posted April 08, 2008 11:34 PM            

Violence against women in India
By premsingh

Violence against women

How many among us know that 'November 26' is celebrated as World Anti-Obesity Day and how many know that 25th day of November is declared as the "International Day for Elimination of Violence against women".

In spite of the prosperity, globalization and education, we have failed to eliminate the violence against the women. We, the Indians, worship woman as a Godess, regard her as a mother, love her as a wife and she is most affectionate to us as a daughter but still we commit violence against her as she is the most hated among all the living things in this world.

As per the statistics available, every 3rd minute a case of violence against woman is registered in India. Every day 50 cases of dowry related violence are reported and every 29th minute a woman is raped. One can argue that why this is happening? Are not their sufficient laws to prevent such mishappenings? Or the society is not mature enough to deal with such things.

There is no need to be surprised. Everything is there. There are laws to prevent violence against woman, there is police to keep a check on these events and there are seminars and symposiums to make recommendation. However, on ground level nothing seemhs to be working.Above cases are just reflection of violence against woman.

There are incidences of unstripping of women in nandigram and Guwahati but these incidences are not reflective of a developing economy and growing society but a decadent society which is not bothered about human dignity as stated by Dr Ranjana kumari, President of Women power Connect, a NGO in India.

She has rightly suggested the observation of a "National Shame Day" every year to rahighlight the attrocities committed against women.There are other social evils also due to which Indian women suffer. I'll discuss all these in brief.

1. Witchcraft: Several women are killed on pretext of practicing witchcraft. If a child is suffering from a disease in neighbourhood, a woman living nearby may be made victim alleging that she is a witchcraft and that particular child is suffering because of her doing. In fact old scores are settled this way. Women are blamed for doing mischief and tortured or killed after sometime. How fair is this justice? A poor helpless woman is killed and no action is taken against the culprits. These cases are more prevalent in tribal area where they make their own rules and police becomes helpless against the mob. Strict action need to be taken in such cases but who will dare to go against the people as they serve as vote bank to politicians.

2. Devdasi: girls in their childhood are made Devdasi's to serve God in the temple and they have to leave their home and stay in the temple complex. These girls grew up in the shelter of priests in the temple and when they are grown up, most of them are exploited.

3. Sati:This custom is prevalent in India since a long time. Although it is prohibited as per law but still few cases are reported from some parts of the country. When husband dies, woman also has to die as per this customary practices. Some powerful group want to keep this custom alive and draw political advantages out of it. Women are worshiped who cast themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands.

4. Dowery: This is the worst crime against the woman next to rape. A married girl (bride) is burnt to death or killed or tortured by her in-laws and husband for not providing/giving enough gifts or money to their in-laws by her parents. About 50 cases per day are registered all over India. Only solution to this problem is encouragement to inter-cast marriages or love marriage. Other alternative may be to outcast people from the society....
http://hubpages.com/hub/Violence-against-women-in-India

posted April 09, 2008 12:47 AM            

India is one of those countries, imo, where development has been strangely one-sided. Governing, industry, technology, etc. have all leapt forward and yet many old and arguably barbaric "customs" or practices have remained. I do think that's changing and many people are realizing that "modern" life has no room for those particular things ... or should not have, at least.

Conicidentally, I also think that is why some cultures are so aghast at "Western" life and cultures ... they naturally want the material advantages that different models offer but changing all or most of your way of life can be daunting, frightening and, to some, threatening.

Yes, the crimes are tied to customs in India. I was just trying to fend off the usual diversion of the thread from the topic into how Americans and the US are so bad or worse or do it, too or whatever.

posted April 09, 2008 11:18 PM              

JW
"" every 3rd minute a case of violence against woman is registered in India.""

well, we ARE the second most populated country in the world, racing to the first post, and until last year EVERY THIRD PERSON was Indian ... so statistically THAT is not surprising.

"" One can argue that why this is happening? Are not their sufficient laws to prevent such mishappenings? Or the society is not mature enough to deal with such things.""

we have had laws against all these things since 1947... THAT is not what stops crime does it, something that has existed since say... the Stone Age???

and also exists in ALL GREAT FIRST WORLD Countries.....wth Laws and Governing Agencies AND mature societies ?????

What IS Your Point JW ???

we have 50000 cases pending in our judiciary, lack of infrastructure makes sure the wheels of Law grind slowly ....

" but these incidences are not reflective of a developing economy and growing society but a decadent society"

90 % of our Poplution lives in villages, has agriculture as a means of livelihood, and majority of them are barely literate. it is only the 10 % who live in cities , who are the driving force behind the economic Boom, who work in Service sector and Industrial sectors.

