Shun male chauvinist mentality

Open House: how can crime against women be checked?

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Raise children who respect women

A few days ago, a teenaged vegetable vendor inappropriately touched my mother’s hand, while handling over change. Such incidents of eve teasing portray character of society that we live in. Every time a woman’s sexual exploitation makes headlines, a number of initiatives are taken by the authorities, but these fail to tackle crimes against women. This is so because the root cause of such crimes is gender-biased mindset of society. We exhibit this biasness inside our homes, too. When boy is born, we rejoice. We make sure to fulfil his every wish, but forget to correct him when he chides his mother, his sister and then his wife. We develop his male chauvinist mindset at home and then complain when boys becomes a threat to the safety of other women in society. So, who is to blame, the authorities, the society or we ourselves? Let’s begin the change from home by inculcating respect towards women in our day-to-day parenting and raising boys who respect women.

Simran Sidhu

Senior officials must set example for others

There is a lot of scope for improvement in the status of women in society. The police have to be duly reinforced, well trained and equipped to deal with modern day crimes. Senior officials have to set an example in honesty and be humane. The administration and the Municipal Corporation must work in unison and effectively. Politicians have to be accountable for deeds of their spoilt brats. A better response has to come from city residents. Do we come to the rescue of women when they are harassed or are in trouble? Do we report crimes to the police when we see these happening in front of our eyes? Do we seek police clearance of our tenants/PGs before renting them our place? As parents, have we bothered to groom our children and teach them moral values? If we do not do these, we, too, are to be blamed. We blame everyone else except ourselves not realising duties of our own. Let us stop being spectators and start helping the police and the administration in making the city safer and better. When everyone becomes a stakeholder in the city, it will become real smart.

Monika Garg

Delayed justice leads to rise in crimes

Violence against women in the city is increasing. It is one of the biggest challenges of our time. Despite tall claims and commitments of the government machinery to combat sexual and gender-based violence, women and girls in the city continue to fall prey to these incidents. The deteriorating law and order situation has made life miserable for women. Men must respect women, who are the creator of life, sustainer and educator of the new generation. People need to change their perception about them. The government must effect this change. Elimination of violence must be a priority at the local, national and regional level. Besides, speedy and time-bound justice is needed because justice delayed often emboldens the spirits of criminals.

Manpreet Kaur

Make girls self-reliant and self-confident

In the recent past, many cases of harassment, rape and even immolation of rape victims have been reported in the country. Such cases might have taken place earlier too, but were not reported due to a lack of social awareness or the social stigma attached with the crimes. The tragedy with our society is that our reaction to such incidents is only knee-jerk. The police become over-active for few days or months when such cases are reported. After some time, we tend to forget the act of brutality against women. If we want to curb such crimes and put an end to these crimes, we must make girls self-confident and self-reliant by teaching them martial arts, so that they can defend themselves. The Punjab Police have introduced women rescue scheme, under which if a woman needs escort to reach her destination in situation of emergency, the same is provided to her immediately. It is a good step indeed but the police assistance cannot be made available to every individual at all times and at every place. So, girls must become self-reliant. In cases of harassment, the police must sternly deal with such cases and no laxity must be shown to culprits.

Pursharth Joshi

Award exemplary punishments to convicts

Cases of humiliation, harassment, molestation and rapes of women are on the rise these days. People have not yet forgotten the infamous Nirbhaya case of Delhi and the rape of a minor girl in Unnao. Accused in such cases intimidate, harm and even try to silence the girl and her family by using money and muscle power. Convicts of these crimes should be handed down exemplary punishments, and if possible, capital punishment. This may act as a deterrent. Necessary amendments in law should be done to expedite the justice-delivery system. People tend to lose faith in judicial system if the justice is delayed. The Police should put up complaint and suggestion boxes meant only for women in schools, colleges, major markets and other important public places where women/girls can drop in their specific suggestions and complaints. On their part, the police should take immediate actions under the law against accused. Women should also be encouraged and enabled to defend them rather than depending upon others for their protection and safety.

Prof NK Gosian

QUESTION

With barely any check by authorities, auto-rickshaws continue to ply beyond the municipal limits illegally, posing a threat to commuters on highways. Moreover, auto-rickshaws are being driven rashly on city roads as well. We invite our readers to send in their views as to how the traffic police should curb the menace.

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to btitribune@gmail.com or post it to Bathinda Tribune, SCF-117, Opposite Harchand Cinema, Goniana Road, Bathinda, by January 5.