyone accountable to stop the rot!