WHICH is the same for the REST of the WORLD.

the TOP 10 % of Human Beings in the WORLD control 90 % of the resources,

THE REST 90 % OF HUMAN CIVILISATION IS LEADING A DECADENT LIFESTYLE.....

what IS ur POINT JW ??????

as for witchcraft, Sati Devdasi blah blah. that does is NOT a lifestyle of the upper 10 % in the India OR in the WORLD. it is the decadent 90 % that is afflicted by this backward Middle aged psyche, anywhere in the WORLD.

as per my knowledge the Last time a women commited Sati on her own Volition , was in the 80's . since then there have been NO newsreports .... in my knowledge, given the newspapers i read. obscure cases that happen in villages that have no electricity or water or even Roads to get there are NOT reported in the media.

well, JW looks like the 90 % decadent people in MY country are the same as the bottom 90 % ... across the world....

so what is YOUR POINT ?????

IF you have some solutions WE have missed... do let me know. I am a honorary recruit of the National Commission for Women ( govt. NGO ) and recently for the Emancipation Network, an AMERICAN NGO, funded and run by Americans in India that helps rehabilitate children and women who are victims of Human Trafficking, dowry , etc...

www.emancipationnetwork.org/

www.madebysurvivors.com/

BTW, when i asked them why an American NGO has to work for Indian trafficking victims they told me that a whopping 25 % of Paedophlie Trade comes from Americans... for which these children were trafficked in the first place....

do try to tell me what was your point in making this thread.... to get back at me by using these women or do YOU have some Groundbreaking Solutions to Poverty and the Evils it leads to ???

hoping for intellectual answers... probably wont get them.... ah sucker for decency

posted April 09, 2008 11:34 PM            

Still, some of the cited horrors seem to be the custom in India or parts of India.

Well Eleanore, you were right. The point, the point, the point of my posting this article has been questioned. As though the truths contained within the article are not "point" enough. I don't know anywhere in the United States where the custom requires or permits a woman given in marriage to be beaten or killed by the grooms family...because the dowry was not large enough to suit them.

posted April 09, 2008 11:42 PM              

i said it is the same everywhere else in the world, where abject poverty exists...
all i m asking for is ur Valued advice, or solutions to what I M blind to.. is that too much to ask...
you must have a reason to this thread apart from entertainment right...

and why are u looking to eleanore to come save u if are so sure for urself,, like a kid calling out to mommy when he cant win an argument....

"Women being forced or convinced to throw themselves on the funeral pyre of their husbands would probably mean there would be no marriages in America."

a handful of Sati incidents in a Populatiuon of 1 Billion and more.... THAT is so shocking to you, u must have had a real protective environment at home...

cannot understand which part of ur brain convinces u to compare americans to those in third world countries.....
our problems are different becoz our demographics are different , u cant be intelligent if u cant see the difference...

posted April 09, 2008 11:44 PM            

quote:

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do try to tell me what was your point in making this thread.... to get back at me by using these women or do YOU have some Groundbreaking Solutions to Poverty and the Evils it leads to ???

---

Maybe the point was the innocent people suffering ... not you or anything about you, VDI. Do you honestly think every post made that may possibly relate to you by nationality, race, age, sex, or any other "category" is ALL about you? There's nothing decent about that attitude either, btw.

As for people providing solutions for the topics they post ... said Mrs. Pot to Mr. Kettle. This whole forum is littered with "look at this" posts that offer no viable or practical solutions to anything. If they can be defended on the "let's just be informed" platform then so can every other similar post/thread.

What's wrong with being informed about the suffering women experience in India (or anywhere)? How does anyone even come close to achieving any solution if you can't talk about the problems ... particularly because people who choose to self-identify take things so personally and get defensive whenever the subject is even broached?

Unreal.

posted April 09, 2008 11:50 PM            

quote:

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and why are u looking to eleanore to come save u if are so sure for urself,, like a kid calling out to mommy when he cant win an argument....

