WOMEN – 2012

WOMEN – 2012 (January to December 2012) Compiled By Human Rights Documentation∗ Indian Social Institute, Lodi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, (India)

15-year-old Afghan girl tortured after refusing prostitution (8) KABUL: A 15-year-old Afghan girl was brutally tortured, beaten and locked in a toilet by her husband's family for months after she refused to become a prostitute, officials said on Saturday. Sahar Gul was in critical condition when she was rescued from a house in northern Baghlan province last week, after her neighbours reported hearing Gul crying and moaning in pain. According to police in Baghlan, her in-laws pulled out her nails and hair, and locked her in a dark basement bathroom for about five months, with barely enough food and water to survive. "She was married seven months ago, and was originally from Badakhshan province. Her in-laws tried to force her into prostitution to earn money," Rahima Zarifi, head of women's affairs in Baghlan told Reuters. Gul is covered in scars and bruises, with one eye still swollen shut six days after her rescue. She is being treated in a government hospital in Kabul, but her recovery could take weeks and she may have to be sent to India, doctors said. "This is one of the worst cases of violence against Afghan women. The perpetrators must be punished so others learn a lesson," health minister Suraya Dalil told journalists after visiting Gul on Saturday with the women's affairs minister. Mohammad Zia, a senior police official in Baghlan who helped rescue the girl, said Gul's mother-in-law and sister-in-law have been detained, but her husband and father-in-law had escaped. "We have launched a serious hunt to get her husband and the others involved," Zia told Reuters via phone from Baghlan. Despite progress in women's rights and freedom since the fall of the Taliban 10 years ago, women throughout the country are still at risk of abduction, rape, forced marriage and being traded as commodity. However it can be hard for women to escape violent situations at home, because of huge social and sometimes legal pressure to stay in marriages. Running away from an abusive husband or a forced marriage are considered "moral crimes", for which women are currently imprisoned in Afghanistan. Some rape victims have also been imprisoned, because sex outside marriage, even when the woman is forced, is considered adultery, another "moral crime". (Times of India 1/1/12) Saving the girl child took centre stage in 2011 in Pune (8) Mumbai: With 127 girls missing for every 1,000 boys born, Census 2011 showed an alarming decline in female sex ratio for Pune city. The statistics came as a jolt to the health department, especially because the city’s child sex ratio was steadily deteriorating. In Census 2001, the figure stood at 902, 29 points better as compared to the latest census. The entire government machinery swung into damage control mode and what followed was a year of long-sustained campaign on female foeticide. Websites were launched and helplines were announced to report illegal activities. While NGOs and civil society members started attacking the government through RTI queries, spot reports kept officials on their toes. Finally, the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, was being taken seriously. Or at least the mood in government offices seemed to suggest so. Here’s what transpired in Pune in roughly 6 months — 16 cases were registered against doctors for flouting the PCPNDT Act, 15 ultrasound machines were sealed, all ultrasound clinics were monitored every month and 100 centres were issued notices for not sending periodic reports of their activities. The atmosphere of fear against flouting the PCPNDT Act was strengthened by multiple convictions that took place, with errant doctors being awarded jail terms for the first time. While the news of a Satara-based doctor being awarded the highest punishment under the PCPNDT Act, i.e. 3 years in prison, caused waves in the medical community, the conviction of a Punebased radiologist came as another shock. Dr Mohan Nagane, a radiologist at the government-run Aundh General Hospital, was also a member of the district PCPNDT Committee meant to oversee the implementation of the Act. Guilty of sex determination, he was caught in a sting operation by the NGO, All ∗

This is a collection of previously published news and views from the print as well as the electronic media, whose reference marked at the end of each news items. Department of Documentation and Library (DDL) of the Indian Social Institute, New Delhi neither claims to the veracity of the facts in the news nor subscribes to the views expressed.

India Democratic Women’s Association, and sentenced to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment. The role of NGOs was especially commendable with several sting operations being carried out in the state. Pune’s most prominent sting operation took place at Ranade Hospital. Gynaecologist Makrand Ranade was caught red-handed in a sting operation asking for Rs9,000 to conduct a sex-determination test. Dr Ranade took the cash from a decoy couple and sent them to Namit Sonography Centre run by Dr Nina Mathrani, where the test was conducted. Both the clinics and machines were sealed and the cases are pending in court.While the crackdown on illegal sex-determination tests remained the focus of health authorities, many other important developments took place. The civic body spent Rs55 crore to set up a new building at Kamala Nehru Hospital. The new wing is equipped with latest medical facilities, and the services are available at an affordable cost as compared to any other private hospital. The total capacity of the hospital is now increased to 450 beds. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run Naidu Hospital for Infectious Diseases announced setting up a disease surveillance centre, to be linked to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The centre would help in collating and analysing the data collected from private and government hospitals in the city. The data from surveillance centre was to be linked to WHO, where all outbreaks and epidemics would be analysed. (DNA 1/1/12)

'Serial killer' strikes again; woman raped, murdered (8) SHADNAGAR (MAHBUBNAGAR): The serial killer continues to be on the prowl in Shadnagar area as yet another woman's mutilated body was found on Monday. Police suspect the killer raped the woman before murdering her and dumped the body on the outskirts of the town. While the spate of rape-murder incidents continues to scare the residents, police are still clueless about the killer. Sources said the cops have no idea whether it was the handiwork of a serial killer or other culprits. DSP Madhava Reddy told TOI that the woman's body was in a mutilated condition. "But the assailant did not take away her bangles after committing the crime," he said. In the last few months alone, 16 rape-murder cases have been reported in and around Shadnagar. Most of the bodies were found in the bushes on the outskirts of the town. While the residents are spending sleepless nights, police continue to grope in the dark. In the last few months alone, 16 rape-murder cases have been reported in and around Shadnagar (Times of India 3/1/12) Policies and action plan on Nirbhaya soon: Kerala CM (8) Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 3 : Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today issued direction to submit the policies of Nirbhaya project, aimed at protecting the minor girls from sexual abuse, within ten days. Official sources said suggestions received from people and various voluntary organisations would be included while preparing the final draft of the project. Sex education will be imparted at the school level itself. Final draft would be prepared after considering the new suggestions that have come up. The details of project with financial commitment should also be submitted along with the project, the Chief Minister said while reviewing the Nirbhaya project here. There should be immediate action on the part of police to bring in fast track mechanism and rehabilitation facilities soon. Ministers P K Abdu Rabb and Dr M K Muneer, Sugathakumari, Sunitha Krishnan, Lida Jacob, K Jayakumar and Sarada Muraleedharan also attended the meeting. (UNI) (New Kerala 3/1/12) Cops nab husband who shunned his wife for being dark-skinned (8) Six months after he was booked for harassing his wife because she was dark-skinned, the police on Monday finally managed to nab former BEST driver Laxman Shinde who had been on the run since. Over the past six years, Laxman not only humiliated his wife because of her dark complexion, he forced her to abort, tried to kick her out of the house, continued ill-treating her after the birth of their child, and even secretly remarried. Unable to bear the ordeal any longer, Shinde’s wife finally filed a complaint at the Vartak Nagar Police Station in Thane in June 2011. In the complaint she said that they lived at Jogeshwari after marrying in May 2005. But barely a year later, Shinde began harassing her because of her complexion. It was her father-in-law Arjun, who sided with her and turned against his son for illtreating his wife. In fact, when the police produced Shinde in court on Wednesday, his father Arjun distributed sweets. He told everyone that people like his son, who treat women badly, should be behind bars. In her complaint to the police, the woman had said that Shinde’s dislike for her complexion didn’t prevent him from having physical relations with her. And to ensure there were no ‘dark babies’, he made her consume abortion pills, she alleged. “Fortunately, my father-in-law realised what was happening,” she

