-Dr. S. Vijay Kumar
“Yathra
nariyasthu pujyathe ramanthe thathra devathaha“, the meaning this Sanskrit
shloka is, where women are respected, there angels will reside. Thus, it is
known that in the olden days (Age of Vedas) women were given high status and
great respect and freedom in the society. "Shakti" a feminine term
means "power" and "strength". But, today if we tune to
radio, TV or turn to any newspaper we find several reports of violence against
women, girls and children in one form of or other. There are more such cases
which go unreported every day. In fact, include the cases which we know or
which we witness in the neighborhood, but we are hesitant in taking even a
single step to reduce their occurrences. “A Woman brought you into this
world, so you have no right to disrespect her”. In India there is a
crime against women in every three minutes, one rape every twenty nine minutes
and one recorded case of dowry death in every seventy seven minutes. Cases of
cruelty meted out by husbands and in laws are seen in every nine minutes.
Patriarchal terrorism where one partner uses economic and social power to
maintain control over another human is very common in India and other Asian
countries due to the subservient status of women. As said by Karl Marx “Women
are the only exploited group in history to have been idealized into
powerlessness.” Swami Vivekananda has rightly pointed out that “There is
no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is
improved”. And “Women will work out their destinies – much better too than men
can ever do for them. All the mischief to women has come because men undertook
to shape the destiny of women.” Power of the harasser, abuser or rapists
depends above all on the silence of women.
The
United Nations defines violence against women as “Any act of gender-based
violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental
harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in
private life”. The present paper gives a broad
overview of various issues and challenges of domestic violence against women
particularly in Indian the context.
The Protection
of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 says that any act, conduct, omission
or commission that harms or injures or has the potential to harm or injure will
be considered domestic violence by the law. Even a single act of omission or
commission may constitute domestic violence - in other words, women do not have
to suffer a prolonged period of abuse before taking recourse to law. The law
covers children also. Domestic violence is perpetrated by, and on, both men and
women. However, most commonly, the victims are women, especially in our
country. Even in the United States, it has been reported that 85% of all
violent crime experienced by women are cases of intimate partner violence,
compared to 3% of violent crimes experienced by men. Thus, domestic violence in
Indian context mostly refers to domestic violence against women.
Violence against women a global phenomenon:
1. Globally the most common form of violence experienced by women
is physical violence inflicted by an intimate partner. One in three women have
been abused or subjected to gender-based violence in their lives.
2. In Australia, Canada, Israel, South Africa and the United
States, between 40 and 70 percent of female murder victims were killed by their
intimate partners.
3. Up to 70 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence
from men in their lifetime — the majority by husbands, intimate partners or
someone they know.
4. Both intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women
are major public health problems and violations of women’s human rights.
5. Worldwide, up to 50 percent of sexual assaults are committed
against girls under 16.
6. As many as 1 in 4 women experience physical and/or sexual
violence during pregnancy which increases the likelihood of having a
miscarriage, still birth and abortion.
7. Every year 5,000 women are murdered by their relatives to
protect the “honour” of the family.
8. Women and girls are still being forced into marriages against
their will, particularly in Asia, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. Over
60 million girls worldwide married before the age of 18 primarily in South Asia
(31.3 million) and sub-Saharan Africa (14.1 million).
9. Women
who are beaten by their partners are 48 per cent more likely to be infected
with HIV/AIDS.
10. 2.5
million People are trafficked annually into situations including prostitution,
forced labour, slavery or
servitude. Women and girls account for about 80 per cent of the
detected victims.
In the past:
Culture
outlook and historical perspective of society always reflects in present-day
behavioral pattern of a society. In the past, 6th -7th century
onwards, due to continuous foreign invasions on the country, women’s position
in the society had worsened.
Basic human rights denied – Slave like condition and inhuman treatment to
women had become a common practice. Basic human rights were denied to women
during this period. Seventh century onwards, Muslim and British attacks had
given birth to many social evils like child-marriage, Sati, ‘Purdah-system,
complete segregation of women from outside world. Restrictions were imposed on
women-movements.
