Rape is not a SEX crime
India has finally given a nod to the death sentence for raping a minor
India has finally given a nod to the death sentence for raping a minor but a sudden spate of rapes of minors just after the ordinance was passed indicates that this is not a deterring the criminal. We need to understand certainly understand the psyche and social influences in this problem.
A Political Solution to a Political Problem:
Prime Minister and other senior politicians have said that rape is being politicized and rape is a small crime which is being blown out of proportion. NCRB data shows in the past 4 years rape has gone up by 80% but the rate of registration and conviction remains at 25% as before 2014. The Nirbhaya fund created for increasing the safety of women has been given 3100 crores approx in past year of which only 30% has been disbursed. So with the system moving at the same pace as before, 80% more rape cases cannot be because of increase of women confidence but is simply a rise in rape incidents. Even with these figures, surveys show that 90% of rape still goes unreported and 85% go unprocessed every year. Reasons for the ordinance were mainly the public outrage in the Unao and Kathua rapes. In Unao, the rape accused in a BJP MLA who used his political clout to hide his crime and got the father of the victim arrested. In Kathua, BJP MLA's came out publically defending the culprits and the case was registered after a delay of 3 months when it caught the nation's attention. Also, keeping in mind that currently there are 33% of elected representatives have cases of crimes against women including rape, registered against them, with the maximum number of them in BJP, the current political atmosphere is not conducive for women safety. In fact, it's contributing to increasing the crime against women. The adding of the death penalty will only assuage the ruffled feathers of the political activists out on the street, not lead to a solution. Yes, had PM Modi expelled the perpetrators of such crimes that could have counted as a real message?
Is the death penalty a solution to rape?
Why do men rape? How can anyone derive pleasure from a child or a woman writhing in pain? Men have raped few months old babies and 80-year-old grandmothers on death beds. Rape is not about pleasure. Rape is not about making love or lust. It’s a crime of power where a man derives pleasure from making a woman helpless. And the woman is an easy victim as she is physically weaker than a man. That's why domestic crime victims are mostly women. Our society led by men has protected marital rapists under the umbrella of 'sanctity of marriage' but is this the future we see for our sons? Why are we raising an army of inhumane men who derive pleasure from others pain? Our up bring allows the Indian man to take out his frustrations on the women of the family. That's why in 90%of minor rapes, the culprit is either from the family or is known the victim. The caste divide runs so deep in India that the so-called upper caste will eat or drink water from an "untouchable" but is allowed to rape the untouchable women at his will.
While we are strengthening the women, building their earning capability, we are not strengthening our men. Equality for both is the only solution where they interact with each other without fear and shame. Our little boys need to be taught to respect women, to treat them as they would treat any other human, to de-objectify them. Re-education is the only this issue can be kept to normal levels. Our politicians are part our society which is confused about rape. Rape needs to be understood before it can be controlled.