violence against women

Violence against women—A social disease

Sunita Murmu of West Bengal has got recognition for her bravery from PM Man Mohan Singh on 22.01.2011.The girl in question was paraded naked by the influential leaders of her village Battala on the month of May 2010 because she dared to communicate with a boy who was non-adibasi.Still , without losing courage she identified the criminals.

Date—9.02.2011----A youth named Mojammel threw acid on a young girl after getting refusal from her for marriage.

There is no dearth of instances of violence against women in recent times. A 16 year old teenager was allegedly molested by an Army Jawan inside Fort William in Kolkata on the month of February & she tried to end her life. This incident arouses another query. How safe is our country in the hands of this kind of Jawan who destroys a girl’s life?

Delhi, the capital city has become unsafe for women. The rape of a 77 year old woman by a rickshaw puller in March 13  is another addition in the crime tally against women there.

Remember the infamous Banda rape case which left Mayawati Government bristling? Here the victim, a 17 year old poor girl was reportedly sexually assaulted by BSP MLA Purushottam Naresh Diwedi & his men. Later she was accused of theft & thrown into prison in Banda in UP for a month. Law makers are law breakers!

The question is, is allotting just one day throughout the year enough to respect women? Does it suggest that atrocity towards women should be continued except on that particular day? Are women safe inside their home? Not really so. According to latest National Family Health Survey—iii, which interviewed 1.25 lakh women in 28 states in 2005-06, over 40% of women reportedly being beaten by their husbands at some point of time. Over 51% of the 75000 men interviewed didn’t find anything wrong with assaulting their wives.

On the month of January, an Indian diplomat’s wife has accused her husband of torturing her.

Actually the problem of this social disease lies in the very mindset of the people. It has spread its wings from society’s higher level to lower level  through heinous acts like killing female foetus, expellant of women from house for giving birth to girl child, sometimes they are burnt alive for dowry.

It has been seen that whenever media highlighted such cases like Jessica Lal or Priyadarshini Mattoo case, steps have been taken. But many such incidents remain behind public eye because of the hesitation of victim.

We worship power of women through Durga puja & Kali puja .But the increased rate of eve-teasing at that time is enough to prove our disrespect towards them. Saraswati is the Goddess of wisdom. Yet many girls are deprived of education in our country. Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth & prosperity. Still women are tortured for dowry. All these acts show our hypocrisy.

Only education can change the mindset of people, only it can enlighten the dark side of society. We should realize that humility, meekness  are not enough to describe a woman. Knowledge, protest, mental strength is also synonymous to womanhood.