Post-Independence:
Constitution
of India has guaranteed equal protection for all its citizens irrespective of
gender. Several legislative interventions to protect and deal with special
crimes against women have also been framed over the years. Domestic violence
and collective forms of violence like communal or caste violence, targeting
women have also been acknowledged as serious crimes.
Many
institutional mechanisms have been created like National and State Commissions
for women. Government and NGO’s are continuously working for empowerment and
emancipation of women. India is also a signatory to several international
conventions that protect the rights of women.
Slow but steady Progress – Modern women have come out of their protective
shell – four-walls of the house. They are trying their best to restore lost
prestige and secure due place in modern world. They have marched ahead, though
slowly but steadily with tremendous self-confidence and inner strength. They
are actively participating in nation-building activities and have paved way
even into the precincts, which have been considered as an exclusive male
preserve. Their entry there is resented by some persons, but women are facing
it bravely. They work very hard to prove their worth and make their presence
felt.
Position still not very satisfactory – Position of
women remains pathetic despite all efforts of governmental and non-governmental
agencies after the independence. Only a small number of women could come up,
that too in big towns with access to modern education and limited employment
opportunities. Conceptualization of man-woman relationships and their
representation in institutions like family, community, religious agencies,
state, educational institutions etc. are still focused on physical weakness of
woman.
Secondary position in the society – Women are still accorded secondary position in the society.
Credit of their contributions goes to society, nation or to their male
counter-parts, who have retained power, prestige and pleasures of the world
leaving women remain ignorant, illiterate and ill-informed, invisible and
unrewarded.
Violence
against women includes, but is not limited to:
1. Gender-based violence
2. Rape, marital rape and incest
3. Murder and assault including dowry-related violence and honour
killings
4. Forced marriage
5. Female genital mutilation
6. Human trafficking including cross-border prostitution rings and
bride kidnappings
7. War crimes including rape as a weapon of war
Issues/
Problems:
Violence crosses all borders, age, castes, classes and communities:
Growing
number of crimes like molestation, rape, torture and murder for dowry, sexual
harassment at workplace, trafficking and girl child-abuse indicates that
violence and discrimination against women is on rise over the years. It is an
issue that crosses all borders, age, castes, classes and communities – be
it a girl child, a married woman, a single woman, a working woman, refugees or
women belonging to lower strata of society living in urban or rural areas.
Women suffer from multiple forms of violence whether it is within the four-walls
of house or in public places or work-place.
Domestic Violence:
Family
provides proper safety-net for girls and women. Indian women find in
family/marriage some rights and security. They prefer to depend on their male
members for financial and safety measures. Emotional and financial dependence
of women gives birth to egoistic tendencies in men with negative mindset. They
start imposing their decisions on wife and other female members of the family.
Age-old
shackles have curbed their freedom. In her journey from ‘womb to tomb’, a woman
suffers from social discrimination and evil social practices within family at
some point or the other. Feticide, infanticide, discrimination against
girl-child in matter of nutrition, education, physical assaults, dowry,
ill-treatment at in-law’s place, bride burning, Sati, apathy towards widows and
old women, no freedom to take her decisions, unequal and improper property
rights, are a few examples. The list is endless.
Outside home – Outside home also, women suffer because of lesser
job opportunities, unequal treatment of employers/seniors at work-place,
trafficking physical assaults etc. Lack of education and skill-forming training
tends many females to work as marginal labor in unorganized sector, where they
get meager wages and are exploited. Increased discriminatory practices have
adversely affected their day today’s life.
Working women - Work-load at domestic as well as at work-place and strain of
keeping with times and societal yardsticks are putting increasing pressure on
women in absence of strong family bonds and traditional support
systems. Pregnant women/new mothers are at disadvantage, while being
considered for promotion/important assignments. Employers hesitate to hire
young women fearing potential pregnancy. They fall much behind their male
counter-parts after marriage due to familial responsibilities. Many women drop
out to raise children and other familial liabilities.
