To,
The Ministry of Home Affairs and The Ministry of Women and Child Development
I am writing this letter as a responsible and concerned citizen and on behalf of all women. I am anxious about women safety in India. I would like to have the privilege of suggesting some reforms in our country’s judicial and educational sector. I would be very grateful if you read this letter.
In India, women have always been considered as the weaker sex. According to Indians, an ideal girl should be submissive, quiet and obedient. If she breaks these rules and does whatever she wants to do, she should be published. This punishment is given in the form of rape, sexual assault, harassment, etc. That’s why every female is always living under the threat of being molested and can’t live her life as she wants. But for men, on the other hand, this is not the case, they can do whatever they want. Men are considered as stronger sex in our society. Until and unless this mindset is not changed, there will always be rape cases in our country. The patriarchy system in our country should be stoped.
We have been objectifying women for centuries now. We have to put an end to this. In our country, someone else gives an identity to women. Women are considered as objects and everyone can use them as they want to. Women are not considered ambitious and can’t acquire the identity they want. But men can do this. They have all the rights to do whatever they want to. Women are not allowed to give their own opinion unless it pleases everyone. And if she does, she has to face rape threats. For example, men have all the rights for sexual desires but women do not. This right should be given to women as well; they are also human and they can also have sexual desires. It’s natural.
On 16th December 2012, a horrifying rape was committed by four men at night which shocked the entire nation. This crime took place at night in our country’s capital, Delhi. I don’t think I need to elaborate on this case. It was like everyone was living in a bubble thinking that everything is fine. But this case busted our bubble so hard that people were on the street demanding justice for the victim. But it took 7 years for the justice and the girl died in January 2013 because she couldn’t survive her injuries. The judiciary system should be revamped to provide remedies quicker.
Eight years ago in 2012, the women were not safe at night to go out and today in 2020 as well, it is not safe for women to get out at night. This makes it clear that nothing has changed in these eight years. Also, the rape cases have not decreased in these eight years, in fact, they have increased. In 2012, there were 24,923 rape cases and in 2018, there were 33,356 rape cases which were reported. We don’t even know the count of cases which weren’t reported.
What can we do so that women would feel safe in public places? We can set up cameras and street lights everywhere in our country. Not even one corner should leave the camera’s eye. So that there will be no unsafe areas in our country and everyone would be able to travel wherever they want to and at whichever time. We should also maintain the cameras and street lights which are set up.
But what is the use of the camera footage if the police are themselves involved in the rape cases? There are many examples of rape cases committed by the police, for instance, the rape case in Kathua, Kashmir, in 2018. The 8-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by one police, the caretaker of the temple and two more. And the rape of the tribal girl Mathura accused by two policemen at night in the police station in 1972. There are 46 years of difference between these two cases committed by the policemen. If the police themselves committee rape, then how can public trust them? If we want the public to trust the police, there should be strict rules for the accused brought by the Ministry of Home Affairs. We’ve seen how public pressure ahs influenced changes.
Also, there should be no discrimination when it comes to the victims of different castes, race, colour, making it easier for them to register the case and treat themselves in hospitals.
Sex education should be made mandatory in every area and institution of our country; it is the need of the hour. We have seen many teenagers involved in rape cases too. These cases would not happen if the teenagers would have been given sex education. It is believed that the topic of sex mostly revolves around men and their desires. Sex education will help in busting such myths and will surely help in reducing rape cases as sex education teaches consent, safe sex, transmitted sex disease, child control, etc. The society we live in has always been very secretive about matters like sex. We need to start an open conversation about these issues between parents and children.
The topic of rape needs to be paid more attention to. We need some reforms in our country. I hope you will bring those reforms. If you bring these reforms soon, the rape cases will decrease soon.
Thank you,
Your’s faithful
Mansi Mahajan