said. Unable to witness the harassment his daughter-in-law underwent, Arjun sent her to her parents’ house in Thane. For a year, the victim stayed in Thane. Her father, Karna Galve, said, “We did not hear from our son-in-law even once. But after elders from both sides intervened, a year ago he came and took our girl back.” After a while, however, thing were back to what they were before. The victim said, “When he learnt I was pregnant, the harassment resumed. The taunts, abuses... they were all back. He didn’t want me to have the baby.” In 2007, the woman gave birth to a girl. “We thought Shinde would mend his ways after the child’s birth, but were shocked to discover that he had, meanwhile, remarried and was living away from his parents,” the girl’s father said. It proved the final straw, prompting the woman to file an FIR. But the police could not trace Shinde who went on the run. He even applied for anticipatory bail which was rejected. Finally, on Monday, when he appeared in court, the cops nabbed him. (Mumbai Mirror 5/1/12) 98% rape, molestation accused known to victims: Delhi Police (8) NEW DELHI: Despite several new initiatives by Delhi Police to make the national capital safer for women, the year 2011 saw a significant increase in the number of rape and molestation cases than the previous year with 98 per cent of the offenders being either related or known to the victims. A total of 568 rape cases were reported in the year gone by as compared to 507 in 2010. However, the incidence of rape per lakh population has shown a steady decline in Delhi, coming down from 4.42 per lakh in 2005 to 3.39 per lakh in 2011. Addressing the Delhi Police Annual Press Conference here, police commissioner BK Gupta said, in over 550 rape cases of the 568 reported in 2011, the offenders were found to be known to the victims. "Another important factor about rape cases and molestation cases is that in most of the cases the accused were found to be known to the victim or her family. Thus it is seen that these are opportunistic crimes committed in private spaces," Gupta said. He said only 2 per cent of rapes in 2011 were committed by strangers. In 2010, 3.94 per cent of rapes were committed by strangers. There has also been an increase in cases of molestation of women in 2011 with 653 cases being reported as against 601 in 2010, he said. In 2010, the city witnessed 489 rape incidents, including the infamous Dhaula Kuan rape and Mongolpuri, as against 2009's 459. The figure for 2006 was 609 followed by a drop to 581 next year while in 2008 it further dipped to 466. To reduce the crime against women and make Delhi more safer for the fair sex, Gupta said the Delhi Police would deploy more women police personnel on duty and every police station will have a woman police personnel to interact with complainants. The Commissioner said women-centric police stations have been established in north and south campuses while five districts in the capital have women Deputy Commissioners of Police and Additional Deputy Commissioners of Police. He also said 460 women constables have been imparted commando training in 2011 with 25 being imparted advanced training by the CRPF. On the steps taken to make Delhi safer for women, Gupta said orders have been issued to BPOs and other offices to take steps for safety and security of women while PCR vans have been directed to help stranded women, and surprise checks are being conducted in bus stops, buses, markets and cinema halls. (Times of India 6/1/12) Don’t abuse women empowerment laws: Judge (8) CHENNAI: Justice Ranjana P Desai of the Supreme Court has cautioned women lawyers about the possible abuse of laws, which were made to give relief to women. “Stringent laws have been enacted for the benefit of disadvantaged women. Undoubtedly, they must be used to give justice to disadvantaged women. But, as respo-nsible lawyers, you must use these laws with care and circumspection and only in ge-nuine cases,” Justice Ranjana said while delivering the key-note address at the inauguration of a twoday national seminar of the All India Federation of Women Lawyers (AIFWL), hosted by the TN Federation of Women Lawyers, on Saturday. “Even 65 years after Independence and enactment of various Acts and Laws for the welfare of women and children, their status has not improved much, she noted. Most of the women lived in sub-human conditions and were treated like chattel. Women lawyers must reach out to them,” she said. Inaugurating the seminar, Supreme Court senior judge P Sathasivam said that the judiciary had played a major role in coming to the rescue of women. “The contribution of the judiciary for the improvement of the status of women, ensuring of their rights and equality, could be seen from the judgments issued then and there. The media too, had played a vital role in highlighting the problems of women,” he added. “Women are as competent as men,” claimed Justice D Murugesan. The judge also released a souvenir on the occasion. Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan said, “Women should be given more opportunities and gender bias should be eliminated.”(NIE 8/1/12)

Woman tortured in Udaipur village still faces harassment (8) JAIPUR: Almost four months after a 35-year-old woman at a village in Udaipur was partially stripped off, paraded in full public view and her hair cut off for an alleged extra-marital affair, she is yet to come to terms with the brutal harassment meted out to her. The police have arrested her husband, father-in-law and brother-in-law along with 21 others villagers, several of them are members of the caste council that subjected her to torture at Brahmanon Ka Gula village in September last year. "Yet he woman's suffering has not ended as she continually faces abuse and indecent comments in the village of her parents, where she now lives. She was forced to leave her in-laws' house after the incident," said a close relative. The woman was married and has three children. She and her "boyfriend" faced the ire of a khap panchayat (caste council) in the Brahmin-dominated village for having an affair. In 2010, the woman had gone to Mumbai with her husband who used to sell milk there. The young man, who happens to be cousin of her husband, also went there and allegedly met the woman many times. The husband returned to the village and accused the woman of having an extra-marital affair in front of the senior members of the panchayat, who then tortured her. The woman and her 22-year-old lover were thrashed, stripped half naked, paraded and then their hair was cut. An FIR against the members of the panchayat and in-laws of the woman was registered and the police arrested a total of 24 people in the case. "We had not received any complaint even from the woman's family members after the incident. Somebody showed us an MMS following which the FIR was registered," officer Parbat Singh said. However, it was alleged the police stood as a mute spectator when the woman was subjected to torture. The woman's relative told TOI she is presently living in her parents' house at Mankiyavas village. "She wanted to live in her in-laws' house, but the villagers made her life hell. Youths in the village kept treating her badly. She was forced to leave the village," said the relative. He added moving in with her parents has also not helped. "She is going through the same harassment at her parents' village as well," he said. The woman and her alleged 22-year old lover were thrashed, compelled to sit half naked, then paraded and had their hair cut. An FIR against the members of the panchayats and in-laws of the woman was registered and the police arrested a total of 24 people in the case. "We had not received any complaint even from the woman's family members after the incident. Somebody showed us an MMS following which the FIR was registered," said investigating officer of the case Parbat Singh. (Times of India 10/1/12) Rapes up in Mumbai, but there’s no word on molestation (8) Mumbai: The long arm of the law doesn’t appear to strike much fear in the hearts of criminals anymore. Numbers prove so. As per the recent statistics of crime in the city, released by the police on Tuesday, registered rape cases rose by 27 last year as compared to the 192 in 2010. Of the 219 rape cases registered in 2011, 139 involve minors. The accused, a majority of which were parents, relatives, friends, acquaintances neighbours, were known to 206 victims. In total, the accused were apprehended or identified in 209 cases. What are missing from the police’s statistics, though, are the figures for molestation cases. In 2011, 597 women were rescued from brothels in a number of raids held by the local police and the social service branch. During the rescue operations, 302 accused were arrested for trafficking of women and 131 cases lodged thereafter. “Security is a priority but people must become responsible,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime. Commissioner of police Arup Patnaik assured that there will be zero tolerance to crime against women, “The security of women in the city is our top priority.” Although the police were quiet about the cases of molestation, Patnaik said the zonal deputy commissioners of police have been asked to take each case of molestation and eve-teasing seriously. “There are special teams that have been set up in the suburbs to deal with these problems,” he added.(DNA 11/1/12) Woman paraded naked: Rights panel seeks report (8) Satara: A day after a Dalit woman was assaulted and paraded naked in western Maharashtra, the state’s Women Rights Commission on Thursday demanded stringent action against those were responsible for the shameless act. Taking cognisance of the matter, the commission warned the local administration to act as soon as possible or be ready to face the charges of negligence of duty. The shocking incident took place in the Mulgaon village of Patan tehsil in Satara district, western Maharashtra when a group of influential people assaulted and paraded Rekha Chavan, 42, naked after her son eloped with a girl from a high-caste family. Patan police later arrested Kisan Dattatray Desai (45), Hambirrao Bapurao Desai (39), Shantabai Kisan Desai (35), Vimal Vishwas Desai (32) and Sunita Hambirrao Desai (35) and booked