Urban women – A majority of urban women suffer due to illiteracy
or lack of formal skill- building training. They mostly work as domestic helps.
Economic pressures on nucleus families, culture of two-income families and
withering away of traditional family support-systems, deteriorating
value-system adds to their miseries. Fast developments in the world materialism
and consumerism have put great pressure on urban women.
Rural women – Rural unskilled women mostly suffers because of
illiteracy, poverty and unemployment. Poverty frequently pushes
unemployed men to leave their families behind and go to distant places in
search of jobs. In about 30% to 35% rural households, women are sole
breadwinner bearing alone the responsibility to raise children and run the
household. They usually work in fields, where they are monetarily and physically
exploited. Rural women suffer more than urban women in three critical
areas:
1. Lack of sound education and skill-generating learning.
2. Health issues.
3. Inaccessibility of proper credit resources.
Women of privileged class – Women of privileged class are under social and
religious restrictions than under-privileged class. They usually fall victim to
social evils like infanticide, dowry, Purdah, Sati, inhuman treatment to widows
(young or old) especially in Northern India, Bengal and Rajasthan or polygamy
(mostly in southern part of India).
Women of sub-merged section of society – Women of backward
section have greater laxity and freedom than advanced section of society. They
exercise more freedom in their day-today-life. ‘Purdah system’ has never been a
common practice in rural areas. Divorce-remarriage has been common practice
among them for a long time.
They fall
victim of abuse, harassment, humiliation and exploitation, sometimes because of
the laziness, alcoholism, vices, helplessness of their men-folk, who fail to
rescue their women from the hands of exploiters and sometimes women’s own lack
of courage to face situation. Wife beating, desertions, polygamy are the common
practices amongst them. They usually suffer due to -
1. Class oppression due to poverty,
2. Caste oppression due to inter caste clashes,
3. And Gender oppression.
Alcoholism – When drunk, men vent out their frustrations on
their women – beating their spouses mercilessly, create unwanted scenes,
neglect their families, snatch money, and sell household items to satisfy their
craving for liquor.
Women worst sufferer during emergency – Adversities
of life arising out of economic-crisis, social, psychological and environmental
adverse situations affect women’s world the most. During war- times,
riots, unstable economy, natural calamities and infighting or inter-group or
intra-group clashes, women along-with children are the primary victims and are
worst hit.
Problems with educated and uneducated women – Brutality of
negative mindset persons does neither spare educated women nor uneducated ones.
When a woman tries to break age-old social barriers, gets education to standup
on her feet and live on her own terms, deteriorated law and order conditions do
not spare them. Illiterate becomes victim of child-marriage and domestic
violence.
It is
difficult to assess the causes and solutions to women’s issues
in a vast country like India, where diversity exists from place to place in
customs, traditions and way-of -living. Problem of safety and security of
women persists in a big way all over. Gender violence is continuously
on rise and political apathy persists more than yester years.
Unfortunately in many cases of humiliation, assaults and insults, own
family-members or known-people are responsible. Government and civil society
has failed to bring a change towards a more gender-just society.
Deep entrenched discrimination and oppression of Women:
Manifestation
of persisting gender bias can be seen in sex ratio (the number of
females per 1,000 males) for the 0-6 age group has dramatically dropped to 914
in 2011, from 927 in 2001 and the crime-rate against women up (as
reported by National Crime Records Bureau, NCRB) from 8.8% in 2007 to 9.4
during 2011. (Leaving aside innumerable unreported-cases) Times of India
(August 25, 2013, p.6) reports crime against women up by 7.1% since 2010.
UNICEF
Reports on Progress of Nations released jointly by Government of India and
UNICEF says that more than 60 million women, who should have been alive today,
are missing. Responsible factors are from feticide to domestic violence to
dowry deaths to physical assaults. Discrimination starts even before women are
born and continue till they die. It exists in the form of -
Feticide – Some new forms of violence have appeared with
technological advances as is evident in case of female feticide, reflecting in
adverse sex-ratio. Social bias in favor of a male-child lead to abortions
(out of 8000 cases of abortions following sex-determination tests, 7999 are
female fetus, according to a Survey) Sex-ratio is continuously declining
allover India except for Kerala. Inefficient and ineffective performance of
political, administrative and economic structures and mechanisms failed to stop
it.
