By Salil Jose
I was asked to appear in a court in connection with a rash driving case which caused self-injury. A constable in the Traffic Investigation department called me up and said: “Come to court tomorrow; we’ll finish off the case.”
‘Take enough money. You need to keep many people happy in the court’ - I reminded myself as I set out to court the next day.
I wouldn’t waste money on autorickshaw. I should channel that money too to bribe some officials in the court to expedite my case.
“Sir, auto…,” an auto driver stopped his vehicle seeing me walk.
“No. I don’t have money to waste,” I said.
“I don’t expect money from you. I can give you a free lift,” he said.
“Really?! Then drop me in front of the court.”
A man who appeared to be a court official gave me a concerned look. “Sir, there is a case against me. I want to finish it off fast. Would you take bribe from me,” I asked.
“No. No way.”
Why wouldn’t he accept bribe? Did he think I was there for a sting operation?
I met the cop who had called me up the previous day.
“Let’s have tea,” I suggested.
“Sure.”
We had tea, but the cop wouldn’t let me pay for it. “I will pay,” he said.
Oh! What happened to our policemen? Maybe, this guy would furnish the complete bill once the case was over...
The cop introduced me to a lawyer who would submit the admission of offence in the court.
The judge fined me Rs 750 for rash driving.
My lawyer wouldn’t take fee from me.
“Sir, it is your fee.”
“That’s okay. No need,” he said.
Once the lawyer left us alone, I looked into the cop’s eyes to check whether there was any ‘cop’ious expectation.
“Sir, how much do you expect from me,” I asked him.
“No. I wouldn’t take anything from you,” he said.
While I was walking back home from the court, yet another auto driver offered me a free lift.
“Dear friend, what has happened to you people? Nobody is accepting money from me.”
“Who would expect money from a sorry figure like you who limp along with bandages all over?,” he said.
“Do you mean to say this is why nobody took bribe from me?”
“Of course.”
Mmm…Had the judg
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Domestic violence - a thing of the past
Varsha
Vimala (name changed for protection), a servant maid, comes home after a weary day of household chores. She cooks a meager meal and waits endlessly for her husband who walks in nonchalantly at midnight. He doesn’t bother to wipe his grubby feet outside and dirties the floor that she had so painstakingly scrubbed a few minutes ago, doesn’t ask her whether she has had her food, he doesn’t even look at her let alone talk. Vimala makes the first move. She asks him whether he has had his dinner. There begins a volley of abuse verbally, physically and morally.
This was the state of affairs everyday at Vimala’s house, but not anymore. She filed a case with a local woman help group and they threatened to put him in jail. “I was used to such abuse”, she says dismissively. “Then I realized that I had to put a full stop to it someday. I wanted to see some punishment given to him, after all that I have undergone”, she says. “But it is okay as he has changed and he doesn’t dare to even touch me without my permission”, she adds.
Thus speaks the brave lady of the modern era. She knows not fear and is courageous enough to stand for her rights. “I think it is the drastic change of roles that have affected the woman empowerment”, says Uma, a banker. “Women are employed now and a family runs only with both the partners working”, says Uma, a banker.
Domestic violence, which has been a long-standing cause for concern, has slowly started to decrease. Women are now ready to ask for help and voice out their problems. Earlier the term domestic violence held no little or no meaning at all as many did not even know what was classified as domestic violence. In the wake of the latest Domestic violence act many have started coming out of their shells.
According to the Act, conduct that is likely to drive a woman to suicide, cause grave injury to health or life of a woman or even verbal harassment is considered violence. The most recent Act gives the woman complete control of the house and if she demands any amount of money from him, for any reason whatsoever, he is legally bound to pay that amount in full, failing which he can be imprisoned. This means the woman finally has full control over the legal proceedings.This could also mean the law could be misused, but that is a completely different debate.
Ajitha was verbally abused by her husband until she decided to walk out of the marraige. She filed a legal divorce and leads a happy life in her own rented apartmnet. “I walked out because i felt i could no longer take it. My kid’s future seemed more important. Now i am happy that i took such a wise decision”, she says.