them under Indian Penal Code sections 143, 149 (unlawful assembly), 354 (assault with intention to outrage woman's modesty) and 324 (causing grievous hurt). The police, however, refused to confirm if the victim was paraded naked. After the incident, the Dalit woman was admitted to a hospital at Karad in the district. (Zee News 12/1/12) Sexual harassment law may soon cover domestic workers (8) NEW DELHI: Domestic workers could soon have the right to complain against sexual harassment. The women and child development ministry is likely to review its position and accept the recommendations of a parliamentary panel to include domestic workers within the ambit of the 'Protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace bill'. When asked if domestic workers will be brought within the ambit of the bill, WCD minister Krishna Tirath said, "We are in favour of inclusion of domestic workers in the sexual harassment bill." The ministry is still working on details of how a place of residence will be monitored like an office or institution. The bill provides for a secure working environment for women and mandates setting up of internal committees both in the formal and informal sectors to ensure that complaints are addressed. The ministry's change of stance comes after a parliamentary committee dismissed government's view that there were "practical difficulties'' in implementation of the law within the confines of a home. Domestic workers comprise 30% of the female workforce in the unorganized sector. There are 47.50 lakh registered domestic workers in the country. Incidentally, the National Commission for Women (NCW) - set up for protection of women's rights which works under the ministry of women and child development - also shared the panel's view. The commission said that reservations of enforcing the provisions of the bill within the privacy of the home were "unfounded'' as the Domestic Violence Act had broken this myth allowing legal scrutiny and extending protection to the confines of the home. The committee had received representations from several domestic workers associations including 5,000 postcards advocating "domestic work is work and domestic workers are workers'' for inclusion. The sexual harassment bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 7, 2010 and was referred to the standing committee on December 30, 2010. It submitted its report in the winter session last year.(Times of India 12/1/12) National Consultation on the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 and the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. (8) The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) organised a two day National Consultation on the implementation of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act , 2005 (PWDVA) and the Dowry Prohibition Act , 1961 (DPA) at Vigyan Bhawan on the 11th and 12th January 2011. The meeting was chaired by Additional Secretary, MWCD and was attended by the Secretaries/ representatives of the State Departments of Women and Child Development/Social Welfare, Home and Law, representatives of the State Legal Services Authority, Police, Protection Officers and Service Providers. Ms Indira Jaising , Additional Solicitor General of India and Director, Lawyers Collective also addressed the participants on the issues and challenges relating to the implementation of the PWDVA on the first day. The State Governments made brief presentations on the steps taken by them to put in place structures for enforcement of both the legislations. In this context information on the status of appointment of protection officers, service providers, notification of medical facilities and shelter homes and budget allocated under the PWDVA, 2005, was shared. Details relating to the appointment of Dowry Prohibition Officers (DPO) and constitution of Advisory Boards under the DPA, 1961 were also discussed. Presentations were made on the role of health professionals in addressing domestic violence and on various other issues relating to the PWDVA, 2005 and the DPA, 1961. The focus of the discussion was on challenges faced in implementation of these Acts and the best practices adopted in the States, which could be replicated by other States. The key issues discussed in respect of the PWDVA, 2005 included appointment of independent protection officers, service of notice within and across the States, enforcement of Orders , time taken in the judicial process and coordination amongst various agencies. In respect of the DPA, 1961, the key issues discussed included appointment and role of DPOs, constitution and effectiveness of Advisory Boards, reasons for limited recourse to the DPA, 1961 and whether there was a need to strengthen the law. (Govt. of India, PIB 12/1/12) Violence against women rises in Pakistan (8) Islamabad, Jan 15: Violence against women in Pakistan -- from domestic incidents to sexual assaults -was on the rise in 2011, with 8,000 cases reported to the authorities. According to incidents registered at