Infanticide – Thousands of newly born baby-girls die with
overdoses of opium. They are abandoned or thrown in rivers or dust bins to die.
Out of abandoned children 90% are girls.
Health
hazards - According to official figures, there is 10% higher
mortality rate for girls than boys due to mal-nutrition in infancy and
childhood. Health Statistics are equally alarming with 80% of them being
anemic.
Physical assaults/Rapes/gang-rapes/molestations – According to a
Report, there are reported cases of one rape every 54 minutes, a molestation
every 26 minutes; and an act of cruelty every 33 minutes. National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB) statistic says – every 20 minutes, a woman is raped
somewhere in India, not to mention the countless number of cases of
molestations or rapes going unreported. Child rape cases have increased by 336%
in the last 10 years. Government data shows crimes by juveniles – especially
rape and abduction of women – has seen exponential rise in the past decade –
from 48.7% in 2002 to 66.5 in 1212. There is dire need to address the issue of
rape in a more powerful manner.
Dowry deaths – Number of dowry-deaths is quite alarming in the
country – a dowry death every one hour forty two minutes. Dowry-related
violence is also in increase. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and
Rajasthan are the states with maximum number of reported cases. Many
cases remain unreported.
Victims of materialistic-culture - Consumerist culture has
triggered off increased atrocities, domestic violence and physical assaults on women.
Millions of girls live under threat of physical abuse.
Female literacy rate – Male-female literacy-rate is 82.14% to 65.46%
according to 2011 census. Employment ratio in organized and unorganized sectors
also points out discrimination against women in job-market.
‘Nirbhaya’s’ episode:
Wake up call – The
most inhuman and brutal gang-rape of an innocent girl ‘Nirbhaya’s’, in a moving
bus on the busy roads of Delhi on 16th December 2012 had woken-up people
from their deep slumber and contributed immensely in igniting the
dormant fire within the hearts of conscientious people. It
had triggered an unprecedented reaction, ignited suppressed
emotions of common-men. Youth’s anguish was amply reflected in
mass-scale protests and agitations allover India.
Reasons for alarming rise – There is an alarming rise in acts
of perverted behavior. The Beijing Conference in September 1995
identified the following reasons: -
1. Persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women
2. Unequal access to education;
3. Inequalities in health care services;
4. Violence against women;
5. Effects of armed conflict on women;
6. Inadequate access to direct participation in the economy and
policy making processes in a country;
7. Inequality in sharing power and decision making;
8. In-sufficient mechanism to promote the advancement of women;
9. Lack of commitment to women’s human rights;
10. In-sufficient
mobilization of mass-media;
11. Lack of support for
women’s contribution to manage the environment;
Other
reasons behind the violence against women in India are –
1. Increasing
number of broken families, growing uncompromising
disputes/differences/disharmony among family members.
2. Alcoholism and influence
of movies leading weak personalities has led to alarming rise in
acts of perverted behavior – like rape of daughter by
father, rape of little girls, passing lewd remarks on girls in public
places, etc.
3. Deteriorating law and order situation,
4. Fall of moral values.
5. Intolerance amongst youth,
6. Ineffective implementation of existing rules and regulations
made to protect women from violence,
7. Inadequacy of ill-equipped, insensitive, understaffed police and
investigative machinery,
8. A number of government mandated commissions including the
National Commission of Women (NCW) and Law Commission existing without teeth,
9. Lack of
political will to overhaul Indian Penal Code (section 354), Indian Evidence Act
and Code of Criminal Procedure.
Challenges/Some
Questions?
Will more stringent laws? – Some people demand new stringent laws, legislative
reforms and some demand amendment in existing laws relating to gender issues.
