May 2017 - Volume 9 Issue 5 Rs 15 Women die of burns every I N S I D E day, yet how many care? A study has found that the main cause of death among women between 15 and 44 years is burns, many of which were deliberate attempts on life, whether homicides or abetted suicides. One estimate puts the number of dowry deaths in India as 15000. Witch-hunting continues, thanks to blind faith and Grave findings, indeed. In Bengaluru, burns account for the highest number of deaths superstition 2 among women in the 15 to 34 age group, exceeding even the number of fatalities caused by maternal deaths or TB. Four to five such cases are recorded everyday on an average, which amounts to 1600 to 1800 a year. And this, despite a law banning dowry since 1961 and various enactments over the years to empower women SAKUNTALA NARASIMHAN, Bengaluru Odds stacked against sha has no lips. When brought out in association in Bengaluru, the death of the and counselling services. This, giving children a chance she was two, she saw her with SOCHARA (Society for woman was caused by burns. despite a Karnataka High Court of survival 3 Amother, Jaya, engulfed in Community Health Awareness, Another study conducted by the directive in 2009 to employ flames after being set on fire by Research and Action), not Mumbai-based NGO, CEHAT, medical and para-medical staff her abusive husband. In horror, only offers a comprehensive, too, has found that the main cause to especially cater to burns the toddler ran to hug her mother meticulously researched study of death among women between victims. Even the special courts – and her lips got badly singed by of the causes and socio-cultural, 15 and 44 years is burns (many of dealing with them end up taking the flames. A teenager today, her medico-legal dimensions of which were deliberate attempts on seven to eight years to dispose of friends call her “ghost” because the problem of women dying life, whether homicides or abetted cases, which means justice gets of the disfigurement. The family by burning, but also focuses suicides). One estimate puts the either delayed or ineffectual. cannot afford cosmetic surgery. on suggestions for addressing number of dowry deaths in India The socio-cultural practice Stakeholders come Jaya survived the horrific it as a public health issue. as 15000. of considering daughters as together to restore a incident, but her neck and face Incidentally, men too suffer These are grave findings paraya dhan (they are no longer wetland 4 are a mass of burnt flesh, and she from burns - electric burns meriting attention and action at considered part of their natal cannot stretch her hands because and industrial accidents - but different levels, ranging from families after marriage) often Path-breaking initiative the flames fused the skin at the nowhere near the frequency more burns wards with better results in a total lack of support to bridge rural-urban elbows. She cannot even hold among women. facilities to reduce fatalities, from the natal family when digital divide 5 steady work to eke out a decent Consider this: in Bengaluru, to social measures to address they are being harassed for living. burns account for the highest manifestations of violence insufficient dowry, which ends The burns ward at Bengaluru’s number of deaths among against women, educating and up driving them to suicide by Victoria Hospital, one of the women in the 15 to 34 age empowering women including burning. Addressing the social largest in South Asia, has seen group, exceeding even the psychological empowerment to perception, therefore, is the 10000 women being admitted number of fatalities caused fight the pervasive perception starting point towards reducing over a period of ten years by maternal deaths or TB. (even among females) that the incidence of suicidal deaths during which Vimochana, the Shocking, isn’t it? Four to women’s lives are worthless. by burning. city’s leading group of women five such cases are recorded Prevention of suicides is a Apart from such challenges, Rugby brings a whiff of activists, monitored the ward’s everyday on an average, which social issue, and even the World sufficient attention has also fresh air, motivates cases through its volunteers. amounts to 1600 to 1800 a year. Health Organization (WHO) not been given to the needs of girls 5 Their findings, put together And these are only the ones has recognised violence against the children of these women in a recently released report, that are recorded officially; women as a public health issue. (survivors as well as those who Surviving Burns With Care, many more go unreported Burns survivors like Jaya end do not make it), particularly or get registered as ‘kitchen up severely disfigured, lose their psychological therapy, to cope accidents’, commonly known livelihood, and suffer social stigma with