Essay on atrocities against women in india
The problem of violence and atrocities against women in India is one important problem relating to women who cannot be ignored.
Women in the Indian society have been victims of humiliation, torture and exploitation for as long as we have written records of social organization and family life.
Today, though women are being gradually recognized as important, powerful and meaningful contributors to the life of men; but some of the cruel practices thrive even today.
In spite of the legislative measures adopted in favour of women in our society after Independence, the spread of education and women’s gradual economic independence, countless women still continue to be victims of violence and extreme cruelty.
The term ‘atrocities against women’ refers to as “a cruel and wicked act against a woman which causes her emotional or physical injury or both“.
The Police Research Bureau, Delhi has referred to “crime against women” under two categories:
- crimes under the Indian Penal Code, and
- crimes under the local and special laws.
The Bureau has identified seven crimes in the first category and four crimes in the second category of crimes. The seven crimes under the IPC are: rape, kidnapping and abduction, homicide for dowry, torture (physical and mental), molestation, eve-teasing; and importation of girls up to 21 years of age, while the four crimes under the local and special laws are: commission of sati, dowry prohibition, immoral traffic, and indecent representation of women.
There is a need to raise voice and fight against atrocities against Women. Further, for each reported rape, many unreported rapes and for each reported eve-teasing many unreported eve- teasing cases occurs.
The number of reported cases of atrocities against women in India has increased in recent years. The increase in the number of reported not only indicates increased reporting but it only indicates an increased awareness about gender parity and women’s rights, the confidence of the victims in the new laws for their protection, and because of institutions such as Mahila Courts, Family Courts, and NGOs working for women. But we know that all cases are not reported and recorded for various reasons.