police stations, courts and complaint cells, there was a 13 percent increase since 2008, Dawn News reported Sunday. "This number is still unrepresentative of the issue on the ground, as our social norms prevent a majority of the cases from being reported," said Omer Aftab, national coordinator of the White Ribbon Campaign Pakistan. The campaign is one the biggest efforts to end violence against women. It relies on volunteer support and financial contributions from individuals as well as organisations. Bani Amin, inspector general of police (IGP) Islamabad, said cases filed at women's police stations remained in double digits for all months of the year. There were many cases last year in which women could not get justice because police were slow to take action, the daily said. On Jan 12, 2011, Binish Fatima, a 20-year old student, was kidnapped by three men when she was returning home from a local tuition centre. Her brother lodged a complaint with the police and named the suspect but the police allegedly said the woman had eloped. Fatima's body was found in Karachi in February. She had been gang-raped and then murdered. In another case Feb 25, 2011, 25-year old Huma Rehman, working with an Islamabad NGO, was gang-raped, tortured and poisoned to death. By the time she was brought to hospital, she had suffered extensive brain damage and had to be put on a ventilator. It allegedly took police three weeks to register a case and arrest an accused. However, the woman showed no chance of recovery and had to be taken off the ventilator. The top police official said that it was "unfortunate" that whenever a woman filed a case, the issue was resolved through a "patch-up" or "reconciliation"."Family members become judges and give decisions. However, in case of disputes between two tribes or opposing groups, women are able to get justice as their families are far more supportive of their stance then. It will take some years before women rise for their rights," he said. Aftab said women who work late hours with male colleagues were especially vulnerable to assault. He said the media had "still not warmed up" to the idea of giving women-related matters more space. "There is a need to give a positive image of women through the media, as it has the power to influence the mindset of the masses," he said. (IANS) (New Kerala 15/1/12) Health ministry cracks down to save girl child (8) NEW DELHI: Soon, radiologists can work in only two ultrasound facilities at the maximum, and that too within a single district. In a landmark decision to save the girl child, the Union health ministry in the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) meeting of the Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, chaired by health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad cleared the proposal. The CSB also passed the recommendation that radiologists will have to clearly specify working hours in these two centers. "The notification will come out next week. The proposal was cleared at the CSB meeting on Saturday," a ministry official told TOI. The ministry had found instances of a single doctor being registered in seven, nine or even 16 ultrasound clinics simultaneously and purportedly conducting ultrasound scans in all such clinics in a single day, "which in all likelihood suggests proxy use of ultrasound procedures and its misuse for sex selection".According to agenda number six of the CSB meeting, it had become a trend that one radiologist/sonologist is registered as performing doctor with more than one ultrasound Centre. The ministry has also clamped down on institutes involved in providing a crash course on using ultrasound machines for jobs in "sex-selection shops".The CSB cleared a Medical Council of India proposal that all these institutes will first have to be accredited by the state government and made authorized training centers. The curriculum will have to be standard and the training has to be for six months, including 300 hours of teaching. MBBS doctors or anybody training to be sonologists to operate an ultrasound machine will have to undergo a comprehensive skill test that will be conducted by the state government before the candidate gets the certificate. "At the end of the six-month course to be conducted by the state government, the doctor will have to undergo a competence-based certification test. This will prove whether the candidate has undertaken a comprehensive sonography course or has been trained just in sex selection," a ministry official who was part of the CSB meeting told TOI. At present, besides a sonologist, imaging specialist and radiologist, anybody with a six-month training or one-year experience in sonography or image scanning can use an ultrasound machine. This, the ministry says, has led to mushrooming of several bogus institutions to train people on how to use ultrasound machines for sex selection. "We have also done away with the clause that allowed one-year experience in sonography as a qualification to use an ultrasound machine," the official said. It had become a trend in which bogus certificates were being issued, saying the person has undergone a six-month or one-year training on using imaging techniques. "Many such fake institutes conduct 15-day courses that teach people how to do sex selection using ultrasound machines and hand them the certificate," the official added. (Times of India 15/1/12)

4,100 rape cases in Orissa in 3 yrs: Mahila Cong (8) Bhubaneswar: Claiming that as many as 4,100 rape cases had been registered in different police stations of the state during the last three years, the women wing of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the dalit teenager rape case in Pipili. "We also demand immediate arrest of all the accused persons in Taradipal case where a girl was kidnapped and sexually assaulted for about two months," Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee president Bijaya Laxmi Sahoo told reporters after meeting the Chief Secretary BK Patnaik. Stating that the white paper tabled in the state assembly showed that during the last three years around 4,100 cases under section 376 (rape) were registred, the former minister said "it is shocking to know that the police had filed chargesheet in only 18 cases." Terming the state government's announcement of setting up a judicial commission to the Pipili rape case as an eyewash, she said it was meant to deflect public attention. On Taradipal case, Sahoo claimed that though the Mahila Police Station had arrested two persons on allegation of the brother of the victim, they were subsequently released. "The entire episode shows insensitivity and insincerity of the Mahila Police station authorities," she alleged seeking action against the erring police women. Mahila Congress activists also staged a demonstration before the Mahila Police Station here condemning its act of releasing two accused persons in Taradipal case. (Zee News 19/1/12)

MP: Rape, harassment cases doubled during 2010-11 (8) BHOPAL: The number of rape, molestation and harassment cases registered at the Madhya Pradesh State Women's Commission (MPSWC) has more than doubled in 2010-11 as compared to the previous year's figures, a trend attributed to the increased violence against women and awareness at the grass root levels, say experts. According to the MPSWC data, the number of rape cases registered during the current financial year was 141 while 62 cases came to the commission in the previous year. Workplace harassment cases, on the other hand, have shot to 268, as compared to 115 in 2009-10. Rashmi Sarawat, chief executive officer, Mahila Chetna Manch, speaking on the rising crimes against women said, "Crime against women in the state has always been high. Feudalism is still prevalent in many districts in Gwalior, Chambal and Bundelkhand regions," she said. At the same time, growing awareness levels helped more number of women shed their social stigma and come out in the open, she says"More women are now aware of the Domestic Violence Act and Vishakha guidelines issued by the Supreme Court for workplace harassment. This may be the prime reason for more number of cases related to violence against women coming to light," said Rashmi. She also stated that while the police might say that the heightened awareness led to getting registered more number of cases, it was also true that somewhere people believed that there was still scope for further redressal, which is why they turned to such constitutions. While the number of cases of dowry related torture has decreased as compared to the figures of the previous year, the stark figure of 459 still stands out. Also, the rise in the number of dowry deaths from 102 to 131 is a clear testament to the continued atrocities because of this social evil. Domestic violence cases have also gone up to 423 from 377, according to the MPSWC figures. Abduction cases have also increased from 49 to 73 while murder cases registered have gone up to 71 from 49 in 2010-11. Says Upma Rai, chairperson, MPSWC, "This reflects the attitude of a society that is deeply orthodox and its inability to cope up with the changing times. It is unfortunate that despite the spread of education and it is accessible to all the sections, the society always tries to force its will on a girl. This is where conflict is created." (Times of India 21/1/12) Why women in Delhi dread its public spaces (8) New Delhi, January 22, 2012: Narrow roads, unlit stretches and a far-from-safe public transport system — these are just some of the infrastructural problems Delhi’s women face, a survey conducted by the women and child development department has revealed. Widening roads have eaten into footpaths, making them narrow. This, women say, makes them more vulnerable to being teased or groped. “Making your way home from the Metro station is also a difficult task. You have to either ask a family member to pick you up or rely on cycle rickshaws, which are not safe,” said a senior Delhi government official. Aparna Singh, a Delhi University student, faces this problem. “I travel by Metro daily as it is quite safe. But the moment I get out of the station, I have to ring my parents to pick me up as the entire stretch leading to my house is poorly lit.” http://www.hindustantimes.com/images/HTPopups/220112/22-01pg01d.jpg “While there are now laws in place to deal with sexual harassment at the work place and

