Vol 23/08 March 2020 Patriotism Redefined Stalking, not so innocuous! Stringent laws to protect abuse of minors Fighting bias across society and within homes Coming soon... Women misusing protection laws Know India Better Banavasi: The land of Kadambas Face to Face Dr. Avinash Ignatius Great Indians : Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji, DFC | Akbar Padamsee | Mehrunissa Dalwai MORPARIA’S PAGE Contents March 2020 VOL. 23/08 THEME: Morparia’s Page 02 Status of women in india Status of Indian women, today 04 Manu Shrivastav Managing Editor Landmark judgments protecting 06 Mrs. Sucharita R. Hegde women`s rights Nivedita Pal Stalking, not so innocuous! 08 Editor Manu Shrivastav Anuradha Dhareshwar A woman’s right to abort is conditional 10 Kriti Kalra Fighting bias across society and within homes 12 Design Sonal Aggarwal Resurgam Digital LLP Stringent law to protect abuse of minors 14 Manu Shrivastav The cyber threat 16 Vedika Jain OIOP Clubs Nagesh Bangera Know India Better Banavasi : The land of the Kadambas 17 Usha Hariprasad Advisory Board Sucharita Hegde Face to Face Justice S. Radhakrishnan Venkat R. Chary Dr. Avinash Ignatius 27 A. Radhakrishnan General Printed & Published by Sindhutai Sapkal : The mother of orphans 31 A. Radhakrishnan Mrs. Sucharita R. Hegde for One India One People Foundation, Has India woken up to Artificial 33 Mahalaxmi Chambers, 4th floor, Intelligence? Hiren Bose 22, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai - 400 026 An European classic at Ibsen fest 34 Prof. Avinash Kolhe Tel: 022-2353 4400 Fax: 022-2351 7544 e-mail: [email protected] Great Indians 36 [email protected] visit us at: SQUADRON LEADER AKBAR PADAMSEE MEHRUNNISA DALWAI MAHINDER SINGH PUJJI, www.oneindiaonepeople.com DFC www.facebook.com/oneindiaonepeoplefoundation Lorem ipsum Status of women in India Status of Indian women, today There are several laws in India to protect women in our society. However, changing mindsets and perceptions of people still remain the biggest challenge, when it comes to implementation of the laws, says Manu Shrivastava. round the world, the feminist movement or the Equality of women, still a long way women’s movement started at different times, A raised diverse issues and appealed to women at India in ancient times was home to women sages different levels. Every country treats its women in that were greatly revered. India is a land where goddesses a unique manner, good or bad, derived from the baggage of are worshipped by men and women alike and where the cultural norms, traditions and practices. country is ‘mother’ land. Women were active in royal courts, often forming part of administrative and advisory councils There are myriad issues that the movement aims to and played an active role in politics as well. A fast-evolving address varying from nations to communities - sexual civilisation absorbing surrounding and invading traits, India violence, domestic violence, reproductive rights, maternity soon succumbed to gender discrimination resulting in leave, women's suffrage, workplace safety, female genital confinement of women to households, female foeticide and mutilation, equal pay, etc. What constitutes as a fundamen- infanticide, derogatory practices, illiteracy and several other tal right is restricted to a state as that is determined by the ill-practices that were part of all religious faiths. Eventually, law of the land. Law has a binding force, yet, it is often several bad practices that discriminated against women perception and practices that drive the behaviour of a society stayed and became customs within those communities; the towards its women and permit or prohibit rights guaranteed practice of Sati, child marriage, purdah system, instant triple to them. talaq, etc., to name a few. India is a land of cultural and ethnic diversity. The When India was fighting for Independence, women history of one of the oldest civilisations that inhabited our from all walks of life and across the country came out of their land goes back thousands of years. Indian history was homes and joined the freedom struggle. Post Independence, punctuated by constant assimilation of migration, invasion, the founding fathers of the nation who were drafting the tribes and groups from far and wide resulting in a society Indian Constitution included provisions to ensure rights of that is vibrant and unique. women are protected and women are empowered so they can live and work as equal citizens with the men. In time, The status of women in the melting pot of cultures, several laws were enacted by the legislature and policies India, has been subject to regular and intermittent change framed by the executive to protect women, improve their resulting in the present state of women in the country. quality of life, ensure they are given equal opportunities for 04 ONE INDIA ONE PEOPLE Mar 2020 education and employment. However, despite provisions in Instances of child abuse, harassment from