Others fear that strong laws are more prone to be misused. There will be surge
in filing false cases. More than enacting new stringent laws or
legislative reforms or amendment in laws, the country needs to stop
half-hearted enforcement of already existent laws and implement
them sincerely, honestly and effectively. Accountability of law
enforcement agencies would curb gender-violence to a great extent.
How much education or financial Independence can help? – Question
arises – Will education or financial independence of women curb gender
oppression? May be! However, real life experiences do not support.
Education alone, not enough – Education alone is not good enough for sustainable
development of women-folk. Education raises intellectual level, but it does not
necessarily make women more comfortable responsible, cultured and civilized.
Restraint, self-discipline and rational thinking are also required. Only
quality of education right from the childhood could cultivate much-needed human
values and spirit of civility.
Financial Independence –
Employment makes women economically strong, but socially and emotionally
broken, especially, when children become irritant or in-disciplined. After long
hours in offices, working women hardly get enough time to deal with domestic
chores and attend to handle children properly during their tender age.
Life full of tensions – With dual income, working women shoulder dual
responsibilities – at home and at workplace. Employment increases their
workload and makes life tougher/stressful/tense than home-makers. Ambition,
tough competition at work-place and fewer opportunities for career progression
adds fuel into fire. Saving remains zero after spending on necessary
arrangements and domestic helps.
Remove internal contradictions - India has to get rid
of its internal contradictions – between prosperity and poverty, between plenty
of resource endowments and scarcity of their management, between its culture of
peace and tolerance and its conduct sliding towards violence, intolerance and
discrimination. Its inputs can be kept at international levels, only if
government can address to real basic issues, not the abstract ones.
Half-hearted measures taken by state authority touches only the periphery of
gender-issues.
Comments of a prominent jurist – A prominent jurist commented on the current
situation of rising acts of criminality and violence as: “In Indian
criminal justice system, major crimes are likely to remain unreported; if
reported, frequently not registered; if registered, the true perpetrator not
found; if found, not prosecuted; if prosecuted, not charged; if charged,
usually not convicted; if convicted, frequently not adequately punished. At
each crucial stage, the system has enough loopholes and inefficiencies to allow
the guilty to walk away with impunity.”
“Gender
insensitivity, sluggish judicial system, insensitive law implementers,
inactivity of civil society and alcoholism are some of the main causes of
deteriorating situation in our country.”
Impact:
Domestic
violence has a significant impact on the health and well-being of women both in
the immediate and longer term, continuing even after the relationship has
ended. The psychological consequences of violence can be as serious as
the physical effects. Exposure to violence leads to poorer physical health
overall compared with women who have not experienced violence and it increases
the risk of women developing a range of health problems (World Health
Organization 2000). One Australian study found intimate partner violence
was the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women
aged 15 to 44 (Vic Health 2004).
Some
immediate health impacts may include:
1. Physical injuries - such as cuts, scrapes and bruises,
fractures, dislocated bones
2. Hearing loss
3. Vision loss
4. Miscarriage or early delivery
5. Sexually transmitted diseases
6. Knife wounds
7. Gunshot wounds
8. Homicide
Longer
term health impacts may include:
1. Gastrointestinal disorders associated with stress
2. Headaches
3. Back pain
4. Fainting
5. Seizures
6. Gynecological problems
7. Anxiety
8. Depression
9. Eating disorders
10. Post traumatic stress
disorder
11. Sleep disturbances
12. Alcohol and substance
misuse
13. Smoking throughout
pregnancy
14. Homelessness
15. Suicide
16. Homicide
There are
varied consequences of domestic violence depending on the victim, the age
group, the intensity of the violence and frequency of the torment they are
subjected to. Living under a constant fear, threat and humiliation are some of
the feelings developed in the minds of the victims as a consequence of an
atrocious violence. The consequences of the domestic violence in detail can be
broadly categorized under – the Effect on the victim himself/herself and the
family , Effect on the society and the Effect on nation’s growth and
productivity. The ‘Effect on the victim’ has been further subcategorized for
women, men, children and old.
