Sunday, July 20, 2014

Rape and sexual assault on women and children - how can India curb these barbaric acts?

Friends, for last about two to three years, there is an unprecedented surge in reports of rapes and crimes against women and elderly people.  Even the crime against toddlers has increased to an alarming scale.  No day has passed through my eyes when I have not read a case of rape or grave sexual assault on women and children in newspapers for last few years.  I feel there is an urgent need of intervention by our government of taking some urgent steps which hitherto not that much thought off.  Our government should be prepared for widespread criticism in implementing these as many people from inside and outside of the government will find their lives difficult in imposing these as their self-interests may hurt.  Let me give you my suggestions in this regard point by point.

1.     Moral Science should be made a compulsory subject to be taught at each level of classes till higher education.  Students should be aware of their duty towards the nation and its citizen.  They should be made aware of what is civil wrong and what they need to do in case someone is in distress.  They should be taught about our laws and constitution at least related to an ordinary citizen for their rights and duties.  For this a panel should be constituted that would frame the syllabus for all the classes.  There should be practical classes as well where the students need to be familiar with those who are deprived and need care, like visiting and giving voluntary services to orphanages, old age homes, hospitals and trauma centers etc.  Passing this subject with a minimum percentage of marks should be made necessary for getting any certificates, diploma or degrees.

2.  At least one year of compulsory services to National Cadet Corps should be ensured so that every student could inculcate the values of patriotism and community services.

3.  Violent and Sexual Contents on Television, Movies should be blocked immediately.  In the name of freedom of media, no such things should be allowed to be produced and screened before Indian audience.  There would be lots of hue and cry against this but that has to be stubbornly handled.

4.  Sexual Contents on Internet should be immediately banned.  These are now available to even eight year olds and have become major agents of moral degradation.  Make strict curb on Pornography industry and sale of porn discs.

5.    Dress codes should be strictly instituted in Schools, colleges, educational institutions and offices.  No men and women should be allowed to wear revealing cloths.  At public places also there should be restrictions on dresses. 

6.   Physical intimacy in public places like parks etc. should be immediately stopped.  Such things should be private affair and not in full public view.  But in the name of policing, undue inspector raj should not be started.  Instead the same should be handled judiciously and with human face like calling their parents and handing them over.

7.   The way Hoardings and billboards are being used for commercial purposes, every crossing and areas of public interest should have moral building slogans and the dos’ and don’ts on these billboards so that these prove a guideline for the citizens.  There should be toll free numbers to contact authorities in case of distress.

8.  Drug paddling, human trafficking and illegal prostitution are one of the major threats to our society.  There should be stringent punishment for these, and capital punishment if a person is found to be involved in such activities on twice or thrice occasions irrespective of the gender of the culprit.    

9.  Check points should be made near pubs and restaurants where the level of alcohol should be tested among pub visitors in cases where they find any suspicious or unruly behavior.  This should be strictly implemented. 

10.   Only licensed owners should be allowed to trade in Alcohol sales.  The time of the sale should be only for few hours and not for the full day and night.  The quota of Alcohol sales should be fixed for each of the dealers.  All illegal hooch centers should be abolished.  Again there would be much hue and cry against this as very big sharks are involved in this who have their connections with bigwig political parties and even the ministers.  But the government has to implement this forcefully.

11.  The states which ban the liquor sale should be rewarded for the same with more developmental grants by Center.

12.  Prostitution should be legalized in order to curb the human trafficking and mushrooming of such activities even in civil societies.  Brothels should be licensed and the sex workers should be given Identity Cards.  The number of additions and exits should be monitored closely.  This department should come directly under the purview of Women and Child development Program.  Their offices should be opened in every district of our country.  Any new additions should be reported to the agency controlling these.  Those involved in these trades should be discouraged by providing them alternative jobs.  If still someone wants to do it voluntarily, allow them to do so.  Service Tax should be imposed on customers of such brothels. 

13. Law implementing agencies including police and administration should have a human face for the sexual assault victims and all assistance should be provided to them including registering the case against the culprits and security to the victims.  CC TV and Video recording facilities should be made compulsory for all police stations for transparency of the proceedings there.  All police stations should have a specialist doctor who would do the tests on the victims without many hassles. 

14. Counseling centers should be opened in every government and private hospital and health center.  Specialized people should be posted who would counsel the sexual assault victims.


Friends, these are some of the suggestions I put forward for our policy makers and Government agencies to ponder on.  I know many things I might have left.  But to start with I think my suggestions may be appreciated in this regard. 


======================================================================== मित्रों यदि मेरा यह पोस्ट आपके दिल को जरा भी छू कर गुजरा हो तो मुझे विश्वास है कि आप मेरे इस प्रयास को लाइक दे कर मुझे और भी अच्छा लिखने की प्रेरणा, स्नेह और आशीर्वाद देंगे। आप अगर मुझे मेरे फेसबुक प्रोफाइल पर फॉलो करते हैं तो आपको मेरे शेयर किये सारे पोस्ट्स आपके नोटिफिकेशन्स में मिलते रहेंगे।

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