Say- No Violence Against Women (part 1) -Pratibha Chauhan

 

 

The Indian Constitution not only guarantees protection and special provisions to women, but also demands to give them respect and to reject all such rotten traditions and practices which reduce the dignity of women. This is need of the day to draw people's attention towards the status of women and their role in society. We must talk about to empower them by making them legally aware to save from increasing crimes and negative environment and violence etc. The struggle is not only of working women but it is equally true in the context of housewives. They also face different types of inhuman treatment somewhere and are forced to bear this behaviour. This is the reason why today the most relevant and burning issue is women empowerment and women safety in which security is paramount because security is the first condition to be strong and developed. Along with security, there is an issue of women's development. The unit of measure of security of the people in any society is the violence that takes place in that society. Non-violent society is the scale of development. But apart from other developmental activities , man is also expanding many negative things, including violence and crime against women. This is the reason why, considering women's safety as a paramount issue, the United Nations Secretary has announced to create an environment of zero violence against women by 2030. Violence and crime against half the population is a threat to human values, culture and civilization. Various organizations, governments and groups all over the world have taken the initiative to walk step by step to avoid this crisis, not only with hope but with full faith that this goal will definitely be fulfilled.

      One of the various stages of women's development, the security is also considered as development . It is very important to have a fear-free society, because development with a feeling of fear and insecurity cannot be considered complete in the true sense. Efforts have been made to make and enforce various laws to prevent violence and crimes against women. While issuing guidelines from time to time by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, many efforts have been made to give direction to change the mind set of the people towards women in the society. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness about these guidelines not only among women but also among men. The objective of the constitutional goal of legal aid to every citizen will be fulfilled only through legal awareness. To understand the social status of women in any society, it is necessary to understand the rate of legal literacy among them. Legal awareness gives a person the courage to make himself confident, ensure participation in the socio-economic development and to stand firm against any injustice. Lack of legal awareness is the most prominent factor behind the status of women in India. Legal awareness is not only the knowledge of laws and rights but also a tool which enables them to raise their voice against any atrocities against them and take advantage of equal opportunities. Despite all being considered equal in the eyes of law, women have never been given equal status in some traditions and practices of Indian society, that is why atrocities, violence and crimes against weaker sections are not decreasing.

            The question arises whether all the problems will be solved just by making laws. Despite the number of laws in India, the situation is more or less not much better. Statistics show that crimes are increasing day by day, while the number of laws, courts, judges, and various schemes are also being continuously increased by the government. At the same time it is also true that it is not possible to manufacture any such machinery which can get the people of the society to follow the laws exactly 100 percent. The truth is that it depends totally on thinking ability and mental level of the people of any society by which they can differentiate between right and wrong. Thus, it is the fundamental responsibility of the society to put the burden of discharging its responsibility on the people to make efforts to get these laws to be followed.

Pratibha Chauhan
Bihar Judicial Service