When can Women and children feel safe?

Minor cousins’ gang raped and hanged in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh, six-year-old raped in Bangalore by a teacher inside the school campus, Dalit girl was gang raped and killed in a district in Tamil Nadu. These were the news that made headlines in the news papers for the past few weeks.

Contrary to the popular belief, skimpy clothes and short skirts alone don’t drive the man to perform. The survey taken up by IBNLive.com provided interesting insights. The main causes that surfaced were the delayed and denial of justice, the absence of fear of law, insecurity and the deep rooted patriarchy whereas the exposed skin and provocation took a back seat.

We live in a society where the women are still seen as objects rather than for what they are, fellow human beings. Often it is forgotten that they do have their own opinions and emotions. I do not disagree with the fact that more and more women are coming out and are assuming a more independent role and standing up for the cause. But that alone isn’t enough.

Staying inside the house for fear of perverts lurking in the roads isn’t the answer either. Wary of each man we encounter and suspecting everyone who comes into contact will not help. But that is where we are heading, aren’t we?

Maya (name changed), a software engineer in the city whose work demands leaving office after sunset said,” Most of us women work late and we are past the age where we depend on the family for pick up and drop regularly. On one such night when I was walking in the busy road on the way home, I was approached by a man with a request for time and finally my number. He might have just been another decent guy who was genuinely interested and had honest intentions but my instincts were to run and reach home as soon as possible.”

Need of the hour is not trusting your instinct and running away, but enough courage to the face it.

The anti-rape amendment law that was passed after Nirbhaya incident in New Delhi pronounces death sentence to the perpetrator if the crime results in death or vegetable state of the victim. The evil shows no sign of subsiding despite the stringent law. The conviction rate remains at a poor 24.2 percent as per the 2012 reports. (Source: Wikipedia)

Rape isn’t a woman’s mistake; it is the result of a man’s insecurity and cowardice. The way she should be looked is with respect and not pity. If she had enough nerve to live through it she is brave enough to live with it the rest of her life.  I have no good words for the poor excuse of a man who abuse children sexually, chemical castration sounds better when I juxtapose.

Laws have always looked good on the paper than put it to any good use. My friend after looking at the cascading crimes commented,” Making them blind will do more good than putting them to behind the bars and sentencing them to death.” This is something we need to think about. At least this will instill the fear of law which is virtually absent.

When I was chatting with Chandini (name changed), an Indian researcher abroad, she very clearly pointed out that education is the key. Parents should be more proactive in teaching their children about sex, rape and love in India which was almost non-existent. This is where the change should begin in her opinion.

There is no illusion that rape has been happening for a long time but it was only now that they have come into light. Thanks to latest technology young people today 'see more and hear more' whether we like it or not.

It is a sad state of affairs that even the 6 years old cannot escape from the harsh realities of life. This is an era where the babies and girls are forced to grow up and worry for their safety where 20 years back the only worry I had was what chocolates to eat and which game to play!