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posted April 09, 2008 11:57 PM              

well since this is a free speech forum is it too much to ask to voice ur opinions without saints judging you

"Maybe the point was the innocent people suffering ... not you or anything about you, VDI. Do you honestly think every post made that may possibly relate to you by nationality, race, age, sex, or any other "category" is ALL about you? There's nothing decent about that attitude either, btw"

u obviously are very infrequent here. JW told me that if I ever made a thread about issues or problems in America he would teach me a lesson by doing the same.

try being informed about the bckground of any dialogue between two individuals before u rush in to judge. and thats not even intelligence, that is common sense.

u can go back and check JW's caste thread where he told me he made that thread to teach a lesson to those who were talking about Americas problems... since it had nothing to do with theM... all i m guilty of is speaking in the same language to JW

"What's wrong with being informed about the suffering women experience in India (or anywhere)? How does anyone even come close to achieving any solution if you can't talk about the problems ... particularly because people who choose to self-identify take things so personally and get defensive whenever the subject is even broached?"

no harm in being informed, but this thread in NOT about informing anyone.i dont know what crimes members from Asia commited by pointing at ur problems but I wont stand to any human rights viCtim being used in power games

"Since you present yourself as better informed and are so ... passionate ... about this subject ... and since you did bring it up in the first place ... what are your solutions and what are you doing even now to help these women?"

posted April 09, 2008 11:59 PM            

And you did also say these things exist in ALL GREAT FIRST WORLD countries.

Eleanore said:

"(Now just wait for it ... why is "only" India "targetted". Look at all the horrors committed against women in the US. How dare you compare blah blah blah blah. Maybe that'll cover it and we can move on straight to the actual subject matter and not why it was presented at all or in a "certain" way or by jwhop or whatever other misdirection could pop up.)"

I just agreed with Eleanore and then, pointed out she had been right.

However, Eleanore's larger point about abuse of women worldwide is an important issue. It's obvious she feels passionately about women's rights to equal status and equal rights which would include the right to dignity and protection against abuse of all kinds and types.
***edit
I couldn't agree more with what Eleanore said about equal rights.

You see VDI I know Eleanore exhibits real compassion. We've talked on Sudan threads several times about the genocide ongoing there and the murder of women's husbands and the young men, the rape of the women, the burning of their homes and the slaughter of their cattle which forces women and their young children into relief camps.

posted April 10, 2008 12:01 AM              

And you did also say these things exist in ALL GREAT FIRST WORLD countries.""

posted April 10, 2008 12:06 AM            

There are many reasons why problems like these exist and are hard to overcome. In India, it's particularly difficult, imo, because the culture has thrived in other ways and for so long that these practices seem almost entrenched for some people. I'm afraid to say that I think progress will be slow because it always falls on women themselves to make the changes. Even here in Japan, with all their technology and education, women are traditionally to take an inferior role. Though many do work, many are also not climbing any corporate ladders ... and there are some social "customs" that, as a "Westerner" I find surprising and sometimes offensive.

posted April 10, 2008 12:25 AM            

quote:

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u can go back and check JW's caste thread where he told me he made that thread to teach a lesson to those who were talking about Americas problems... since it had nothing to do with theM... all i m guilty of is speaking in the same language to JW

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In theory though does it make it any better depending on where it is happening? These situations are appalling and disgusting and should be stopped regardless of the country. I saw your thread on the polygamous pedophiles in Texas and I am as appalled about that. And i was horrified by it when I read it in a newspaper...but none of it makes me feel better whether it is happening here or elsewhere its all horrid...No country is without its problems, not the US or anyone else... I understand your frustration with the situation but I still do not see the problem with Jwhop starting a thread on a topic he feels should be addressed, isn't that what a forum is for? Its perfectly okay for you to start the "Children groomed for sex by Texas polygamist sect" thread because thats a serious problem too and I really hope you posted it because you think the situation is horrible and not just to get back at Jwhop.

quote:

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no harm in being informed, but this thread in NOT about informing anyone.i dont know what crimes members from Asia commited by pointing at ur problems but I wont stand to any human rights viCtim being used in power games

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Lets say your theory is right and Jwhop posted it as a power game...what about other people who read it to be informed? Wouldn't that negate his actions?

quote:

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also i m making a documentary on the same, trying to get a collaboration between the UN in India and Apne aap, another NGO. hope the deal comes across

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Good luck with that. I hope the deal comes through as well. Human trafficking is one of the subjects I pay most attention to and think its one of the worst atrocities in the world today. So props to you for your work.

posted April 10, 2008 12:33 AM              

also u seem to have missed my post

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"As for people providing solutions for the topics they post ... said Mrs. Pot to Mr. Kettle. This whole forum is littered with "look at this" posts that offer no viable or practical solutions to anything. If they can be defended on the "let's just be informed" platform then so can every other similar post/thread."

well since this is a free speech forum is it too much to ask to voice ur opinions without saints judging you