Impact on the
victim and the family:
Battered
women have tendency to remain quiet, agonized and emotionally disturbed after
the occurrence of the torment. A psychological set back and trauma because of
domestic violence affects women’s productivity in all forms of life. The
suicide case of such victimized women is also a deadly consequence and the number
of such cases is increasing.
A working
Indian woman may drop out from work place because of the ill-treatment at home
or office, she may lose her inefficiency in work. Her health may deteriorate if
she is not well physically and mentally. Some women leave their home
immediately after first few atrocious attacks and try to become self-dependent.
Their survival becomes difficult and painful when they have to work hard for
earning two meals a day. Many such women come under rescue of women welfare
organizations like Women Welfare Association of India (WWAI), Affus Woman
Welfare Association (AWWA) and Woman’s Emancipation and Development Trust
(WEDT). Some of them who leave their homes are forcefully involved in women
trafficking and pornography. This results in acquiring a higher risk of
becoming a drug addict and suffering from HIV/AIDS. Some of course do it by
their choice.
One of
the severe effects of domestic violence against women is its effect on her
children. It is nature’s phenomenon that a child generally has a greater
attachment towards the mother for she is the one who gives birth. As long as
the violence subjected to the mother is hidden from the child, he/she may
behave normally at home. The day when mother’s grief and suffering is revealed,
a child may become upset about the happening deeply. Children may not even
comprehend the severity of the problem. It’s common in especially in rural
homes in India which are victimized by the evil of domestic violence.
In cases
of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), violence against women leads them to
maintain a distance from their partner. Their sexual life is affected
adversely. Many of them file for divorce and seek separation which again
affects the life of children. Some continue to be exploited in lack of proper
awareness of human rights and laws of the constitution.
Impact of
Domestic Violence on the society:
All the
different forms of violence discussed in this essay adversely affect the
society. Violence against women may keep them locked in homes succumbing to the
torture they face. If they come out in open and reveal the wrong done to them
for help and rescue, it influences the society both positively and negatively.
At one hand where it acts as an inspiration and ray of hope for other suffering
women, on the other hand it also spoils the atmosphere of the society. When
something of this kind happens in the society, few families may witness the
evil of domestic violence knocking their door steps. Some families try to
imitate what others indulge in irrespective of it being good or bad for the
family.
Impact on the
productivity:
As
mentioned earlier, domestic violence affects the productivity level of the
victim negatively. Men and women lose interest in household activities. If they
are employed they fail to work with full capabilities in workplace. Children
are found to concentrate less on studies. They drop out of school and do not
get the education which otherwise they might have got if they were not
tormented and thus the country loses a productive asset. Therefore, the
nation’s productivity altogether gets affected because of domestic violence in
homes. People need to spend their part of income for medication when they are
met with worse forms of domestic violence which again leads to loss in productive
use of a family’s income. The cumulative effect of the domestic violence at all
levels and across all regions is the country’s hindered development and slow
economic growth.
Measures/
Remedies:
Intervention and action at multiple levels:
Efforts
done so far on gender issue defy basic and simple solutions. Elimination of all
kinds of violence against women requires
channelizing simultaneously the attention and efforts of all the
concerned people and work together. This sensitive issue needs intervention and
action at multiple levels – state, society and individuals in public and
private capacities.
At government’ level:
Amongst
immediate steps, the most important task of government is to arrest
continuously deteriorating law and order situation. There should be vigilant
policing round the clock both in cities and suburban areas and more
women police officers in all police stations.
Speedy
and time-bound justice is needed urgently. Delayed justice emboldens the
spirits of criminal-minded elements in society, who take advantage of
loopholes in law, and which enables them to escape. Many culprits go
off scot-free even after committing a heinous crime.
Reforming
the structure and systems of governmental institutions engaged in the
law-making and enforcement tasks are highly desirable, but it
may take a longer time.
At Society’s level:
Inculcation human values –
The focus of the society should be on finding out root causes of the
problems related to various women-issues in different places. Values and social
practices may differ from one group of people to
another and from region to region, but human
values remains the same.
