Sunday, February 16, 2014

YOUR VIEWS, PLEASE.

Some of the news items in the recent past have made me wonder if we are really in 21st century where equality of gender is a norm and not at the mercy of those in position of some power, where those in such position of power rather inculcate sense of gender equality without any bias than to take shelter behind issuing medieval dictates.

A week or so ago it was reported that a State Government has transferred 800 male teachers from girls schools. Does it not show the mindset of those in power? Have they not accepted their incapability of ensuring that no untoward incidents of gender harassment take place by inculcating right sense of values as well as meting out exemplary punishments on those found guilty? Next there may be creation of only women villages or localities.

I am all for meting out justice at root level, like Panchayats but it must be without any gender bias. A so called Community Panchayat in Bengal first ensured as prelude to what happened later by imposing fine of Rs 50, 000 on a poor family for their girl talking to a man outside their community knowing very well that the family is not in a position to pay such sum thus leading to that poor girl being gang raped on “legal” order. What are our so called elected representatives doing for this shameful act? Or they are just silent due to vote bank considerations? Or they deny it as not having taken place under their governance?

Today’s news – A girl was paraded in the village with shoes loaded on her head for not obeying dictate of Panchayat. She is married but living away from husband. She was being harassed by some local youths who wanted her to have physical relations with them. On not being able to bear such sexual unwanted harassment, she approached the said Panchayat which ordered her to compromise with those errant persons rather than taking action against them showing clear gender bias. When she did not get desired and justified support from them she approached police and this is what she was punished for. Does it not show that the said Panchayat members wanted her to be a whore with those young men? What are our elected representatives going to do about it? NOTHING, if I am not mistaken as they will be in denial mode.

There are numerous instances of Khap Panchayats issuing dictates for girls -what to wear and what not to , what hours to go out of house  unaccompanied by male escorts if allowed to go out at all, not to have mobile phones, upto what class a girl should be allowed to have education if at all and the list is inexhaustive. Does this not show their mindset of gender bias as instead of ensuring that males give due respect to females by teaching them right sense of values and penalizing ones who default in exemplary ways? And the best is that a Chief Minister of state backs all such Panchayats.  Is it not vote begging gesture?

I also am all for such fast justice mechanisms at root level but WITHOUT ANY GENDER DISCRIMINATION. How will such Panchayat members react if an all women Panchayat issues dictate to chop off P*****s of all young males as they are potential rapists?   

And the worst is that majority of women who can do a lot are passive spectators if not supporters of such dictates.  


May I invite your views, please?

6 comments:

~*. D E E P A .* ~ said...

I come from an area where kaap panchayats do not exist, and hence cannot comment on their necessity.

I do understand that these panchayats were created once upon a time to bring order and address issues within the community. But, what is happening these days shames the country.

Rather than demolish the panchayats, I feel they must be given proper training and awareness. Also, they must be brought into the legal system. they cannot, and should not be allowed to operate out of India's constitution and laws.

As a last resort, the police & courts should abolish the panchayats.

~*. D E E P A .* ~ said...

These people must be made aware that my punishing their women, they are inviting their own doom .... what if the women, out of fear, decide to suicide or run away ... their entire clan will find themselves unable to have heirs !

On a different note, I'll read the posts you mentioned in your previous post-comment in a few days time.

Revacious said...

Jack, all these incidents, in my opinion, show how women in our country are perceived by people in general. The instances you have quoted are very extreme, but even everyday harassment is connected to this same thing. Everytime something like this happens, people must protest loudly, through various media (even blog), to bring a change in this mindset.

~*. D E E P A .* ~ said...

Hi Jack, regarding the qn on my blog, nope I have always written in/on the same blog .. never changed my blog ..

why ? what happened ?

Sorcerer said...

It shows that the legal and enforcement systems of this country should reach out further to prevent such damages.

Khap Panchayats works with more of a racist agenda and is biased.
It can never be called a Panchayat in the first place.

Such instances show how under developed the villages are. NGOs should initiate projects to neutralize such panchayts and to bring them under legal purview or accountability.





Jack said...

DEEPA :

You are lucky to be in area where there are NO KHAP PANCHAYATS. I agree with you that instead of eliminating such organisations we need to educate them to dispense justice without any gender bias or unwanted social taboos. I doubt if I will see such change in my life time. Take care


REVACIOUS :

I agree with you that we need to take steps to protest as well as ensure that no such atrocities take place. Gender equality is a must and we all, specially women, need to educate our children for that. Hope that generation next to mine can see this change in outlook. Take care


SORCERER :

The way these organisation behave now does show that these are no more a legal system but is made for racial or gender discrimination. Politicians do not dare to speak against these as that would upset their vote bank. We definitely need NGOs or such organisations to educate masses about difference in right way of dispensing justice and the biased way. Take care