"Maybe the point was the innocent people suffering ... not you or anything about you, VDI. Do you honestly think every post made that may possibly relate to you by nationality, race, age, sex, or any other "category" is ALL about you? There's nothing decent about that attitude either, btw"

u obviously are very infrequent here. JW told me that if I ever made a thread about issues or problems in America he would teach me a lesson by doing the same.

try being informed about the bckground of any dialogue between two individuals before u rush in to judge. and thats not even intelligence, that is common sense.

u can go back and check JW's caste thread where he told me he made that thread to teach a lesson to those who were talking about Americas problems... since it had nothing to do with theM... all i m guilty of is speaking in the same language to JW

"What's wrong with being informed about the suffering women experience in India (or anywhere)? How does anyone even come close to achieving any solution if you can't talk about the problems ... particularly because people who choose to self-identify take things so personally and get defensive whenever the subject is even broached?"

no harm in being informed, but this thread in NOT about informing anyone.i dont know what crimes members from Asia commited by pointing at ur problems but I wont stand to any human rights viCtim being used in power games

"Since you present yourself as better informed and are so ... passionate ... about this subject ... and since you did bring it up in the first place ... what are your solutions and what are you doing even now to help these women?"

if u had read my post clearly u would have known i m a volunteer for both Govt and private NGO's that fight Human Trafficking in India. also i m making a documentary on the same, trying to get a collaboration between the UN in India and Apne aap, another NGO. hope the deal comes across

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posted April 10, 2008 12:44 AM              

define civilised, will you please

these people, to my understanding have very litte money and live from one meal to another.....
those who are following sati, devdasi etc and committing caste crimes, that is. isnt that the population u r talking about JW ???

they are all uneducated, and most of them are only literate enough to sign their names, and i doubt they even know how Law works.THAT is when you have a roof on ur head and a stomach full of food .

posted April 10, 2008 01:04 AM              

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A recent report on human trafficking in India by the Delhi based Institute of Social Studies entitled ‘Trafficking in Women and Children in India’ identified a thriving sex tourism industry in the southern state of Kerala. In particular the report claims that the town of Alappuzha with its popular house boats plays host to child sex tourism. It is claimed that many foreign tourists abuse children on the house boats with few raids from the police. This claim has been strongly refuted by the state government of Kerala. Tourism Minister K.C. Venugopal, who said:
“Everyone knows that Kerala is one of the most sought after tourist destinations in South Asia with houseboats as its major selling point.
“A report like this could blemish the state’s chances to grow as a tourist spot. So far we have not received any complaints from any quarters. And do you think such a thing can happen in literate Kerala where moral policing is very high?
“There is something fishy about the report. May be they have other interests.”
It is to be hoped that despite making strong statements against the report, the government of Kerala will still take it seriously an thoroughly investigate the claims made to ensure that child sex tourism does not grow alongside the legitimate tourist industry of Kerala.

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India on US 'watch list' for human trafficking
1 Mar 2007, 2310 hrs IST,TNN

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Print Save EMail Write to Editor
NEW DELHI: India continues to be placed on the US "watch list" of countries allegedly not complying with the international effort to combat human trafficking.

Placing state-wise details of human trafficking cases in the Lok Sabha, the minister said the four southern states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh accounted for over 85% of the total trafficking cases reported so far.

During 2003-05, Tamil Nadu topped the list with 2,777 cases registered in the two-year period out of a total of 5,900 cases reported in the country. Karnataka was second with 1,241 cases and Andhra Pradesh and Kerala registered 681 and 225 cases respectively.

In its 2006 report on efforts of countries worldwide to eliminate trafficking in persons, the US has placed India
in the "Tier 2" category, along with 31 nations to be closely monitored. Countries that comply with US and other international efforts to fight human trafficking are generally placed in "Tier 1".

Those falling under the "Tier 3" category face significant sanctions from the US. Bangladesh was under this category when the report was first prepared and released in 2003 by then secretary of state Colin Powell.

posted April 11, 2008 12:08 AM            

At a minimum:

Adhering to the shared beliefs of morality, customs, culture and mores of a benign society under the rule of law.

posted April 11, 2008 04:44 AM            

quote:

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define civilised, will you please

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Here's an online dictionary which is easy to work. Comes in very handy.
www.http://dictionary.reference.com/

A few definitions of "civilized" which, imo, apply:

Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable: terrorist acts that shocked the civilized world.

having a high state of culture and development both social and technological; "terrorist acts that shocked the civilized world"

******

quote:

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i am not saying we are not wrong , but pointing things this way is degratory .

