The much anticipated and awaited anti rape law is finally all set to see the light of the day; this controversial and divisive bill will be tabled in the parliament later today and will provide some sense of safety and security to India's battered women even though it is much watered down and without quiet a few teeth and sting.......
One should always try and look at the brighter side of things as noted advocate and women's rights activist Vrinda Grover says, "there are two ways of looking at this proposed bill, you can either look at it as an half empty glass or then one that is half full," she goes on to add.........
"As far as I am concerned, this bill is a culmination of thirty years of relentless struggle, thirty years of unceasing efforts to give the Indian woman the honour and dignity that is her birthright and due, I am the first one to agree that this bill does not address all our long standing concerns, but it is a starting point and other issues that are pending can be addressed in due course,", Ms. Grover goes on to say........
Yes, certain sections of the bill have been watered down in the name of political expediency and unanimity, but, the government of the day did not have too much elbow room as it does not have an absolute majority and is therefore dependent on the support of other political parties to see this bill through.........
The arm of the government was further twisted by the fact that this session of parliament comes to an end on March 22 and more importantly the validity of the ordinance that is now being converted into a law would have expired on April 4, hence the government had little or no choice apart from going with the flow and taking on board the concerns of all comers in order to ensure that this proposed bill did not go the way of the one on reservations for women in both houses of parliament.....
18 still continues to be the age for the initiation of consensual sex and there will only be graded punishments for offences such as voyeurism and stalking, deletion of the term "persistent watching" and a concise and more stringent definition of the term "disrobing a woman wither in public or then private view" are some of the concessions that the government of the day has had to make in order to evolve some sort of consensus on the same.....
Provisions relating to the 'chain of command' or punishing a senior officer for the sexual offences committed by his juniors or subordinates, 'marital rape' or then rape within the supposedly sacrosanct boundaries of marriage and such other provisions related to offences of a sexual nature committed by men in uniform under the protection of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act have failed to find a mention in the bill in it's present form.........
While, the concerns of many a womenfolk on acid attacks and brutal assault either preceding or then in the aftermath of a rape also have not been satisfactorily addressed; one can either continue to nitpick and keep finding fault with the contents and intentions of this long awaited bill and then look at it as some kind of starting point that does make an earnest effort towards addressing the long standing concerns of India's women no matter in a limited and seemingly tame manner.........
As the wise one's who preceded us said, "KABHI KISI KO MUKAMMAL JAHAAN NAHIN MILTA," you just have to make do with whatever comes your way, make the optimum use of the same and get on with the business of living...........
One should always try and look at the brighter side of things as noted advocate and women's rights activist Vrinda Grover says, "there are two ways of looking at this proposed bill, you can either look at it as an half empty glass or then one that is half full," she goes on to add.........
"As far as I am concerned, this bill is a culmination of thirty years of relentless struggle, thirty years of unceasing efforts to give the Indian woman the honour and dignity that is her birthright and due, I am the first one to agree that this bill does not address all our long standing concerns, but it is a starting point and other issues that are pending can be addressed in due course,", Ms. Grover goes on to say........
Yes, certain sections of the bill have been watered down in the name of political expediency and unanimity, but, the government of the day did not have too much elbow room as it does not have an absolute majority and is therefore dependent on the support of other political parties to see this bill through.........
The arm of the government was further twisted by the fact that this session of parliament comes to an end on March 22 and more importantly the validity of the ordinance that is now being converted into a law would have expired on April 4, hence the government had little or no choice apart from going with the flow and taking on board the concerns of all comers in order to ensure that this proposed bill did not go the way of the one on reservations for women in both houses of parliament.....
18 still continues to be the age for the initiation of consensual sex and there will only be graded punishments for offences such as voyeurism and stalking, deletion of the term "persistent watching" and a concise and more stringent definition of the term "disrobing a woman wither in public or then private view" are some of the concessions that the government of the day has had to make in order to evolve some sort of consensus on the same.....
Provisions relating to the 'chain of command' or punishing a senior officer for the sexual offences committed by his juniors or subordinates, 'marital rape' or then rape within the supposedly sacrosanct boundaries of marriage and such other provisions related to offences of a sexual nature committed by men in uniform under the protection of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act have failed to find a mention in the bill in it's present form.........
While, the concerns of many a womenfolk on acid attacks and brutal assault either preceding or then in the aftermath of a rape also have not been satisfactorily addressed; one can either continue to nitpick and keep finding fault with the contents and intentions of this long awaited bill and then look at it as some kind of starting point that does make an earnest effort towards addressing the long standing concerns of India's women no matter in a limited and seemingly tame manner.........
As the wise one's who preceded us said, "KABHI KISI KO MUKAMMAL JAHAAN NAHIN MILTA," you just have to make do with whatever comes your way, make the optimum use of the same and get on with the business of living...........
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