In a country like India where people talk about equality, feminism, preferential rights and facilities provided to women. Still the question remains “Do they actually get those privileges?” We always get a negative answer. Keeping this aside for once, the most important question is “Are women safe?” If a man has right to go out and work then why still women are restricted to four walls of the houses? Though patriarchal society has improved their thoughts and now women are allowed to get educated and work but still a significant portion of women population need permission for being literate and to work? Isn’t it the fundamental right for everyone? In the country where Durga and Kali are worshiped as goddess, the crime against women is increasing day by day.
The most common crimes against women are rape, domestic violence, acid attacks, eve-teasing, sexual harassment, insulting etc. In India, every 15 minutes a women is raped. In 98% of the cases the rapist is someone known (NCRB’s report 2013). Almost 71% of the cases go unrecorded due to fear of losing respect in the society and humiliation (NCRB’S Report 2006). Ever thought of ‘after rape life’ of a women? When a woman is raped, she has to suffer physical pain, emotional trauma and cruel words of the society all at once. They judge her by the way of her dressing to the way of her speaking as if she was the culprit, not a victim. More than 32,500 cases of rape were registered with the police in 2017, about 90 a day, according to the data published by Government agency. Indian courts disposed off only around 18,300 cases related to rape that year, leaving more than 127,800 rape cases pending at the end of 2017. Of the total rape trials in India, only one out of four cases leads to conviction. No woman is safe, from a new born child of 3 months to even 80 years old lady. Out of every three women, one is victim of domestic violence. Almost 8,233 dowry cases were reported in 2012 (NCRB’S Report). The women who suffer from serious injuries because of physical domestic violence range from 19 – 55%. According to a survey done by Women and Child Development in 2006, it is stated that about 70% of women in India are victims of domestic violence. And we fantasize a crime free nation for women.
In India, where 300 acid attacks occur every year, how can we dream for equality for women or women empowerment when we are not even safe in first place? Some people use ‘Feminism’ in negative sense as if it is an abusive word even when they know nothing about it. The actual meaning of feminism is ‘Getting equal rights, opportunities and treatment’. This fight is not gender specific or blaming one gender for the exploitation of the other. It is a fight for equality. When a man can go out for work and be a father, a woman can also be both mother as well as the CEO of a company. To improve the condition of women safety in India, it is necessary to make strict laws for women and implement them as soon as possible. Fast-track courts with time-bound investigation and conviction should be made. The patriarchal society needs to change their mind set. Men should be taught to respect women from home to work place. A small step can save multiple lives and can protect the basic fundamental rights.