family members, the Indian constitution and myriad laws to protect and sexual abuse by family members such as fathers, brothers or empower women, the status of women in the Indian society uncles, emotional and financial abuse perpetrated by male and among society has still to go a long way before achieving and female members of the family are commonplace equal status as men. misdeeds. These acts violate a woman’s right to life and right to live with dignity as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Law is effective only when it is implemented with the same intention it was made for. In most cases, it is These incidents not only go unreported as the perception in society and practice that obstruct delivery of woman feels a sense of shame in talking about it or reporting justice and fair implementation of the law. Members of the it. If at all she gathers courage to approach authorities bureaucracy, polity, law enforcement and the judiciary are despite being discouraged by her family, her complaints are part of the very society that discriminates against women. not registered, and if registered do not reach their logical So, when they come in a position where they have to conclusion because of the bias among authorities that works administer law or deliver justice, their personal prejudice against delivery of justice. often comes in the way that leads to the women being denied their rights. When the practice of instant triple talaq was banned, millions of Muslim women in India were saved from So, in order to uplift women and ensure desired the barbaric practice. The constant fear of being divorced in implementation of the law and give justice swiftly to uphold an instant and at whim was nothing less of torture and living the rights granted to women by the Constitution, it is impera- a life of insecurity for many married women. tive to change perception and the resulting practices. Stalking is another offence that needs to be taken Laws should be in sync with changing society seriously by women and, more so, by the authorities. An act of stalking in person or in cyber space can lead to more India is one of the few nations in the world with serious offences such as rape or murder if not addressed in many laws specifically for women - The Sexual Harassment time. Other cyber crimes such as impersonation, fraud, of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and blackmailing, identity theft, trolling, pornography, harass- Redressal) Act, The Dowry Prohibition Act, Protection of ment, cyber bullying or forwarding videos of rape or abuse Women from Domestic Violence Act, Special Marriage Act, are other ways that affect women on a daily basis. Such Maternity Benefit Act, Medical Termination of Pregnancy crimes are targeted towards the weak, mostly women and Act, etc. There are, however, glaring gaps that prevent children, across social strata. However, now other groups women from asserting their rights owing to societal percep- are also getting affected and young college girls, educated tion and practices. and working women are falling prey. With more than 196 million social media users in India in 2017, the magnitude In 2018, the #MeToo movement came to India of the problem is huge. when Bollywood actress Tanushree Dutta made allegations of sexual harassment at her workplace, a film set. Similar Independent India has evolved and, with it, the stories of women from ‘educated’ middle-class and judiciary processes and laws that have to be in-sync with the upper-middle class shook the nation that was left aghast changing society. A truthful evaluation of the grassroots with the extent of exploitation in certain industries and situation and changes occurring will need to be done, and organisations. The merits of these allegations can be debat- processes introduced to do them regularly. Deterrence will ed separately but what was important was the fact that so need to be taken into consideration while framing laws to many women could not and did not address the offence of further their reach and potential. Also, there should be a ‘sexual harassment’ despite there being a law in place due to well-planned strategy to boost awareness and change shame and perception where a woman is ‘judged’ for coming parochial mindsets, societal perception and practices along- out in the open with such allegations. side. Women need to speak up for themselves, support and stand up for each other to battle perception in society and It must be noted that the segment of women that discriminatory practices that prevent their well-being and are active on social media do not represent the complete come in the way of asserting their rights as equal citizens. A cross-section of women in the country. Internet and social famous American poet Maya Angelou had said, “Each time media, despite the penetration in urban and rural set ups in a woman stands for herself, she stands for all women.” the country, are restricted to fewer women than men.