Farmers Movement Archive

Culture of rape: People’s mindsets need a massive change

Tribune News ServiceJalandhar, October 3In July this year, a Dalit woman from the Bajuha Khurd village committed suicide minutes after posting a video claiming she had been insulted by her neighbours. In May, a 25-year-old was booked for raping his 16-year-old sister for years. During the lockdown months, the state and district witnessed many rapes, which bear testimony to the fact that women are not safe anywhere.Jasbir Jassi, Istri Jagriti Manch activistWe can only take up cases where the women are willing to speak. A woman's so-called 'honour' is still unfortunately the object of exploitation for anyone looking to seek revenge. This mindset exceedingly persists in villages. Insulting the women in someone's family is the best way to settle a score with a certain person.RsWhile massive protests have been planned across the country following the callous Hathras and Balrampur rape cases, same shall also pan out across various areas and villages in Jalandhar against the brutal rapes. Activists of the Istri Jagriti Manch held meetings at the Adra Mann among other villages on Friday and dharnas have been slated for October 4.In May, a brother raped his younger sister, who was a minor; a 14-year-old was raped by her mother's paramour in the same month at Nawanshahr. In July, a girl in Rama Mandi, who had gone to fetch wood, was kidnapped by men in a car and raped for days until she escaped; in September, too, two minor girls were raped in Jalandhar and Kapurthala. These were rape incidents which were reported in the media. Women activists fighting for justice for rape victims in the region also say the process is steeped in patriarchy and regressive mindsets, where getting many to speak up is an uphill task. The menace is much bigger than being reported. Many women don't even report cases out of fear of bringing dishonour and societal rebuke to their families.Jasbir Jassi, an activist of the Istri Jagriti manch, says, "We can only take up cases where the women are willing to speak. People's mindsets need a massive change. A woman was killed at the Nijjran village when she had been out in the fields to bring fodder for her animals. No one knows why or who murdered her, till date. A case at Pabwan village was lodged against a father-in-law for raping his daughter-in-law but no arrest has been made so far. Another boy in the same village has a case registered against him for raping a woman on the pretext of marrying her." She goes on: "A woman's so called 'honour' is still unfortunately the object of exploitation for anyone looking to seek revenge. This mindset exceedingly persists in villages. Insulting the women in someone's family is the best way to settle a score with a certain person."Activist Tarsem Peter, says: "There are many villages, where women fall prey to incidents and await justice. In some incidents such as the rape incident at Chak Maglani village, despite FIR under sections of the SC/ST Act in certain cases, and in others despite the intervention of the women's or the SC/ST Commissions the accused still get off scot-free."A string of recent incidents in and around district

The Tribune

2020-10-04