Change in
the mind-set – Gender sensitization is the need of the time. The
attitude of conservative patriarchal society, which looks upon women as
second-grade citizens – inferior to men, should be changed. A radical change in
the mind-set of people is necessary to give women their rightful place in
society without any gender-discrimination. People must be sensitized to treat women
in a manner befitting the role played by them as loving and caring
mothers, affectionate sisters, cute daughters and good companions. There is
dire need to focus the attention of society on social, educational,
economic, health and legal needs of women.
Under the
inspiring guidance of many women leaders and social reformers, the
movement for women’s emancipation is gaining momentum.
Role of Non-Governmental Institutions/Organizations:
Non-governmental
organizations and institutions should conduct series of seminars, workshops
meetings at different places on various aspects of violence/oppression against
women. They should discuss in depth the gravity, enormity and dangers of
continuously deteriorating law and order position, deteriorating human values,
self-centered attitude of individuals and alarming rise in bestial acts against
women, which makes it very unsafe for women to move freely outside their homes
and try to find out remedy for it.
Media:
Media
should bring women issues to public domain in a forceful manner. They can play
an important role in spreading awareness. They can provide a platform to
speakers and panelists from different fields, eminent personalities
responsible for decision-making to share their views and conduct an in-depth
study on various gender issues, and view it holistically touching
various aspects of the problem. Views of some of the victims of atrocities
should also be taken to understand their unpleasant experiences
and the manner in which they came over the agonies they suffered because
of inhuman acts.
At family’s level:
Family
and “Home, sweet home” is the first and foremost institution, where children
learn first lesson of humanity and social relationships. Family is the best
place to inculcate positive values – like honesty, simplicity, modesty, sense
of responsibility and respect for elders – amongst children and youth of
both the sexes.
Childhood
is the most formative, educative and impressionable time in a human’s life and
most appropriate time for inculcation of such values, as it
remains permanently and firmly embedded in their
delicate psyche throughout their life.
There is
something fundamentally wrong in the way, younger generation especially boys
are brought up within modern families. Inculcation of positive values would go
a long way in creating an atmosphere, wherein women can move around freely
in society without any fear whatsoever. Training for gender sensitization
should be imparted within the family. Right from the beginning, all the
children should be treated equally, without any gender-bias.
It is
important to teach boys not to treat women inhumanely or as commodity or
personal property, but to treat all them with respect, so that when they grow
up they develop a protective attitude towards women. Real strength of
manhood lies in treating women with gentleness, respect and in protecting
women’s dignity and honor. Treating women inhumanly is not Indian culture. It
shows inherent weakness of men.
On women’ part:
Women can
contribute a lot in creating a cultured prosperous society and
bringing about much desired social re-awakening. They, by virtue of their soft
and sensitive nature, can spread the culture of ‘loving, caring and
sharing’, of beauty in life, of cleanliness – clean houses, clean streets,
clean bodies and clean minds.
Instead
of silently bearing all the atrocities perpetrated against them, women should
raise their voice against injustice; create awareness amongst women about their
rights and channelize their efforts by writing articles, organizing seminars,
workshops etc.
Irrespective
of their social status in society, they should join hands, and work in a
spirit of unity. They should raise their voice boldly against social
evils like dowry, bride-burning, female infanticide, etc.
Women
should share their experiences with one another – be it a conference, a
home-party or a ladies’ meeting – how they are being discriminated
against in different walks of life and how they should tackle situation. By
sharing their concerns with one another, they would be in a better position to
understand the women’s issues and to find appropriate methods
for highlighting them through various media.
Women
should exercise utmost vigilance both at the mental and physical
level to ensure their safety and security, so that no one could exploit
them when placed under adverse circumstances in life. They must
always be prepared for self- defense by getting training in Karate etc.
There is
tremendous scope to work for them – be it is within family or in the areas of
reforms social, economic practices, in education and training or spreading
awareness in women of weaker sections to cope-up with new developments.
