Hyderabad: The law in India is static and the environment in which the women are put through is not nurturing and is traumatising.
Rachana Reddy, advocate and human rights activist says, “The law in India is not unkind but it is procedural. What is more worrying is the male centric environment that reminds a woman repeatedly that she has suffered because of her gender. Rehabilitative measures and counselling are not available for women who are reminded once again of the trauma of the crime in a courtroom. They should not feel responsible. Our law safeguards but unless women all over the country, including in metro cities, do not feel the need to leave their case halfway, we will never come to the root of our problem. They should be encouraged.” The case study in the report shows a bleak picture of a brother whose sister was raped on the way to the college in Delhi. He says that he is well aware of the Nirbhaya act but he knows that the criminal will walk free.
IPS officer Mahesh Bhagwat, who has been has been listed in the 100 Human Trafficking and Slavery Influence Leaders, said, “Children are trafficked to other countries. The only mechanism of their repatriation is through immediate intervention. In case of delay in rescue, the victims get used to the unorganised crime. Even if they are rescued after months, they refuse to return home fearing the society will not accept them and a few face identity crises. There are organised gangs that carry out trafficking across the country and operate in certain districts; Kadri town in Anantapur was found trafficking girls to Mumbai and Delhi. In coastal AP, gangs were arrested in West-East Godavari. In Telangana most cases are found in Adilabad-Maharashtra border, with women trafficked from Nalgonda, Yadadri, Warangal and Hyderabad.”
He also stated that with India reeling under age old customs, such as dowry, abuse against women would not cease unless perpetrators were properly punished. Culprits with political influence manage to walk scot-free and no cases are charged as well. “An increase of complaints is happening but that is because people still have faith in the judiciary. That shouldn't stop. The fear factor should be transferred to the accused.” says Mr Mahesh.
DK Aruna, Member of Congress, says, “Women neglect their health because they are forced to do so. It is constantly drilled into their heads that they are not important because of our cultural practices. Although literacy rates have improved, women are still made to sacrifice their education for the male members of the family. This mindset can only change with awareness.”
