August 8, 2014
Ratna De Nag speaks on atrocities on women in India | Transcript
Sir, the issue of violence against women has been receiving increasing concern in recent years. There is a growing recognition that nations cannot achieve their full potential as long as women’s right to participate fully in their society is denied. Gender based violence not only violates human rights but also restricts economic growth and undermines development. It can only be eliminated by addressing discrimination and promoting women’s equality and empowerment. Here, I would like to mention something about my State, West Bengal. My Chief Minister Kumari Mamata Banerjee is trying to empower women with limited resources. For example, she has introduced Kanyashree scheme to help the girl child to study. She has taken steps for establishment of women police stations in different districts, set up hostels for girl children and taken steps for 30 per cent reservation for women candidates in Lok Sabha. After consultation with banks, she was able to increase the loans for self-help groups. The principle of gender equality and women’s rights are enshrined in our Constitution. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also advocates positive discrimination in their favour.
310 Women constitute nearly half of the country’s total population as per the 2011 census. The Delhi gang rape of December 2012 outraged the nation. What irks me most is the people behind this heinous crime are yet to get punishment. Justice delayed is justice denied. We have to see that fast track courts are really fast in dispensing justice. There is a need to plug all loopholes so that we punish the culprits as early as possible.
Since then, unfortunately, more and more atrocities against women were reported from different parts of the country, recent being the Meerut gang rape. What is stopping the Central Government from setting up more special courts or fast track courts to try these atrocities against women? It is of interest to know that the fast track courts were first thought of by the 11th Finance Commission for 2000-05, as an ad hoc institution to address the urgent problem of backlog of atrocities. We cannot take the issue of growing incidents of atrocities against women as a global phenomenon. There is an urgent need to address the problems being faced by women and girls, who are subject to physical and sexual abuse, psychological and economic abuse, and all sorts of assaults also. Widespread and harmful traditional practices including early and forced marriages within the community-setting, feticide and trafficking in women are receiving interesting attention. I say so because these unsavoury developments in their lives at such an early stage would leave an indelible impact as they grow and their attitudes towards life it changes. It is disturbing to any right-thinking person to know that in India, every 26 minutes a woman is molested; every 34 minutes, a rape takes place; every 42 minutes, a sexual harassment incident occurs; every 43 minutes, a woman is kidnapped; every 93 minutes, a woman is burnt to death over dowry, but last not least, one-quarter of the reported rapes involve girls under the age of 16 years. India has the largest young population – 42 per cent are below the age of 18 years. Of late, sexual harassment of school children has come as a great shock.
311 Bangalore school children plight is gruesome. But this is not an isolated incident. We often come across the exploitation of children in juvenile homes and orphanages. These orphanages and juvenile homes should be monitored with the intention of ensuring safety and security of children. These homes should not become a den for sexual harassment of children. There are no dearth of laws, Acts, procedures, rules and regulations.
But the problem is about its implementation. Proper measures should be put in place to see that all the laws and Acts related to women and children should be implemented in letter and spirit and justice is delivered to them in time. With 62 MPs in this 16th Lok Sabha and with the 73rd and the 74th Amendments to the Constitution of India, women have reservation of seats in the local bodies in Panchayats and Municipalities; and we have been demanding 33 per cent reservation for women. India is surging ahead in every conceivable field and we come across incidents of atrocities against women.
This is really a tragedy of the worst kind. Violence against women and children requires a comprehensive and systemic response by all the stakeholders.
Men have a role, especially in preventing violence and this role needs to be further explored and strengthened. Work to end violence against women requires not only a clear demonstration of political commitment but also systemic and sustained action backed by strong, dedicated and permanent institutional mechanism. The Government should take the responsibility for the systemic collection and publication of data, supporting NGOs, academics or others engaged in such activities. Only legislations and law-enforcement agencies cannot prevent the incidence of violence against women. There is an urgent need for social awakening and changing attitude of the society to give due respect and equal status to women.
In this regard, all stakeholders should come forward to forge an alliance to defend the rights of women and children. At last, I live with the hope of seeing a day and time when women will lead a life of dignity and honour in this great country of ours without having to face any type of atrocity whatsoever and every child enjoys life to the fullest by playing, learning and living with all the love and affection showered on him. This is not going to be a dream. It would become a reality provided we all strive together and everyone in the society contribute to these cherished goals towards our women and children. Thank you.