Physical abuse is another from of violence that is most commonly faced. This does not only mean bashing and beating up, but also sexual abuse including sex without consent. Though there are no laws on marital rape, excessive and unreasonable demands for sex have been considered forms of cruelty and may entitle a woman to a divorce.
“Women of today are more confident of their needs. They are in constant touch with the external world and are well informed too. They have evolved and have become very powerful in all fields, says Thiruvengadam, a radio programmer. He also says woman oriented programmes are more in number these days and such programmes are in great demand.
The above examples have clearly shown that women have far risen above their ‘weaker sex’ image. Verbal, physical and moral abuse is punishable and can permit a woman to a separation from marital life. This coupled with vast development in the state of women economically, financially and morally has helped the empowerment of women to a great extent.
Vimala (name changed for protection), a servant maid, comes home after a weary day of household chores. She cooks a meager meal and waits endlessly for her husband who walks in nonchalantly at midnight. He doesn’t bother to wipe his grubby feet outside and dirties the floor that she had so painstakingly scrubbed a few minutes ago, doesn’t ask her whether she has had her food, he doesn’t even look at her let alone talk. Vimala makes the first move. She asks him whether he has had his dinner. There begins a volley of abuse verbally, physically and morally.
This was the state of affairs everyday at Vimala’s house, but not anymore. She filed a case with a local woman help group and they threatened to put him in jail. “I was used to such abuse”, she says dismissively. “Then I realized that I had to put a full stop to it someday. I wanted to see some punishment given to him, after all that I have undergone”, she says. “But it is okay as he has changed and he doesn’t dare to even touch me without my permission”, she adds.
Thus speaks the brave lady of the modern era. She knows not fear and is courageous enough to stand for her rights. “I think it is the drastic change of roles that have affected the woman empowerment”, says Uma, a banker. “Women are employed now and a family runs only with both the partners working”, says Uma, a banker.
Domestic violence, which has been a long-standing cause for concern, has slowly started to decrease. Women are now ready to ask for help and voice out their problems. Earlier the term domestic violence held no little or no meaning at all as many did not even know what was classified as domestic violence. In the wake of the latest Domestic violence act many have started coming out of their shells.
According to the Act, conduct that is likely to drive a woman to suicide, cause grave injury to health or life of a woman or even verbal harassment is considered violence. The most recent Act gives the woman complete control of the house and if she demands any amount of money from him, for any reason whatsoever, he is legally bound to pay that amount in full, failing which he can be imprisoned. This means the woman finally has full control over the legal proceedings.This could also mean the law could be misused, but that is a completely different debate.
Ajitha was verbally abused by her husband until she decided to walk out of the marraige. She filed a legal divorce and leads a happy life in her own rented apartmnet. “I walked out because i felt i could no longer take it. My kid’s future seemed more important. Now i am happy that i took such a wise decision”, she says.
Physical abuse is another from of violence that is most commonly faced. This does not only mean bashing and beating up, but also sexual abuse including sex without consent. Though there are no laws on marital rape, excessive and unreasonable demands for sex have been considered forms of cruelty and may entitle a woman to a divorce.
“Women of today are more confident of their needs. They are in constant touch with the external world and are well informed too. They have evolved and have become very powerful in all fields, says Thiruvengadam, a radio programmer. He also says woman oriented programmes are more in number these days and such programmes are in great demand.
The above examples have clearly shown that women have far risen above their ‘weaker sex’ image. Verbal, physical and moral abuse is punishable and can permit a woman to a separation from marital life. This coupled with vast development in the state of women economically, financially and morally has helped the empowerment of women to a great extent.
Women empowered… really?
by Padma Venkataraman
Touted as “landmark” pro-women legislation, the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeks to address issues linked to status of women within their homes that often gets pushed under the carpet. What is the situation now, after two years of its implementation? Are women coming out with their problems or are they still nestled in their shells of social taboo?
