| The large protests in India could be a time to fund or volunteer with NGOs, activists, social workers, people’s movements or organizations that fight for women’s rights Firstly, a line of welcome to my new readers. I have loved doing this. Writing to you. I started writing in January 2024 as a weekly. My last two posts have been fortnightly. Thank you for being with me. Some of you wrote to me back sharing your thoughts or reactions. Thank you, it’s good to know what you’re thinking. And now for today’s post. Many in India are shaken up by the rape and murder of a doctor. The incident has brought public attention and mainstream discourse to the question of safety of women. The 31-year-old medical professional had worked for over 36 hours and was taking rest, according to media reports. Some of the media details suggest violence of a magnitude that has brought large numbers of people out on the streets protesting (including midnight protests) and to express outrage on social media. It has been heartbreaking. The news reminded me of another incident from 1973 – that of Aruna Shanbaug, a nurse at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital. She was sexually assaulted by a ward boy while she was on duty. She spent 42 years in coma thereafter. The Supreme Court of India’s verdict on the passive use of Euthanasia was based on Aruna Shanbaug’s case. I recall how the Court noted the loving care of by the hospital’s staff who looked after their colleague in coma for four decades – cutting her nails, combing her hair regularly and even fighting for her to not be moved elsewhere out of their care – a detail that has lived in my memory. The recent incident reminded me of many other things. Of Nirbhaya case (2012). Of women who are Dalit or underprivileged, whose cases don’t get attention nor attract public outrage. Of all the rapes that never get registered. Of marital rape which lives on as a secret that wives carry. Of every situation where violence against women is normalised. And then it reminded me of cases I have directly worked on. In particular two – One, the case of a child who was autistic. I remember I fought hard for the police to act in her case, given the rapist was an auto driver who was widely known to the whole village. A few days later the case was compromised and closed. The child’s parents were very poor. They had accepted money from the parents of the accused and proceeded to withdraw their case. It was a helpless feeling. Two, that of a poor elderly (50 year old) woman whose face and words I can never forget – “the violence is a part of our daily life here.” She told me she was raped often by her drunk husband. At that age, she had no intention of dumping him, she said to me calmly. Rape and violence express an imbalance in power. These crimes are an assertion of power. And women from lower caste-class backgrounds face a much larger number of assaults. Most of this remains invisible, anecdotal, severely under-reported. Media attention and collective demands for justice are important. Important because these “big” instances bring people together cutting across identities, uniting us in our demands for justice. The space of fighting for a cause itself can be deeply divided, at other times. The Bhanwari Devi case is one of the most significant examples of a case on women’s safety. It led to the well-known Vishakha Guidelines for protection of women at workplaces.The collective demand for justice gives one hope. That the opportunity could mean political action. On the other hand, worryingly, are the characteristics of public outrage itself, especially when it comes to rape. Outrage is unequal, selective and worse – short-lived. I noticed that many of those in my social media feeds who posted once or twice in anger have now simply gone on to post about other casual things, in a “moving-on” spirit. Life goes on for those who outraged. Life however does not go on for the women who face such violence, nor those who work to support them or work for their rights. |
| And that is why I want to highlight the role of civil society, of people who dedicate their lives fighting for women’s rights The crucial role of support or care workers, human rights activists, lawyers, social workers and NGOs who are often there sticking their necks out for survivors. And they do so with many shortcomings at their end. Often ill-equipped or under-resourced to carry out such work. Their work may often be non-funded. In the shadows. Many who take up social or political work do so against their families’ wishes. In Vidarbha, through my interactions with 1000 youths, I remember observing how literally nobody wanted to take up social work, citing family oppositions. A social worker intervenes in many useful ways. They will accompany a survivor to and fro the police station or hospitals or courts, as many times as is needed. Through all the red tape of the system. Next, they provide psycho-social counselling whenever needed, to the entire network of people connected with a survivor. They fight for cases to be registered when the police decline to do so. How can we strengthen their work? 1. Fund their medical insurance. 2. Support their families. Help out with their children’s education. 3. Support the movement/NGO/organization that they work for. Ask them questions. Show your interest. Demand things from them. Don’t let them feel alone. Very quick and straight for the time being. As always, I would love to know your thoughts too. |