There has been massive
outrage post Delhi gang rape case and rightly so. Numerous suggestions and ideas were thrown up during
the outrage and the common bashing boy was the police. The recommendations of
the committee established soon after the incident appear to be more deterrent
post the disaster.
Police
failure has been there but the complete blame does not rest with the police.
That the reforms are required; that the police are understaffed; that the
police are operating under colonial rules is also well known; the police are
incompetent to handle such like situations in the glare of media too came out
loud and clear. Solution to all problems are well documented or available , the
only block appears to be governments fear of making the police independent and
is delighted with remote controlling through babus without accountability.
As
part of the remedial measures everyone in the race to apportion the blame and
prevent re occurrence wished police /politician’s /babus/ media/ students/intelligence
for failure requiring transformational reforms.
The
most important stake holder is a normal citizen devoid of access to the
privileged status. He is everywhere and faces the challenges as part of his on-going
daily life. Girls/women facing harassment in the college /outside almost
everywhere moment they leave the house for any activity unescorted. The most
important stake holder has become dumb spectator and reconciled with the
miseries as part of life. Rather than take it head on, he has decided to go
into the shell and levied restrictions on the girl/women folk. Whether it’s a worried
father or husband or the leadership of close knit societies-the rationale is
common. Khap dictates’; fatwas or restrictions by a father/husband fall in the
same category- fear and vulnerability of the female. The suggestions range from
reasonable to ridiculous. Early marriage; no mobiles; no night out are some
those have been propounded. Spirit behind the restrictions is fine but the
implementation or suggested measures may be questionable. But the fact is what
the outrage desired or khaps/husband/father’s earnest desire is safety of the
female. Notwithstanding legal system not giving due to khaps the fact is they
have a powerful say in the areas they control. Fear of punishment and social
outcast is potent for member of community in rural India, infect it gives a
family identity and therefore extremely important. All these have involving the
stake holders and evolved a system that delivers quite effectively certainly
better than the official judicial system.
One
is the incorporation of the stake holder, ie, the female and the husband/father
/khap and second is the potent punishment.
Applying
at the national level, this can evolve into similar powerful system.
First
stage, the Stake holder is the citizen- his responsibility is like the trigger.
He notices anything informs the police. But this can work only if he is assured
of his safety and n harassment. He is everywhere and every time. Majority carry
mobiles and can take a photograph and would like to call the police when they
see something wrong.
Second
stage should be the quick reaction police teams aimed at localising the
incident, helping the victim, preventing culprits escape or destroy evidence.
Third
stage would be the expert police investigating team to ensure a fool proof
legal case.
Fourth
Stage is speedy justice delivery; this seems to be happening at least in recent
rape cases.
Stage
one is the crux to ensuring service quality by the government. The government cannot
and should not be everywhere. It could be proactive where things are foreseen
but will have to be reacting on a trigger initiated by the citizens.
The
trigger thought process can gradually be applied across the board, wherever the
service provider fails, reporting the matter triggering the response will
ensure fear amongst the erring employees and force the delivery of the stated service.
Let’s make a difference, become empowered citizens and trigger the response. Unless we pitch in no one can ever succeed and
if we pitch in no one can fail.
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