For too long now, women have accepted it as their destiny or just acquiescence their denial to the right to raise their voice, perhaps, because of the justice system or the lack of it or because they are vulnerable, scared of being ostracized by their own relatives because domestic violence still remains a taboo for most women who suffer from it or for other reasons best known to them. But not any more! The domestic violence act, 2005 is here to protect the rights of women and empower them on the domestic front, says Geeta Mahajan, of the National Federation of Indian Women, which handles about 15 new cases every month, up from about 10 five years ago.
For 25 years women’s rights advocates have been campaigning against violence against women. They have succeeded in changing the law, changing the stand of the judiciary. But have they succeeded in changing social attitudes, asks Flavia Agnes, lawyer and noted activist. “This violence is so endemic that it stretches across regions, communities and classes. Already, statistics collated by the Department of Women and Children indicate that domestic violence figures are spiralling at 40% per year. In that sense, good that there is a law protecting women in place. Seven lakh complaints are expected to be registered in 2006-07 alone under the Domestic Violence Act,” she reasons.
The public often relate domestic violence with dowry. “The slogan was, ‘Don’t give dowry, don’t take dowry’. But we didn’t question that if this girl doesn’t get dowry, what does she actually get when the patriarchal biases of the family still operate so strongly? So first the girl was to be married off with dowry, now she is to be married off without dowry. Don’t give gifts. Don’t give dowry. Don’t give anything to the girl. Don’t come back. Stay there till you die, and if you die, we will make a case to get the dowry back,” cries Revathy, another despondent housewife.
A lot of women suffer not because of dowry. Their salary is taken away. Their husbands are having affairs. The threat of being thrown out is constantly given. Modern ‘empowered’ women still go under the law of maintenance. Half the women don’t need maintenance, as they are working, and anyway a lot of them are not entitled to it. In the new Domestic Violence Act, for the first time, we recognize that what a woman needs is shelter. It’s not stricter punitive measures that we need – it’s innovative and activist lawyers who will fight for women’s rights.
Domestic violence is an intractable problem that appears to be getting worse. Still, many victims often deny domestic abuse, either to avoid public humiliation, preserve family honour or for fear of being driven out. They do not want to disrupt their children’s lives. Most cases go unreported. In extreme cases where women are forced to report cases of domestic violence, it is because they want to end the violent incidents, not because they are seeking a divorce. They hope to both preserve their marriage and put an end to the abuse. “When a woman does file a complaint, the police are reluctant to meddle in what they call family matters,” says Bishakha Datta of the group Point of View. Then again, many women do not want to return to their parental homes where they could find themselves in an equally vulnerable position.
Reflecting on her long journey from innocence to alleged crime to martyrdom and now movie-made stardom, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, in conversation with a reporter from IANS says that the Aishwarya starrer ‘Provoked’ directed by Jag Mundhra, which narrates Kiranjit’s life story of misery and torture at the hands of her husband is a theme that most women can relate to. Many people reportedly called her and Jag Mundhra saying that it was their story. “It is a bold theme. The movie is a message, a medium of awareness, a call to the women to rise up and fight for their rights,” she urged.
Touted as “landmark” pro-women legislation, the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act, 2005 seeks to address issues linked to status of women within their homes that often gets pushed under the carpet. What is the situation now, after two years of its implementation? Are women coming out with their problems or are they still nestled in their shells of social taboo?
For too long now, women have accepted it as their destiny or just acquiescence their denial to the right to raise their voice, perhaps, because of the justice system or the lack of it or because they are vulnerable, scared of being ostracized by their own relatives because domestic violence still remains a taboo for most women who suffer from it or for other reasons best known to them. But not any more! The domestic violence act, 2005 is here to protect the rights of women and empower them on the domestic front, says Geeta Mahajan, of the National Federation of Indian Women, which handles about 15 new cases every month, up from about 10 five years ago.