domestic violence, the public space that women use — the bus stop, the public transport system, pavements, etc — there is a need to make that safe,” said Kiran Walia, minister of women and child development. “We will be taking up these issues with the authorities concerned and the police too.” The department got in touch with residents’ welfare associations and women in November 2011 to find out what makes them feel unsafe in public. (Hindustan Times 22/1/12) Women harassment cases going up (8) COIMBATORE, January 23, 2012: Blame it on issues over supremacy, financial or educational status or discontent in marriage life, complaints of harassment against women are on the rise in the city in 2011 when compared to 2009 and 2010. Yet, 70 per cent of the victim's problems were solved through counselling by the city police and 30 per cent were left for logical conclusion before a court of law. Harassment against wife includes, beating of woman by husband in inebriated condition, abuse by mother-in-law, father-in-law and relatives, suspecting fidelity of the woman, blaming wife for childlessness, blaming her parents, disability harassment, spying on their activities, verbal and nor-verbal abuse are the forms of harassment reported. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Hema Karunakaran said that most of the differences between wife and husband were over supremacy and that too in the age group of 21 – 30 years. When a woman approaches an All Women Police Station to file a complaint, priority is given for resolving the issue through expert counselling. The last option is registering a case, she added. When a husband or relative subject her to cruelty, a case would be filed under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code in which, the guilty, upon conviction would get three years of imprisonment and fine. In case of harassment, case would be registered under Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act 2002 provides a maximum of three year imprisonment or Rs. 10,000 fine or both. In case of dowry harassment, the District Social Welfare Officer K. Aruna has to conduct an inquiry with the husband and wife and submit a report to the police station, after which the case is registered. Expert counselling is provided only if the couple wanted it, she added. However, a police official said that some women misuse the law by preferring complaints over petty issues with the husband or his family. They seek legal recourse to settle scores or intimidate the husband's family. Such petitions are often resolved by offering adequate counselling. This accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the dowry harassment cases registered. (The Hindu 23/1/12) 10,000 fewer girl babies born than the ideal ratio (8) MANGALORE, January 25, 2012: While yet another National Girl Child Day – January 24 – has come and gone, research shows that there are 10,000 fewer girls born than there should have been in the last 10 years. Professor of Social Work Rita Noronha, who has been working on a University Grants Commission-funded project on gender sensitisation in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, told The Hindu that an analysis of census data shows that more than 1,000 fewer girls were born than boys every year for the last decade. She said that the child sex ratio in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts has been declining steadily over the last decade. The ideal girl-boy ratio accepted internationally was 1,050:1,000. Considering the total number of boys born, she estimated that a total of 10,000 fewer girls were born than boys. According to figures from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the child sex ratio (number of girls per thousand boys between the 0-6 age group) has been steadily declining over the last three years. From 982 in 2006-07, the figure dropped dramatically to 930 the following year and for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 the figure remained at 923. (The department has maintained annual data for the 0-6 age group only since 2006). According to the 2011 census the child sex ratio for the district was 946, while the figure was 952 in the 2001 census. Ms. Noronha said that a number of factors including female foeticide and preference for a male child were responsible for the declining number. Another factor was the increasing preference for only one child. Although both the Departments of Women and Child Development and Health and Family Welfare are aware of the imbalance in the sex ratio, they do not appear to know the causes for this. Reproductive and Child Health Officer of the Department of Health, Rukmini M., however, does hazard a guess. She said that considering the data maintained by her department, one factor that could be partially responsible was the increasing preference for one child. The department keeps a month-wise record of the number of babies born in the district. The percentage of first-time deliveries was the highest, and the percentage of women having more than one baby was significantly lower. Perhaps an analysis of this data could provide clues as to the nature of the role this factor played. However, she admits that this alone cannot skew the numbers so dramatically. Ms. Noronha said that the overall findings of her research suggested that the space for

women was shrinking, and that serious thought needed to be given on how to really welcome the girl child to this world. Meanwhile, the Department of Women and Child Development has postponed the celebration of national Girl Child Day on account of the Bala Srujanotsav which was being held in the city between January 22 and 25. Ms. Shakuntala A. said that the department would celebrate the day after the Bala Srujanotsav ended. (The Hindu 25/1/12) Need to correct gender discrimination: Patil (8) New Delhi, Jan 25: Holding that the status of women is an important indicator of progress in a society, President Pratibha Patil Wednesday called for removing social prejudices that have led to gender discrimination in the society. Addressing the nation on the eve of 63rd Republic Day, Patil said social evils like female foeticide, child marriage and dowry must be eradicated. "I strongly believe that women need to be drawn fully into the national mainstream. Empowerment of women will have a very big impact on creating social structures that are stable. An important component of women's development is their economic and social security," she said. "Social prejudices prevalent in our society which have led to gender discrimination need to be corrected," she added. (IANS) (New Kerala 25/1/12) 12 doctors in jail for violating foeticide Act (8) MUMBAI: Twelve doctors were convicted and handed out prison terms in the last year for carrying out sex determination tests and non-registration of sonography machines in the state. This is the first time that doctors have been sent to jail in the state for violating the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT). Ever since the census reports were made public-Maharashtra has a dismal child sex ratio of 925 females per 1,000 males-the state government has taken various steps, including launching the 'Save the Girl Child' campaign, to prevent female foeticide. The orders for the doctors' imprisonment were issued by judicial magistrate first class of the respective districts. All the convictions have taken place in the rich belt of western Maharashtra. A majority of the cases are from Sangli. The other districts include Solapur, Nanded and Kolhapur. In five cases, the vigilance squad used a decoy (a pregnant lady) to catch the radiologist red-handed while carrying out sex-determination tests and informing the patient about the child's sex. The other cases related to the non-registration of sonography machines. In the last one year, the civic body sealed 39 sonography machines in Mumbai. Of these, 22 have been released. Officials said the last time doctors were convicted under the PCPNDT Act was in 2002. "Fourteen doctors from Pune were convicted, but were let off after paying a fine of Rs 1,000 each," said an official. (Times of India 26/1/12) Dowry death: One bride burnt every hour (8) NEW DELHI: In a crime that is prevalent only in India, greedy husbands and his relatives harass the newly wed bride for getting more dowry, and often kill her in the process. And, very often, she is burnt alive. This horror is therefore called bride-burning or in official terms, dowry death. In 2010, there were 8391 reported cases of dowry death in the country. That works out to a shocking one death every hour approximately. Bride-burning is on the increase - just a decade ago, in 2000, there were 6995 cases. Dowry is an ancient tradition among the upper castes but its spread among all sections of society probably in the late nineteenth century. With increasing commercialization this acquired a new meaning it became an opportunity for men and their families to get their hands on cash, jewellery, durables, and various other commodities. Although the government prohibited dowry through legislation in 1961, it was never implemented properly. Prohibition officers were supposed to have been appointed in each district, taking the battle to the grassroots but nothing happened. And, the tide of greed driven murder of young brides continued unabated. In 1986, under huge pressure from the women's movement, the Indian penal Code was amended to include section 304B, specifically against murder following harassment for dowry. Section 498A was added to define harassment and cruelty by husbands and his relatives. Strangely this too has not had much effect. Laxity of the government machinery can be one reason for the failure of legal measures. After all, conviction rates in bride burning cases have dipped from an already weak 37% in 2000 to 34% in 2010. In section 498A cases, the conviction rates are even lower: just 19%, although reported cases were 94,000 in 2010. But perhaps the primary reason for spread of this cancer has been the almost complete absence of any public campaign or mobilization against it for the past 25 years. As a result, girls are considered a burden on the parents, families go bankrupt trying to get their daughters married off, choice in forming relations is frowned upon and thousands - maybe lakhs - of young women suffer violence silently behind closed doors. (Times of India 27/1/12)

