UP Has To Do Much Better For Its Women
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
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By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2021-01-11 02:49:51
About the Author
Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.
View all posts by this Author
What is happening in UP is horrifying. Although the rapes and murders are abominable in themselves, the response of the administration is what is disturbing. In all cases, first Unnao, then Hathras and now Badaun, the same pattern of police and administrative apathy emerges, signifying a reluctance to acknowledge the crimes and provide swift justice to the victim.
In the Badaun incident, a 50-year-old anganwadi worker was found raped and murdered outside her home after she had visited a temple. The brutal assault was allegedly carried out by a priest and two of his associates (who were arrested two days after the crime). As usual, the police had initially refused to register an FIR and even dithered with the postmortem. But the glare over the role of the police and the administration in the inaction in previous cases forced the police into action this time. The state government has promised stern action against the culprits.
It is surprising that despite the Supreme Court having laid down the guidelines which the police must follow in such cases, the UP police do not go by the rule book. The initial response is always of denial which is clearly manifested in the manner the local police station refuses to lodge an FIR. The investigation is also not carried out swiftly and properly in most cases which allows the culprits to sometimes escape the punishment they so strongly deserve. This has to change if UP is to become a safer place for women.
But Chandramukhi Devi, a senior member of the National Commission for Women, shocked all and sundry when she said that such crimes against women would not happen if they had the sense not to venture out alone at odd hours. Instead of calling upon the administration to provide safety for women at all hours, she proceeded to set 'odd hours' for women. It is this kind of repulsive thinking that perpetuates the idea that women are the weaker sex. Chandramukhi Devi has no business being a member of a body that looks after women's welfare if she harbours such regressive thoughts.
pic courtesy: cropped from a collage by amarujala
