Crime in India

Hyderabad Gang Rape & Murder

The recent rape and murder of lady in Hyderabad evoked extreme passions all over the country and rightly so. This horrendous incidence should never have taken place if the security paradigm was efficient and on toes. Anyway this was preceded by many such ghastly incidences where the women were the sufferers, and some even lost their lives.

Crime & Our Attitude

In case of all such happenings there is lot of hue and cry in the aftermath. But like a receding tempest a bout of amnesia occurs and everything is soon forgotten...and then another jolt reawakens but then too nothing happens. We continue to trudge on the same path without any lessons learn't and requisite changes made. We are sleep walking?

Keeping in mind the complexity of law nevertheless there should be a high conviction rate of people involved in criminal acts.

The Accused

Those involved seemed to be illiterate, impoverished and under the influence of alcohol. But this impression does not justify crime anyway. To rape and kill a hapless lady in such brutal manner is a  dreadful act no human should commit...and unpardonable.

Our Society

We can blame the society and social mores as well. But societal paradigm takes ages to change and is an evolutionary process shaped by contemporary lifestyles of the masses and the education systems prevailing at all rungs. At the best our dispensations use a ban rather then seeking alternative remedies and tools.  So what is the remedy?

Should we place additional security where women could be vulnerable?

Should we increase the range of Mahila Police? And induct more?

That we should fetch paramount changes in the justice system is evident. We should strenghen our internal security is also evident. But there many other innervating factors within. 

But the major impact that  will reduce crime in the country would be delivered by the judiciary and law and order mechanism. Both at the present circumstances do not discourage or impede crimes in India at all.

I am not a legal expert but is judiciary and law and order mechanism still steeped in the archaic? Shaped perhaps during the Raj, the system calls for rapid transformation into the contemporary and the prevailing conditions in the country. 

The consequent encounter that followed (in self defense) by police killed the criminals was lauded by one and all. Convinced that the the accused had committed this gory crime and had no right to life thereafter.

But have we given a thought further regarding misuse of policing power?

The unfortunate victim has been delivered justice and may her soul rest in peace. No one should undergo such suffering. 

But this event speaks loads about how justice is imparted in India, and raises questions in the mind of the commons regarding the systems that prevail. 

The easy availability of bail and indefinitely procrastinated legal process is an encouragement to those with propensity to commit crimes. The legal proceedings are further complicated by the connivance of the investigation agencies at least those who are corrupt. We should also take into account the bending of law or complete denial and twisting of evidence due to the influence of the powerful and wealthy. We are completely aware regarding these maladies. 

Reducing corruption in our police force and investigation bodies will fetch in a dramatic change in crime landscape.

But speaking about institutional corruption a lot many of us the people are also steeped deep into it. It has sort of become an inherent characteristic of many.  A lot of us look for easy way out, and whence seeking short cuts do not hesitate to grease palms. Not all corrupt instances are forced upon public.

We need to say No! First!

The possibility of early bail is a common knowledge, and hence does not deter a criminal act. In our country bail spells literally freedom forever albeit this is not always the case.

Who will step forward in this country to ameliorate injustice by plugging the lacunae and fortifying the systems at fast pace only time will tell? Certainly not the squabbling politicians and the lethargic management.

Till then seek mercy from the Divine? Jai Hind!

Empowering Women

MP Government Initiatives

As per recent newspaper reports the Government of Madhya Pradesh has accorded significant concessions for women working in its institutions and public concerns. These concessions are in order to counter negative approach towards women in India. Under MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan a number of steps have been taken to mitigate this deep routed malaise prevailing in our society.  The campaign and schemes hope to stem the rot and also to improve female to male child ratio which is unbalanced due low number of female births in Central India. 

Beti Bachao Abhiyan (Save & Educate the girl child) is an effort that stands out as hallmark development in order to erase or mitigate the social evil that is lurking amidst us, and speaks a lot about gender inequality. These campaigns are not only to empower women economically but also to emancipate them from years of drudgery as a result of social prejudices and male prerogatives. For change in attitude and proper education are the ways to achieve emancipation as envisaged in these campaigns.

Another scheme worth a mention is Ladli Laxmi Yojna. The main objective of this scheme is to improve the health and education status of the girl child as well as to remove prejudices against the girl child.  

Gender Inequality 

This harrowing instance attributed to pervasive mindset is deep rooted and has led to number of infant deaths due to heinous crimes and neglect. Throughout the recent history the girl child has been the sufferer. This has resulted in physical neglect and even persecution of the unfortunate child born as a female. Another reason that labels girl child as a liability is the social cost that arises out of inclination for dowry and marriage expenses. The former is a crime and the latter is unfavorably loaded on the girl's family. Till this day even among many educated families only the male progeny is the center of care and attention. This attitude is adopted brazenly or subtly but anyway it points to a deep seated prejudice.

Superior status accorded to the male gene is widespread prevalent within the society consciously or unconsciously. We simply refuse to accept that a girl child augurs family genes. This misconception will take a large timespan to erode. This will require drastic change in our thoughts, reassessment of value systems and lot of acceptance as far as correcting the gender inequality tilt prevailing amongst us. The disbalance is further accentuated by labeling the opposite sex as physically and socially weaker. This has led to the inferior status. This notion has significantly reduced the leadership or participatory role that could have been accorded to women in nation building.              

For centuries women have been the sufferers as a result of such tilted inclinations. Some of the bias is prevalent in many countries as well - especially the underdeveloped ones and many theocratic states.  

The superiority accorded to male gender is based on number of  misguided notions that has roots in our beliefs, the social structure, economic perceptions and to some extant history. Women have always been considered as inferior to men and are meant to do household chores, oblige men in number of ways and be servile. Economic dependency and lower social status are some of the major reasons that has resulted in suppression of women in India. The inequality that stems out from the misconceptions have incarcerated women further leading to lack of freedom both economic and social. 

Historically women have been subject to extreme exploitation, rape during conquests and enslavement that  has wrongfully justified their status as an object of possession and a matter of honour. As a result practice like Sati originated in India. Though this statement may appear harsh but then it is a fact. Read history, the reawakening will widen scope of vision favourably if it brings forth the realization that we have not accorded an equal status to the opposite sex since time immemorial.   

Blame it on mindset, socio-religious values or historical perception this malaise in our society has to be uprooted fast and proper if we have to shine as a developed nation.