RAPE - HEINOUS CRIME

RAPE - A HEINOUS CRIME

The Indian Government's decision to launch a scheme to compensate rape victims from August 1, through financial assistance as well as support services, is welcomed as the rape victims are almost from poor families and in the lateral life the parents find difficulty for her suitable marriage.

In India, a woman is raped every 25 minutes and India stands third, leaving behind countries like Sri Lanka, Jordan and Argentina when it comes to rape cases. Whereas, in USA, the hub of western culture, a woman is raped every 90 seconds.

In our daily newspapers, rape rears its ugly façade almost every day. Sometimes, it is a brutal rape and murder by a stranger, gang-rape of a girl by her acquaintances or in many cases rape of a girl by her own father or elderly relatives. This has caused havoc in our social system and the sanctity of relations and respect of humanity is falling apart.

In recent years, there has been an alarming rise in ratio of rape in India. It is becoming such a common thing in our newspapers that we are apt to not even pay any remarkable attention.

One thing is noticeable that as the country is heading rapidly to globalization and westernization the ratio of such crimes is going higher and higher. Globalization has caused a significant change in the Indian culture, society and scenario. Late night party cultures, discos, dating clubs, fashion shows and beauty contests have increased in numbers in the past 10 years. The satellite and cable TV channels have grown and are almost uncensored by any organized authority. Also, this decade has witnessed a huge increase in pornography materials both in CDs and on Internet. The Indian entertainment industry and media which have access nearly to every house, present bold scenes and nudity as fashion and symbol of higher lifestyle. The youths are heavily getting addicted to drugs and other intoxicant stuffs.

At the same time, it is regretful that Indian women have gone far away in following the western culture in terms of nudity, immodesty and fashionable lifestyle. The good and constructive aspects of western culture such as discipline, hard work, dedication, tolerance, transparency, honesty, incorruptness etc are neglected. While on the contrary, the superficial glitters are accepted as a source to climb the zenith of development and intellectualism. The way the daughters are dressed and nurtured is very dangerous for them and ultimately for the society.

It is quite surprising event and one is forced to think when we have a free and open society where men and women are free to make friends, have affairs, go to brothels and enjoy their life as they wish, then why some monsters prey girls to fulfil their lust. But, on the contrary, with the rise of globalization and westernization the crime ratio is on the rise. In USA, the hub of western culture, a woman is raped every 90 seconds.5 In 1995, 354,670 women were the victims of a rape or sexual assault. Over the last two years, more than 787,000 women were the victim of a rape or sexual assault.

One who has an observation of recent social disorder and betrayal from the cultural and religious values is quite sure that the latest increasing trends of sexual violence against women are based on the changing scenario of our social system. So, this is a clear proof that the direction to which our social system is headed is leading it to destruction and devastation.

Our youths and new generations need to be given more and more morals teachings and social values which are almost zero in our prevailing education system.

At the same time, to stop such a heinous crime, the existing punishment under Section 376 in The Indian Penal Code, 1860, should be raised to capital punishment in all cases, so that none could dare to do so in future.