Evil of rape: What media and society can do

When the nation feels outraged, media goes berserk, and tongues keep wagging there definitely is an issue or two out there in full public glare. So it is with the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in a bus in Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012. The violence has been roundly condemned by all, including Parliament, and has shaken the conscience of millions.
There are two points here to be noted as far as media is concerned: one, while it is good that the media raises the issue in detail so that action could be taken, what one cannot accept is its lack of interest once the focus on the issue fades. There is no follow-up except in cases where court battles are waged or there are political fallouts. Whatever happened to the victims? And, what of community action and recommendations made by society and government?
The second aspect is an ethical one. Will the media raise a hue and cry if the incidents of violence, rape and murder relate to ordinary people in towns and rural areas? Nearly 90 per cent of sexual assaults take place in the rural areas, we are told. Every hour two women are raped in India.
Of the 21,397 cases of rape reported in 2009 (figures for which are available in the National Crime Records Bureau website www.ncrb.nic.in), as many as 12,812 victims (59.8%) were women in the age group of 18-30 years.
A shocking detail revealed is that most offenders were known to the victims -- as many as 20,311 (94.9%.) which calls for the making of a society that is tolerant of emancipation of girls and women and protective of girls and women.
Awareness campaigns from the school level and safeguard mechanisms in villages or towns (like local committees), public places and workplaces will help tackle such cases and eventually reduce the number of cases. Film-makers, television authorities and the government must ensure that rape scenes are not portrayed and women are not shown as sex objects.
Delhi is not the only place where the number of rape incidents is increasing. Madhya Pradesh topped the list in 2009, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan. Have we ever heard about incidents occurring in these States being highlighted? Maybe, if these fit in the media strategy.
One of my lawyer friends says following retributive law in such crimes will act as a deterrent. Eight States in America have adopted castration as a punishment for rapists. In India, rapists get lesser prison terms. The punishment should be severe and include castration, and organ removal cum life term in cases where kids and minor girls are raped (as many as 2470 such cases were reported in 2009).
Ask anyone you meet in society about the punishment for rape, and pat will come the answer that the rapists must be killed on the spot or shot or hanged. What sections of the media speak is contrary to informed public opinion, which calls for harsh punishment, in the absence of which crimes and criminals are bound to increase by leaps and bounds in our lenient society. And this may lead to the popularisation of the gun culture, which is tormenting developed societies.

Simply Malicious Service

(For my other posts see http://journo1958.blogspot.in/)

Simply Malicious Service, that's how I want to redefine SMS.

The ferocity with which malicious information has spread through SMS in the latest info war against Northeast people and the accuracy with which it hit the targets and extracted the required reaction astounds everyone. It's equivalent to the launching of a successful Agni exercise.

Now, the question arises as to who has injected the deadly virus into the mobiles. While the Intelligence is after the DNA of the virulent messages and their progenitors, we have some points to ponder.

How to track malicious information in the millions of SMSs that are sent out everyday through various operators is the gigantic question before cyber specialists.

I am reminded of how some people got the vicarious pleasure in making bomb hoax calls to even schools. The government has to take severe action against such rumour-mongers by bringing out a legislation.

The new episode has added a chapter to the cyber war that has emerged as another war front. India will do well to tackle this kind of war given its information technology prowess.

Technical issues apart, are we as a nation not tolerant to cultural differences and identities? Those who are intolerant and want to keep their identities only should hang their heads in shame for not rising above 'narrow domestic walls.'

(For my other posts see http://journo1958.blogspot.in/)

Sorry state, indeed!

(For my other posts see http://journo1958.blogspot.in/)

A sorry state of affairs indeed! A 65-year-old Dalit leader recently committed suicide, citing a reason that many would not think so serious as to take one's life. He obviously was fed up with the state of affairs and the way people's reps and leaders functioned. while the details of this incident are yet to emerge - and may never see the light of the day due to media apathy -- there is no doubt that he was upset about the way things are. Are people being served well by their leaders? It may be a moot question but ask anyone on the street, in buses and trains, and at workplaces you will come across the common refrain -- leaders have become selfish and serve well their own own ends, and those of their kin. Such people are seen in small groups, associations, and even in leading organisations. Their ulterior motives are to benefit at the expense of others and to sustain vested interests. Public interest always suffers in this process. People are denied basic services such as potable water and proper roads. And, if they ask for them through the RTI they are putting their lives at risk. A vibrant democracy no doubt, but is it an utilitarian one?

(For my other posts see http://journo1958.blogspot.in/)