Gujarat women's groups demand immediate implementation of the demands for justice and security

Women representatives in Gujarat Sachivalaya premises

By Our Representative
More than 50 representatives of the women’s organizations from 13 districts of Gujarat have submitted a letter of demand to minister for woman and child development, Gujarat government, Ganpatbhai Vasava, asking for taking “immediate steps for upholding the Constitutional Rights and security of women and girls in Gujarat.” Signed by more than 38,500 women and aware citizens of Gujarat, the representatives particularly pressed on the minister to implement 10 basic demands immediately, with a time bound action plan for the remaining ones. “Government of Gujarat should immediately make announcement for budget to implement the Gujarat high court order dated February 22 for the proper implementation of Domestic Violence Act”, a joint statement issued after the meeting said. “A charter of demands prepared by them was sent to the Government of Gujarat on January 24, 2013 for taking concrete steps for the security of the women and implementation of constitutional guarantees for women and girls”, the statement said, adding, “Recently, following the Delhi gang rape as well as growing incidence of violence against women in Gujarat, women groups across the state prepared a list of 34 demands pointing out need for structural reforms in police, judiciary and the administration. Yet, the state government’s latest state budget failed to give adequate response to the demands.”
As a result, the statement said, across Gujarat, in several villages, cities and tribal areas, a signature campaign has been undertaken to get support from thousands of women and progressive men for the charter of demand seeking time bound concrete action on the part of the state government. Copy of the demands has been sent to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and the state law department for perusal and further action.
Major demands needing immediate implementation, put forward by the representatives, are:
1. Sexual harassment committees be formed in all government, public offices as well as the educational institutes as per the guidelines provided in the Vishakha judgment.
2. Police should take all cases of sexual harassment, sexual violence and assault with due seriousness and any apathy/negligence on part of the police force should be punished with strict action against the errant.
3. CCTVs should be installed in all police stations so as to record that police are functioning properly.
4. Instead of imposing bans, restricting movement of girls and women in public places, the government should ensure safety for them at all times.
5. Fast track courts should be established separately to handle cases of violence against women.
6. Rape victims should be provided the interim relief and rehabilitation expense within three weeks and the rest of the money should be provided without delay to facilitate the victim in her legal fight.
7. Round-the-clock service connected with the police stations to ensure all possible support to women/girl victims of all kinds of violence on the lines of 108 ambulance service should be provided. The facility should ensure all kinds of medical, legal, psychological and financial support.
8. A woman victim of violence should get priority in availing mental and physical medical help in all government hospitals irrespective of the fact whether police complaint has been lodged or not.
9. Police force in all ranks should be gender sensitized and given regular training to ensure proper response to woman victims of violence.
10 To ensure transparency as well as accountability in police services across the state, women's group should be made party to the regular review process.
The statement carries following details, suggesting gross gender discrimination prevailing in Gujarat:
· As per Census 2011, of the 74,94,176 total number of children in age group 0-6 years in Gujarat, 39,74,286 were boy and 35,19,890 were girls.
· In 2001 4,45,964 less girls and in 2011, there are 4,54,396 less girls compared to boys in Gujarat.
· In the year 2011, in Gujarat 8815 cases of violence against women reported.
· From these 8815 cases, 439 cases of rape, 1442 abduction, 30 dowry deaths, 6052 cases of physical and mental cruelty by in-laws (Sec. 498-A), 685 cases of Criminal assault or criminal force to outrage the modesty of women (Sec 354), 93 cases of word, gesture or act to insult the modesty of a women (sec. 509), 28 cases of Immoral Traffic Act, 46 cases of prohibition of dowry Act. The cases which never reach the police station may be many fold.
The statement was prepared by following organizations: Anandi (Ahmedabad), Safar (Ahmedabad), Sahrwaru (Ahmedabad), Utthan (Ahmedabad), Centre for Equity Studies (Sabarkantha), Nirmal Samaj Kendra (Vadodara), Mahila Swaraj Manch (Bhavnagar), Centre for Social Justice (Bharuch), Vidyadeep Community College (Bharuch), Sewa Rural (Jhagadia), Sahiyar Stree Sangathan (Vadodara), Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (Bhuj), Swati (Surendranagar), Olakh (Vadodara), Unnati (Ahmedabad),
and Behavioral Science Centre (Ahmedabad).

Comments

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani* India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor* Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Andhra team joins Gandhians to protest against 'bulldozer action' in Varanasi

By Rosamma Thomas* November 1 marked the 52nd day of the 100-day relay fast at the satyagraha site of Rajghat in Varanasi, seeking the restoration of the 12 acres of land to the Sarva Seva Sangh, the Gandhian organization that was evicted from the banks of the river. Twelve buildings were demolished as the site was abruptly taken over by the government after “bulldozer” action in August 2023, even as the matter was pending in court.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad* On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad* The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor* Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Search This Blog