the emotional trauma as ‘stove bursts’, for a variety besides permanent disabilities. and the resulting behavioural of reasons – the women do not Whereas under the new law for problems, and, in many cases, a want to implicate their husbands acid victims, compensation is violent father. as perpetrators, there’s the payable by the government, no Like other manifestations of Rescuing trafficked girls fear of repercussions on the such assistance is extended to gender-linked attacks (rape, for and giving them a new children, or the intimidating in- burns victims. instance) homicidal burning of lease of life 6 laws simply force them to give Why is that the case? women does not take place in false statements. Vimochana’s report also points the presence of witnesses. The A large percentage of out that current official policy woman’s statement, recorded the burns cases are either does not recognise disfigurement in a hospital ward when homicides (women are set on as ‘disability’ for reservations she is scarred and severely fire by husbands or in-laws, mandated under the law. traumatised, often fails to reflect for dowry, or as part of gender- Moreover, existing burns units the truth – Vimochana found that Photo: Vimochana linked violence) or abetted are insufficient to cater to the “at least 19 per cent of the cases The cover page of suicides (again, dowry related, needs of the number of victims, documented by the police as Of gun power and the the report produced or patriarchal oppression and and those that exist do not have ‘accident’ were abetted suicide”. trauma of fisher folk 7 by Vimochana and power relations). In 63 per sufficient personnel trained to SOCHARA. cent of dowry-related cases provide competent rehabilitation (Continued on page 2) 2 May 2017 FOCUS Witch-hunting continues, thanks to blind faith and superstition If you thought that witch hunting was a thing of the past, relegated to history textbooks that recount horrific tales of women being labelled as witches and burned at the stake across Europe, Asia and Africa, think again. In Assam, the practice not only exists, but thrives, even holding the dubious distinction of being one of the most destructive superstitions in the country. The practice of witch-hunting is a compelling blend of superstitious beliefs and blind faith KIRTHI JAYAKUMAR, Guwahati itch-hunting in hunters, but they were eventually tortured sexually, all in the name India goes back dropped because of the absence of of ‘correcting’ them or correcting Whundreds of years; witnesses and evidence to establish them for being ‘witches’. The in the Northeast it is said to the crime. superstition that allows for have started from Morigaon Baruah points out, “It is hard to their practice of witch-hunting District, Assam, which has pin the crime down to a specific automatically translates into a earned itself the epithet of number. No data on witch-hunting license to do all that is needed to being the Indian Capital is ever conclusive because it is a ‘correct’ the witch, or to rid the of Black Magic. Today, superstitious practice, and is not community of the witch. despite years of activism reported. And even if it does get Geeta Borthakur, a sociologist, and campaign against the reported, it is not always recorded elaborates, “Superstition bac- practice and a tough law in as witch-hunting; it’s mostly called ks the practice entirely, no place, witch-hunting not only murder.” matter what the motive. It is continues, it is one of the But what is it that provokes exploited to push an agenda of leading causes of death among communities to unleash such dispossession of property, to women in the state. insensitive, humiliating atrocities dominate over women, to justify The practice of witch- at one of their own? The funda- sexual harassment or rape, and Photo:KJ/WFS hunting is a compelling blend mental driving factor behind witch- even to make money. Poverty, Birubala Rabha has emerged as a true champion against of superstitious beliefs and hunting remains superstition. illiteracy, unemployment, fear the practice of witch-hunting. blind faith. Usually, it’s the Folklore informs that witches are and patriarchal attitudes that witch doctor, locally known born with powers of black magic, pass the belief on, continue to to point out, “Enacting the law is hard to educate communities as the ojha or bej, who brands and that a traditional medicine give a boost to the crime.” only one step. It needs sustained against falling for the misguided someone – most often a man, the ojha or bej, is renowned To fight the regressive social implementation. Without that, it remedies of ojhas. However, woman – as a witch, or dain. for his skills of countering these practice and make a real differe- has no teeth.” the predicament in Assam She is then subjected to torture, powers.