Sex abuse by husbands in spotlight (8) New Delhi: Physical violence is the most common form of violence reported by women — ranging from being beaten up under influence of alcohol to routine slapping — along with emotional and verbal abuse under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA). But, a monitoring and evaluation report of the PWDVA has also found that a large number of Indian women are also complaining of sexual abuse by their husbands, a problem that courts are reluctant to address. The report — Staying Alive: 5th Monitoring and Evaluation 2012 on PWDVA — prepared by NGO Lawyers’ Collective Women’s Right Initiative with support from a UN trust, said that though women are filing detailed complaints of sexual abuse, courts do not specifically note the existence of sexual violence in the orders passed by them. Refusal to have sexual relationship with wife, illicit relationships and forced to watch pornography are some other forms of sexual abuse alleged by such women. But, forced sexual intercourse was the most common form of sexual violence alleged. The report said that in case of married women, most of the time courts have not granted relief and rejected the plea filed by the woman. Though the courts have traditionally shown greater tolerance to verbal and emotional abuse, recent judgments are indicative of the fact that judges are becoming more sensitive towards this form of abuse now. Protection orders and compensation for mental trauma and agony have been granted even in the absence of physical violence. Economic violence in the form of denial to maintain wife and children, causing starvation, demanding dowry, taking away Stridhan, denial of medical care and confinement too have been reported. But the most common has been being thrown out of matrimonial home leading to dispossession. A strong trend is that women have complained against the in-laws for this dispossession. In Rajasthan, physical violence related to dowry harassment was commonly reported. Lack of evidence and individual facts have had a bearing on reliefs granted to women in live-in relationships as married women were the largest users of the law followed by divorced women and widows. In fact, the number of widows using the Act steadily increased over the last five years. In most cases, widows claimed relief from their in-laws. Their most common complaint was of economic abuse - dispossession and not being maintained. Single and unmarried women too are using the law against their fathers, brothers, sisters etc. (DNA 1/2/12) 'Dowry death' victim's family moves rights panel (8) BHUBANESWAR: The family of a 21-year-old woman, who was allegedly murdered by her in-laws for dowry in Kendrapada district recently, approached the state human rights commission here on Monday to demand the immediate arrest of the accused. Rajalaxmi Kabi of Dhumatisasan village had got married to Biswajit Senapati of Aul area on June 23, 2011. Rajalaxmi was found hanging at her in-laws' house on January 6 this year. While her in-laws claimed she committed suicide, her parents next day lodged a complaint at Aul police station alleging she was murdered. "Though police arrested her father-in-law Brahmananda Senapati (60), the other members of the family are yet to be arrested," her brother Radhakant Kabi told media persons. "Her husband and his parents used to torture her for dowry. They had been demanding a refrigerator. We had sought some time to arrange money. But they did not wait and killed her," the woman's brother alleged. "We have urged the human rights commission to intervene and ask the police to arrest the other accused," he added. Contacted, the Aul police station inspector Khyamasagar Panda said: "The other family members are absconding. We raided their house recently, but did not find them. They would be arrested soon." Times of India 1/2/12) How risky is it to be born a girl in India today? (8) According to an internationally reputed global rights group, India’s human rights record for 2011 is ‘disappointing’. But we don’t need a depressing comparison with other countries to tell us that as a society we are treading disturbing territory at present. A glance through the fortnight’s headlines will do just as well. And nowhere is this more evident than in the treatment of the more vulnerable sections — women and children. Not even a month into 2012 and the plight of the two-year-old battered baby girl fighting for life at Delhi’s AIIMS has gripped our consciousness. Serious injuries, two heart attacks, head wounds — what agonies might such a little one have endured before somehow landing up at the hospital, and whom to hold culpable, given that her parents are still missing? We talk of human rights on a world platform, yet in a country like ours, with cases such as these, it seems human life itself is often rendered cheap. The capital has its hall of shame to contend with, given the statistics — reports say 83% is the abuse rate for children in the national capital — but we, here in Mumbai, also have our demons to battle with. Reality stares us in the face whilst looking at crime figures in the city, and it is shamefully bleak as

concerns little ones: a six-year-old raped in Govandi last week, followed in the span of just a day by a sixyear-old being raped in Mahim, ostensibly by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, an accused who had, reports say, been offering chocolates to girls in the locality. Then, a class X girl being raped by a collegian around the same time. In fact, the first month of 2012 had six rapes registered up until January 22, and sad as these figures are, what we must remember is that they are only the reported numbers. Who knows how many are silently suffering a perpetrator’s overtures and not having the courage to seek help? In fact, in most cases, police say, the perpetrator is known to the victim — reportedly, almost 89% of crimes are perpetrated by family or people known. (DNA 1/2/12) Lax cops fail to avert 3rd attack on girl in 3 months (8) MUMBAI: The 22-year-old woman who had acid thrown on her at Goregaon railway station on Tuesday evening had been attacked for the third time in three months. Shockingly, the police did little after the first attack in November, letting Aarti Thakur leave the Malwani police station with just a certificate for a lost cellphone. The Malwani police said they had categorically asked Aarti if she wanted to file a case after the first attack , but the girl didn't want to after she was coaxed by her then landlady Manju Shaikh to drop the idea. Aarti's mother, Seema Thakur , told TOI that the November attack was brutal, leaving Aarti needing 16 stitches to her cheeks and upper lips. Aarti received the stitches before going to the police station, Seema said, adding that the cops told Aarti it was probably just a matter of a chain snatching bid. On Nov 9, 2011, Aarti Thakur , a 22-year-old receptionist with an IT firm in Goregaon (W), was slashed with a razor blade on her face. She suffered injuries that required 16 stitches Mid-Jan 2012: Aarti was slashed on her neck and left ear from behind with a barber's razor January 31: Acid flung on Aarti while she was speaking to her fiance on phone at Goregaon station. She sustained injuries on her face, chest and arms In all the three attacks, Aarti says she did not see the face of the attacker. (Times of India 2/2/12) Babu sacked for sexual harassment (8) MUMBAI: In perhaps the first such case in the country, Maharashtra government has sacked a senior bureaucrat on charges of sexual harassment. Labour welfare commissioner Mohan Dhotre, a Class I officer, had been facing a probe since 2003 which ended with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan giving his consent to the dismissal. The state administration served the sack order on Tuesday. Following an inquiry initiated against Dhotre, in 2003, the labour welfare commissioner then approached the Bombay high court, challenging the department's decision to conduct a probe. In 2004, the HC, while hearing the order, had allowed the inquiry to proceed but directed that no action be taken for four weeks if the probe report was adverse. "The four week time began from January 31," said a senior labour department official. If Dhotre fails to approach court within the stipulated time, then the order will immediately come into effect, the official added. Reacting to the notice, Dhotre said, "The inquiry against me was initiated in 2003. The departmental probe was completed in 2006. Thereafter showcause notice was served in 2008. I had appealed against the order. While hearing my appeal, the labour minister directed to stop two increments of mine, but the order was never implemented. I feel that injustice is being done to me as the labour department did not put all the facts pertaining to the case before the chief minister, who has given his approval for dismissing me from the service." When asked would he challenge the state government's notice, Dhotre said, "I have not decided." In 2003, a female lower division clerk had accused Dhotre of sexual harassment. She alleged that the labour commissioner kept seeking sexual favours from her. Sanjeevani Kutty, an IAS officer then was in-charge of the state labour department conducted a probe and found Dhotre guilty. As the inquiry report kept moving at a snail pace from one desk to another in Mantralaya, the aggrieved women wrote to National Human Right's Commission which asked the state government to seek an explanation on the status of the case and inordinate delay in bringing the culprit to book. (Times of India 2/2/12)