How to deal with the problem? Core Committees
In a vast
country like India, where so much of diversity exists in customs, traditions
and way of living, the causes and the solutions
to women’s problems differ from place to place. For dealing them
effectively -
Core
Committees should be formed at local level involving experts,
contentious citizens, young boys and girls with a purpose to spread awareness,
inculcate positive values amongst people of all ages; help victimized women,
give new suggestions to curb crimes. After all ‘prevention is better than
cure’; continuously evaluate/monitor the progress and plan for better future.
Bring three generations together – For proper upbringing of children and inculcating
spirit of tolerance and good values in younger generations, living of three
generations under one roof should be encouraged. It will make people to
understand the feelings, needs and problems of each-other. It will also reduce
the generation gap and bring elders, youth and children closer.
Safe and secure place to stay – There
is a need to make proper and enough arrangements for safe and secure place of
stay (hostels) for girl-students and working women, who have go away from their
homes and live alone in different new unknown places to pursue their studies or
work in offices.
Rehabilitation of victimized – Proper arrangements
like short-stay/shelter-homes, family counseling centers should be made for
protection and rehabilitation of victimized women or women in distress.
Conclusion:
In recent
times, Indian society is passing through a very difficult phase when human
values have reached an abysmally low level. Constantly deteriorating
condition of law and order situation has added fuel into the fire
making life of women miserable. Common-men demand effective Government
action and sincere implementation of the laws along with swift justice to curb
the increasing violence against women/girl-child. India needs to change
people’s perception/mindset about women’s fundamental rights for justice,
safety, security, equality and freedom. It should never ever be forgotten
that woman is a source of immense power. Without women, men-world stands
no-where. It is the Woman, who is the creator of a new life, sustainer and
educator of the new generation. It is also the woman, who comes in man’s world
with color and pleasure as a loving and caring mother, affectionate sister,
cute daughter and compatible companion. It is time to remember India’s
age-old rich cultural heritage and values wherein women were
treated with great respect in society. Our learned
ancestors and personalities of eminence accorded a very high
and coveted position to women, eulogizing them through use
of Divine names like ‘Lakshmi’ (Goddess of Wealth), ‘Annapurna’
(sustainer of human life), ‘Sarasvati’ (Goddess of knowledge) and ‘Durga’
(Goddess of Power). Domestic violence against women prevails because we
allow it. Speak up. Stop the Silence. Each of our effort counts and let this
rage of violence end once and for all.
It is the
appropriate to conclude this paper with an ancient Sanskrit Shloka (poem) which
tells about model couples
Laxmi Naraayanau
-GouriSankarou Bharathi Vidhi
Chaaya
Suryaou –Rohinidu –Raxetham Cha Vadhuvarou
There are
five types of couples in the world:
Laxmi
stays in the heart of Visnhu- heart and thoughts must be one and same
Gouri is
the half body of Siva – thoughts and execution of actions are same
Sarasvthi
resides at the tongue of Brahma: speech and meaning must be one and same
Chaya
(shade) follows Sun: sun is very ferocious but his wife Chaya is very
calm
Rohini is
very hot and but her husband moon is very cool.
These
five types of couples lead their lives with great pleasure and peace with
prosperity
References:
United
Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, 1993
http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/299-fast-facts-statistics-on-violence-against-women-and-girls-.html
Facts and
Figures on Violence against Women, UN Women, 2011
UNITE to
End Violence Against Women Fact Sheet
The Age
Distribution of Missing Women in India; S. Anderson & D. Ray; Economics
& Political Weekly; Dec 2012
Panda, P.
and Agarwal, B. 2005. Marital Violence, Human Development and Women’s Property
Status in India. World Development. 23(5): 823-850.
Panda, P.
2004. Domestic Violence Against Women in Kerala. Kerala Research Programme on
Local Level Development Centre for Development Studies. 6: 1-44.
Koenig,
A. M., et al. 2006. Individual and Contextual Determinants of Domestic Violence
in North India. American Journal of Public Health. 96(1): 132-138.
Martin L.
S. et al. 1999. Domestic Violence in Northern India. American Journal of
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UNICEF.
2000. Domestic Violence Against Women And Girls. UNICEF Innocenti Digest. 6:
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Centre
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