'Self-confidence and awareness among women crucial to fight crime against women'

Special correspondent

SILCHAR, Jan 24: “Looking at the growing incidence of crime against fair sex, it is high time that women themselves will have to learn the art of self-defence and always be on alert to foil any evil design against them,” pointed out Suhashini Sankaran, Additiol Superintendent of Police, Cachar, while articulating her views in the iugural function of the two day legal awareness programme conducted jointly by the Kiron Sashi Women’s Cell, Gurucharan College, and Assam University. This was held in the auditorium of the College. The programme sponsored by the tiol Commission for Women concluded on Sunday.

This legal awareness programme assumes significance in the light of frequent incidents of crimes against women in different parts of the country. This Valley of Barak, which was once described as an ‘island of peace’ is no exception. The records with the police crime branch do not present a happy picture. In fact, the situation has come to a stage where all sensible and responsible persons irrespective of community and caste have to join hands together to fight the evil and make all exercises to elimite it.

Suhashini Sankaran said this is not only in India but across the world where such crimes are occurring. Most of the countries which hit the headlines in crimes against women are worried at the mecing phenomenon. From all accounts, as she noted, Denmark, Sweden and Cada are on the frontline. But, it is not a question of the number of crimes committed but of organized global strategy to fight against it.

As the world is now concerned with the specter of terrorism, it is apprehended a day will come when all the tions have to sit together and think of joint stand to take up the cudgel against crimes against women. With particular reference to India, Suhashini Sankaran made a point to say that Indian Constitution provided equal rights and opportunities to all. There is no discrimition on this ground between male and female. Still, she thinks there exists gender bias as male get more preference or importance in society.

“And it is this gender bias that leads to atrocities against women who often feel let down and get morally demoralized”, Suhashini Sankaran feels. It is true in order to provide safety and protection to women, the state government has set up a cell exclusively for them in every police station where women can come forward and lodge their complaints if they are subjected to atrocities. There also has an information cell. According to her, women are found to be the target of violence more after marriage. Often the cases are related to dowry.

As women have to be conscious and alert, it is also the responsibility of every man and every household to ensure that their own women members are not exploited and made a victim of any sort of atrocity. She also suggested corrective measures without seeking the interference of police or law enforcement agencies. Suhashini Sankaran said the police is often at cross-road to deal with crimes, particularly against women. She gave a call to all sections of people to unite and fight whenever such crimes are reported. Women have to be educated and focused into the mainstream of society, besides they should have self-confidence and mental strength.

Presided over by Dr. Bibhash Deb, principal of Gurucharan College, other distinguished invitees to share their views on the crucial issue which included the important aspect of legal awareness also among women included Dr. Sourindra Kumar Bhattacharjee, president of the governing body, Sushmita Dev, MP Silchar, and Dr. Rama Bhattacharjee, Head, Department of Bengali, Assam University. The auditorium saw the presence of teachers and students who heard the views and opinions put forward by the learned speakers.