Odisha gang rape: Women panel seeks action against doctors (8) Bhubaneswar, Feb 3 : Odisha's State Commission for Women (SCW) Friday has sought action against the doctors who neglected a woman who was allegedly gang-raped in state's Puri district in November last year, a senior commission official said Friday. Commission chairperson Jyoti Panigrahi, in her report submitted to the state authorities Thursday, said the victim's condition worsened due to the negligence of the doctors who treated her initially, the official, who did not want to be named, told IANS. The 19-yearold victim has been in a state of comma after she was allegedly gangraped Nov 28 by some people near

her village Arjunagoda, barely 10 km from the state capital. Her family alleged the rapists were the same people who had assaulted her in 2008 and against whom she had put up a determined fight in court in a molestation case. Although she was admitted to a local hospital Nov 29 a day later of the brutal crime and subsequently shifted to other hospitals, the shocking incident came to light only recently when the girl was denied proper treatment and some journalists reported the story. The commission, citing initial medical reports, said the woman had injuries on her neck caused by partial hanging. "As per law, if any information is received by a doctor regarding partial hanging, it is his duty to inform the concerned police station," Panigrahi has stated in her report. This was not done, the official said, citing the report. Besides, the chairperson found that the woman was discharged from hospitals on two occasions though her condition was very serious, the official dded. "(If) proper steps in due time had been taken by the physicians of different hospitals, the health condition of the victim would not have deteriorated," Panigrahi observed in her report. The alleged gang rape has created a political storm, prompting Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy to resign Jan 19 on moral grounds after the opposition and the girl's family alleged he protected her attackers. The crime branch has already arrested four people and conducted liedetector polygraph tests on them. A one man headed judicial commission led by a retired judge of the Odisha High Court is also probing the crime. The state women panel submitted its report to the government at a time when Anita Agnihotri, the member secretary of the National Commission for Women (NCW) is in the state on a two-day trip from Thursday to probe the incident. (IANS) (New Kerala 3/2/12) Woman beaten up in public by in-laws over dowry (8) BETUL: A woman was beaten up in full public view by her husband and in-laws, who allegedly also tried to set her ablaze, after she failed to meet their demand for dowry in a village near here, police said today. In her complaint, Seema alleged that her husband Kishore Geed, mother-in-law Malabai, sister-in-law and brother-in-law had been putting pressure on her to get dowry since their wedding a year ago. On Thursday, Kishore asked his wife to call her father and ask for money, but she refused. Enraged, Kishore, his mother and other relatives allegedly poured kerosene on Seema, but before they could set her afire she managed to escape from the house and boarded a Betul-bound bus. The family members purportedly followed and forced Seema to alight from the bus, pulled her sari and beat her up in full public view, police said, quoting the complaint. The incident occurred in Sendurjana village under Saikheda Police Station of the district. The victim somehow managed to inform her parents about the incident, following which she was taken to Betul yesterday and admitted in the district hospital. Betul SP Bahgwant Singh Chouhan said a case has been registered against the victim's husband and other relatives and appropriate action would be taken against them. (Times of India 4/2/12) Female foeticide: Haryana in California, Punjab in Canada? (8) Toronto: Not just in Punjab or Haryana and not just about boy versus girl economics — female foeticide seems to travel with some Indian parents. A recent editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has sparked off a debate about the prevalence of this practice among Indians in North America, showing female foeticide via selective abortion in Canada’s Asian immigrant communities. The CMAJ editorial, by the journal’s outgoing interim editor-in-chief Rajendra Kale, cited studies to show that female foeticide in Canada and the US occurs in large enough numbers to distort male-female ratios in some immigrant groups, including ethnic Indians and Chinese. Kale, a physician, recommended that “health care professionals should not reveal the sex of the foetus to any woman before, say, 30 weeks of pregnancy because such information is medically irrelevant and in some instances harmful”. After about 30 weeks, an unquestioned abortion would be “all but impossible”, he pointed out. A working paper for the US National Bureau of Economic Research in 2009 showed that the sex ratio for first births among Indians in the US was close to the norm of 105 boys for every 100 girls. But the ratio got increasingly skewed for subsequent births if the previous children were girls. In cases where the first two children were girls, the sex ratio for third births among Indians was found to be nearly 190 boys for 100 girls. Another study published last year and led by Sunita Puri, a physician at the University of California in San Francisco, looked at 65 Indian immigrant women in the US who had opted for foetal sex selection between September 2004 and December 2009. The paper found 40 per cent of those women had previously aborted female foetuses, and 89 per cent of women carrying girls during the period of the study went on to abort them. The women came from a diverse range of income and education levels, and from different Indian states. (Indian Express 5/2/12)

Girl child was better off in Gujarat 50 years ago (8) AHMEDABAD: The status of the girl child in Gujarat was better in 1961; one year after the state was created, than it is today, 50 years later. Census figures show that in 1961, there were 956 girls in Gujarat for every 1,000 boys in the zero to six age group. Today, the scenario has changed - the 2011 census put the ratio at 886 per 1,000 boys. In the last five decades the girl child ratio has dipped by 70. According to 2011 census figures, 6.03 crore people live in Gujarat. Out of these, 3.14 crore are males while 2.89 crore are females. This antipathy towards girl child is amply reflected in the overall sex ratio too, where the number of women in Gujarat is less by 25 lakh when compared to their male counterparts. In 1961 overall male and female ratio stood at 940 per 1000. Today the same stands at 918 per 1000. This steady drop in the number of females in Gujarati society has today put the state at the 24th spot among the 35 states of the country. In the zero to six age group Gujarat's position is worse, 27th. This imbalance between male and female population in Gujarat has sociologists worried. Leela Visaria, a demographer at Gujarat Institute of Development Research says, "In 1960, abortion and sonography machines did not exist. Even then, the society's attitude was very much the same which resulted in infanticide. Today, most couples do not wish to have more than two children, and often stop after having a son. This disparity in sex ratio created by people's selective behaviour is compounded by high mortality rate of the girl child. In the age group of one to four, the fatality rate among girl child is much higher than boys." In 2004 Visaria had predicted that India's population would grow to 1,204 million. Her prediction was uncannily accurate. Visaria's forecast was better than other agencies like the national commission on population, the UN and the US Census Bureau. Sociologist Gaurang Jani says, "Lack of stringent norms against doctors caught running sex determination rackets has worsened the problem. Since last 20 years we have been striving to save the girl child. This social imbalance will have wide reaching consequences. Prostitution may be one of the fall-outs. Inter-community marriages will become the need of the hour. It might soon happen that this disbalance triggers other social evils." (Times of India 6/2/12) Odisha rape case: Activists, parties protest (8) Bhubaneswar: The head of the Odisha women's commission has come in for criticism over the panel's report on an alleged gang rape victim with opposition parties and activists Tuesday demanding her resignation. A delegation comprising leaders of five political parties, including Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Samajwadi party Tuesday submitted a memorandum to Governor MC Bhandare demanding the resignation of commission chairperson Jyoti Panigrahi. The women's wings of both opposition Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests separately and activists burnt copies of the commission report submitted to the government. Panigrahi drew the ire of opposition and social activists after the panel report stated that it was wrong to describe the 19-year-old who is in coma as a victim of rape without any credible evidence. "I verified the complaints lodged with the police by the family members (of the victim). I also examined the medical examination reports. There was no mention of any rape," Panigrahi told reporters. Opposition parties and activists have slammed her saying the commission chairperson has tried to favour her political masters. "The victim's mother had on camera said her daughter was gang raped," Sukeshi Oram, former member of National Commission for Women and a BJP leader, told IANS. "Other family members of the victim have also said police did not register their complaints. We are surprised how the commission chairperson can dismiss those facts," she said. Oram said a team led by her also submitted a memorandum to the governor seeking removal of the chairperson as she "has abused her official position".The 19-year-old victim has been in a state of coma after she was allegedly gangraped Nov 28 by some people near her village Arjunagoda, barely 10 km from this capital city. Her family alleged the rapists were the same people who had assaulted her in 2008 and against whom she had put up a determined fight in court in a molestation case. Although she was admitted to a local hospital Nov 29, and subsequently shifted to other hospitals, the shocking incident came to light only recently when the girl was denied proper treatment and some journalists reported about the incident. The alleged gang rape has created a political storm, prompting Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy to resign Jan 19 on moral grounds after the opposition and the girl's family alleged he was protecting her attackers. The state commission for women in its report to the government 31 Jan blamed the doctors but spared police and ruling party politicians. "(If) proper steps in due time had been taken by the physicians of different hospitals, the health condition of the victim would not have deteriorated," commission chairperson Panigrahi had observed in her report. (Zee News 7/2/12)

