Are we safe?

                           This has become one of the most widely asked questions in India and rightly so. Indian women are no longer safe in their own motherland. The recent rape cases of Damini and a five-year old girl have rocked the nation’s foundations. A country which celebrates Navratri by worshipping nine avatars of Goddess Durga is now witnessing horrific incidents against women. Crimes against women have been rising from a long time but it is now that they have succeeded in catching the world’s attention.

                           What’s really saddening is the attitude of people toward the victims. Rape is one of those crimes in India where victim often becomes the accused. There are many hypocrites in our society who blame women for getting raped either because of their dressing styles or for being out of their houses at night. It’s ironical that the gruesome rape of an innocent five-year-old girl came into light after the anti-rape bill was passed earlier in March. Surely, one cannot hold a five-year-old girl responsible for getting raped by wearing indecent clothes or for provoking the male of the species. Time has come when women from all over the country are protesting against such heinous crimes. Passing a new bill for women is only one step ahead in the right direction. What we really need to do is spread awareness amongst the people. Education builds character so it’s really important that sex education should be imparted in every school. Children need to be taught at a younger age that they should respect not only women but all human beings.

                         As it is often said children are like clay. They can be molded in any way. It is therefore, very important how a child is brought up. Parents are responsible for inculcating right morals and ethics in children. We often fail to notice that children are very observant by nature. They imbibe the atmosphere at home. Equality should be practised at home. There should be no discrimination between a girl child and a male child. Both have equal rights to live with respect and without any fear. Boys need to be taught, at a younger age, to not only respect their mothers and sisters but the female sex as a whole. As it is, sex ratio in India is deteriorating rapidly. Bridegrooms are running from state to state to find their prospective brides. Can we really envision India without females in future? If the crime rate against women keeps on rising then this possibility will soon turn into reality.

                           That is not all. All of us need to take baby steps to make India a better place for women. Our Government did its duty by enforcing a law for women’s protection but as the citizen’s of India, it’s our duty to implement these laws. Blaming the government or politicians or the police force will not get us nowhere. It is our duty as human beings to be moralistic and ethical in nature. Each individual is responsible for his/her own actions. It is necessary that we act for the betterment of our society rather than for its degradation. We can help a soul by just being true and responsible human beings.