For 25 years women’s rights advocates have been campaigning against violence against women. They have succeeded in changing the law, changing the stand of the judiciary. But have they succeeded in changing social attitudes, asks Flavia Agnes, lawyer and noted activist. “This violence is so endemic that it stretches across regions, communities and classes. Already, statistics collated by the Department of Women and Children indicate that domestic violence figures are spiralling at 40% per year. In that sense, good that there is a law protecting women in place. Seven lakh complaints are expected to be registered in 2006-07 alone under the Domestic Violence Act,” she reasons.
The public often relate domestic violence with dowry. “The slogan was, ‘Don’t give dowry, don’t take dowry’. But we didn’t question that if this girl doesn’t get dowry, what does she actually get when the patriarchal biases of the family still operate so strongly? So first the girl was to be married off with dowry, now she is to be married off without dowry. Don’t give gifts. Don’t give dowry. Don’t give anything to the girl. Don’t come back. Stay there till you die, and if you die, we will make a case to get the dowry back,” cries Revathy, another despondent housewife.
A lot of women suffer not because of dowry. Their salary is taken away. Their husbands are having affairs. The threat of being thrown out is constantly given. Modern ‘empowered’ women still go under the law of maintenance. Half the women don’t need maintenance, as they are working, and anyway a lot of them are not entitled to it. In the new Domestic Violence Act, for the first time, we recognize that what a woman needs is shelter. It’s not stricter punitive measures that we need – it’s innovative and activist lawyers who will fight for women’s rights.
Domestic violence is an intractable problem that appears to be getting worse. Still, many victims often deny domestic abuse, either to avoid public humiliation, preserve family honour or for fear of being driven out. They do not want to disrupt their children’s lives. Most cases go unreported. In extreme cases where women are forced to report cases of domestic violence, it is because they want to end the violent incidents, not because they are seeking a divorce. They hope to both preserve their marriage and put an end to the abuse. “When a woman does file a complaint, the police are reluctant to meddle in what they call family matters,” says Bishakha Datta of the group Point of View. Then again, many women do not want to return to their parental homes where they could find themselves in an equally vulnerable position.
Reflecting on her long journey from innocence to alleged crime to martyrdom and now movie-made stardom, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, in conversation with a reporter from IANS says that the Aishwarya starrer ‘Provoked’ directed by Jag Mundhra, which narrates Kiranjit’s life story of misery and torture at the hands of her husband is a theme that most women can relate to. Many people reportedly called her and Jag Mundhra saying that it was their story. “It is a bold theme. The movie is a message, a medium of awareness, a call to the women to rise up and fight for their rights,” she urged.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Jaya goes national
The jinxed trip of Jaya to the Hindi heartland finally saw light today. There was always an accident or something as simple as a letter which seemed to stop her from campaigning for the Samajwadi Party.
Last time, it was a minor accident that she met with on her way to meet the Tindivanam blast victims. And this time, it was a bomb threat "endangering" her life. Is it sheer coincidence that such ill omens occur when she gets ready to address for the ailing party which has, till the last exit polls, fared very badly? Or is it the Dravidian policy of her party which votes for "Engum Tamil and edilum Tamil" that stops her from addressing a rally in Hindi??
Whatever be it, disregarding all ill-omens, the lady from South bowled over the Hindi audience with her full-length speech in Hindi, the first ever in her political career. Looks like, she has already started etching a career in national politics.
Last time, it was a minor accident that she met with on her way to meet the Tindivanam blast victims. And this time, it was a bomb threat "endangering" her life. Is it sheer coincidence that such ill omens occur when she gets ready to address for the ailing party which has, till the last exit polls, fared very badly? Or is it the Dravidian policy of her party which votes for "Engum Tamil and edilum Tamil" that stops her from addressing a rally in Hindi??
Whatever be it, disregarding all ill-omens, the lady from South bowled over the Hindi audience with her full-length speech in Hindi, the first ever in her political career. Looks like, she has already started etching a career in national politics.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)