Collective effort a must to check crime against women
Today, atrocities against women have become a burning issue. Newspapers, periodicals, TV serials are frequently highlighting rape, murder, dowry harassment, sexual exploitation and oppression of young girls in families. However, most such cases never come to notice of masses. In those rare cases, in which the perpetrators of crime are apprehended, it takes years to bring them to justice. In the meantime, the victimised woman, awaiting justice, is doubly penalised as she goes through mental torture because of social stigma.
It is surprising that our so-called civilized society continues to be more or less indifferent to such anti-social destructive elements. Why are reactions to such horrid happenings confined only to movies, TV serials, newspapers and gossip? Obviously, no administrative or law enforcement agency, whatever be its strength or coverage, can give assurance of protection to women in every nook and corner of the country.
Until women themselves become seriously aware of t heir social responsibility and undertake a collective endeavour to fight the menace, they will continue to suffer endlessly.
The root cause of crime against women in this country is the social stigma of woman being dependent for self-defence, vulnerable to exploitation and incapable of retaliation to injustice.
Besides, by passive acceptance of this falsely created image of womanhood, woman herself has been under- valuating her strength. In this country, woman is an epitome of forbearance. Taking this virtue as indication of vulnerability, anti-social elements have become emboldened to commit crime against women.
Once these elements become aware that they are certain to face immediate retaliation by individual and collective force of women, they will think twice before embarking upon any misadventure. Keeping the dual objective of empowering women individually and collectively, the women of Gayatri Mission of Uttar Pradesh is forming flying squads of women.
The volunteers of these squads will be imparted crash courses in self-defence and management of situations for deterrence of crime against women, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies and other institutions.
Keeping in touch with the local administration and law enforcement agency, they will ‘gherao’ the Romeos and confront stalkers. Photographing the miscreants with their mobile phones, they will collect evidence so that the administration may take necessary action.
They will also help in confidentially counselling and protecting women from domestic violence. All conscientious, responsible, courageous girls are expected to step forward and join this movement.