Extreme punishment needed
R ape and sexual harassment are now common cases in the news today (“Manager molests cleaner he hired on hourly basis”, Gulf News, September 26). Exploiting female colleague at the workplace has now became a practice for some employers. They take advantage of their situation and misuse their designation to exploit their female employees. But such cases are not easy to deal with, so we have to check both sides of the story. Help should be taken from the office staff, CCTV footage and any other evidence of sexual assault to probe the case properly. It is very hard to conclude such cases until complete evidence is found. If the employer is found guilty he should be given capital punishment so that it would be a lesson for all other employers. They will think 100 times before harassing a female employee. From Mr Lodhi Azmatullah Khan Aurangabad, India
Treat employees respectfully
R egarding the manager molesting the cleaner he hired, it was sad and unethical. Workers of any category coming for a job, should be respected. Any expatriate should be treated with dignity. Employers should not think of their employees as slaves. People are coming to work from other countries for their livelihood and should be protected, not harassed like this. Whoever has done this crime, irrespective of their nationality, should be punished. This will be an eye opener for others who want to indulge in activities like these. Women are respected globally and the UAE is focusing on women empowerment. I hope the victim will get justice. From Mr K. Ragavan India
India: A democracy?
T he Indian police using force to stop a student protest against the harassment of women, and the subsequent negligence to deal with the issue by the university authorities, was handled in the worst manner possible (“Crackdown on BHU students: Two police officials removed”, Gulf News, September 27).
Whilst it is true that the protest was steadily becoming violent, the vicechancellor could have diffused the situation by encouraging a peaceful dialogue with the leaders of the protest. The increasing number of student-led protests across different university campuses in India is highlighting the poor communication skills between the university authorities and the student body. Squashing these protests, where the students
are actively seeking dialogue, with the use of force, encroaches on the people’s right to question and challenge power, along with the status quo.
In this case, the police even used force against journalists covering the protest, which is a threat to the freedom of the press. How can India boast of being “the largest democracy in the world” when it’s incapable of addressing an issue as basic as women’s safety?
The university and the national government should look towards reforming how they deal with protests, as this incompetence is unacceptable in a modern democracy. From Ms Aishwarya Banerjee Dubai
Dark side of fame
T he glamour of the silver screen attracts youngsters because it involves popularity, money and status. However, only scandalous news and views are shared from the film industry (“Bollywood producer Morani surrenders in rape case, September 25). Not knowing what is waiting for them behind the facade, many young women become prey to abuse. Money and power overpower the weak. People are overconfident of not being caught. They believe they can influence bureaucrats and politicians, and free themselves from the clutches of law. As in the case, the dark side of this industry is coming to the surface. It is a good sign that the judicial system is powerful and the trust of the common man in it is still alive. From Mr Arvind P. G India
No get out of jail card
W hile I encourage reading in jails, there should be no reduction in sentences or time the prisoners have to serve (“Read a book to cut your jail time in Dubai”, Gulf News, September 27). Judges carefully sentence the offenders to protect the public. Reading a book alone should not be grounds for re-entry into society. From Mr Gomar Nahasapeemapetilon UAE Facebook comment
Family first
F amily is everything. The more time you spend together, the better chance you have of sharing quality experiences. Eating meals together, discussing the occasions of the day, sharing laughter and tears, playing a game of scrabble, doing chores together and spending some evenings watching movies are examples of shared activities. Amidst the fast paced life of today, some families barely even see each other. Parents may be busy at work, and children may be busy with their friends or gadgets. The US Department of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has developed a programme called the ‘Building Blocks for a Healthy Future’, which focuses on the importance of family time, and reduces the emotional and behavioural problems in children. Therefore family time creates happy memories, helps parents and children reconnect, develops positive behaviour, and strengthens family bonds, while it builds self-esteem in children. Hence family time is the most precious time. From Ms Madhumohan Sreeram Dubai
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