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I'm sorry you feel that way, cancerrg. No one is targetting all of India or all Indians. But I don't see anything wrong without pointing out the atrocities committed against women ... no matter where they occur or who is causing them. I find it more derogatory to women (and men) everywhere to refuse to speak about these things because of fear that others will be offended.

posted April 11, 2008 10:39 AM              

JW, what i meant was YOUR personal perspective of Civilised .given ur definition NO we are not civilised, we have 5000 languages , 50000 dialects, about a 100 religions, a thousand offshoots , etc, get the idea ?

90 % of our populatiuon like the bottom 90 % in the world is possessed of a middle aged psyche.
the top 10 % , the ones who drive in cars, wear brands, drive the economy , are like any civilised lot in the world.

somewhere in the middle is the lower middle class no0t quite there yet, between civilised and uncivilised. in the work I have done i had been working with abused women in homes as a Healer, apart from a social activist and a UN Recruit plus a National Orgn Volunteer. u get the gist ?
i have asked the same questions to women ho let themselves get abused AND the families who abuse them.i could barely contain my rage when i asked a women how she could beat her daughter in law for dowry. She said ...well, she had exhausted all her life savings on his education, she was living on rent and was faced with the need for surgery. That is why she was trying to get her daughter in law to get money, her share of her fathers estate, so she could cover the dent in her savings that was spent on the victims husband. Clinical EH ??

that was the last time i ever worked on something like that ? why ?
the culprits , the uncivilised lot are victims themselves .... of poverty. since i have never had to live from meal to meal, i daresya i m in no way to know what i choose ? my future over someone else ???

i only concentrate on Human Trafficking, god willing you might ,in a years time see my documentry.

summarily there is No Common culture in India, no common language or religion, everyone tries to group up, so there is no sense of belonging to a country .

you talk of morality, you are talking about something that is cultivated when your primary needs are met ? know of Maslow self actualisation model ?

posted April 11, 2008 10:39 AM              

1 : unless we are doing something to change something being informed about it... whats the point, and its not even ur country involved. like YOU told me yourself......

2 : its not on you or Me even to judge or be shocked, we all have our primary needs met to develop a sense of morality in what is inhuman. those who dont, simply do NOT see such crimes as anything wrong. shocking, but true . and i say as someone whoeven tried to make them feel guilty .stupid me.

3 : unless we have a first hand experience of having made the moral choices in a similar situation it is not possible or even rational for us to judge and call it Uncivilised.try living in a mud hut , having to live from meal to meal, and then try choosing on whether you would starve for a girl child rather than a boy child who can contribute to your income.

4 : i know you dont think of yourself as a global cititzen, u have said so on more than one occasions, which makes it rather logical for me to question ur motives behind this thread. and you told me yourself its your favorite way of getting even.

5 : you have obviously never faced adversity the kind these culprits and victims face that leads them to such acts, which makes it immoral for you , me and anyone else to judge them, these uncivilised are at the bottom rung of the pyramid.

posted April 11, 2008 11:03 AM              

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Here's an online dictionary which is easy to work. Comes in very handy

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do me a favor eleanore, dont confuse urself with JW. i wanted HIS personal definition, not a dictionary one, as if I didnt know what civilised meant
might i wonder why did you even post in this thread, to cash in on yet another opportunity to be a saint. ??
you told ME what YOU think of a dialogue between JW and ME without even knowing where i was coming from ?
like i said and you cleverly ignored, thats not even intelligence, thats plain common sense .to know what background of a dialogue is before you rush in to belittle someone , isnt it ?
and for what ????

i have no idea what issues you are facing to make it a headache for others to have a decent discussion without being judged.... but really do tell me what made you say this

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Since you present yourself as better informed and are so ... passionate ... about this subject ... and since you did bring it up in the first place ... what are your solutions and what are you doing even now to help these women?

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now you know the extent of work I M doing and will DO, i hope you will cease to talk with zero insights or facts about a person or situation.
apart from free energy healing, finance raising drives, awareness campaigns for a handful of organisation, being an ANCHOR, with my own Television Show on Primetime that delves into these issues, UN recruit, Nat. Council For women recruit, giving speeches people hate me for becoz it remids them of what they wish to ignore....

just about enough dont you think

you are probably going to say oh i didnt judge you. right..... just like you told me how i could be SO IGNORANT to presume cr%p about ARMY WIVES... man do you follow what you say

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There's nothing decent about that attitude either, btw.

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