Growing alcoholism breaking families in Assam (8) SHILLONG, Feb 7 – Assam government’s benevolent policy of issuing wine store and bar licences is indirectly breaking families with alcoholism-related domestic violence on the rise in the state. Figures indicate that domestic violence tops the list of all forms of violence against women reported at the Assam State Women’s Commission (ASWC) last year. ASWC chairperson, Meera Barooah, said: “Domestic violence is the biggest concern for women in Assam today and growing alcoholism amongst men is a major contributing factor in such violence.” Barooah was here today to attend a two-day regional conference on “achieving convergence for empowerment of women,” at the Hotel Pinewoods today. The chairperson said that the commission had earlier petitioned the excise department and also state government authorities to check growing number of country liquor dens. “We would soon approach the State Government on the growing number of Indian Made Foreign Liquor wine stores and bars in the State and urge the government to have a relook into its policy,” she added. Barooah said that dowryrelated issues, people’s growing materialism, changed lifestyle and low-level of tolerance when fuelled by alcohol makes matter worse. Many victims and their families, moreover, are reluctant to report such cases to the police and the commission is encouraging people to do away with this negative trend. “The other grey area is trafficking of women and we are trying to work with various agencies to get a grip over this crime,” Monideepa Borkotoky, a member of the commission said. She said that the commission has tied up with a non-profit organisation– Global Organisation for Life Development – for rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked girls and women. Moreover, witch-wizard-hunting although reported from isolated pockets of the State like Kokrajhar, Kamrup (rural) Udalguri, Sonitpur and others, primarily dominated by Bodo and Adivasis communities, is another concern for the State. “In most of these cases the victims are women, especially elderly and single women. We have been organising various awareness camps in these places through discussions, seminars, distribution of pamphlets, etc. to eradicate this social evil,” Barooah added. (Assam Tribune 8/2/12) Attack on woman on train: migrant worker arrested (8) KOTTAYAM, February 10, 2012: The police on Thursday arrested Sadanand Deshmukh, 50, a worker from Pune in Maharashtra, after he reportedly attacked a girl student in the women's compartment of the Ernakulam - Kottayam passenger train at Kuruppanthara. Sadanand Deshmukh entered the compartment and tried to snatch a snatch a chain from Jisha M. Jose, a student of Government ITI, Ettumanur. Ms. Jose had boarded the train at Aappanchira and was standing near the vestibule when she was attacked, the police said. When other passengers raised an alarm, Sadanand Deshmukh ran out of the train and was promptly stopped by people on the platform. A young woman passenger on the ErnakulamShoranur passenger train was raped and murdered by one Govindachami a year ago in the State. The accused was produced before the Judicial First-Class Magistrate, Vaikom, the police said. Staff Reporter writes from Kochi: The All Kerala Railway Passengers' Association has protested against what it describes the failure of authorities to keep the promise that passengers, especially women, would be provided protection on trains. The association, in a statement here on Thursday, said the incident at the Kurupanthara railway station was a pointer to the unsafe condition of women passengers. Thursday's incident was similar to the one in which Soumya, a train passenger, was killed near Thrissur a year ago. The association demanded immediate deployment of armed women guards in ladies compartments and male guards in general compartments. (The Hindu 10/2/12) Women bear the burden of debt in old city (8) Hyderabad: If poverty pushes old city into the jaws of loan sharks, predominant victims are its womenfolk. Married off very young and left to endure a life consigned to abject penury, many women from here solely assume the mantle of breadwinner, albeit without the concomitant rights. The poorer the family, the more victimised they are. Shaik Aziza, mother of five, has a loan of Rs.30,000, for which she pays a monthly interest of Rs.1,000. This resident of Hashamabad from Chandrayangutta knows well that she will never be able to clear the principal amount. “I borrowed repeatedly because my husband had no money to pay in advance for lifting the ‘maal',” she explains, referring to her hawker husband who is an inveterate addict, “He drinks and beats me, and rarely ever gives money for running the house. I meet the expenses solely from my earnings as tailor.” One among six girls, she was given to her husband in second marriage at tender age. Since then, she has been mostly on her own, as her husband's visits are only occasional. Such is the predicament of many women from old city, for whom, a husband has no relevance except in terms of social security. Khaleda Begum, also from Chandrayangutta, works as domestic help, but is

forced to make her children beg at mosque when she is in dire need of money. She has no other go, as her husband who works as driver, gives practically nothing at home. Like Aziza, she too was given in second marriage to a man 15 years elder to her. Girl children born in poverty are often a burden that “ought to be rid off” soon. The first affordable match is the best, irrespective of the groom's age, earnings or character. “Parents can't afford the dowry which increases in proportion with the girl's age. So, least dowry is the only consideration for marrying off a daughter,” says Hussain Bee, an old woman from Indira Nagar. Thus became Rehana Begum a mother of three children before she was 22. Her total jewellery is under mortgage, thanks to her husband, an auto-driver who drinks, fights and thrashes her often. Her two sisters Shahana Begum and Zareena Begum too have their jewellery in mortgage. After jewellery comes the turn of television sets, sewing machines and even kitchenware. “What can we do in times of crisis? Landlords and creditors create a scene if not paid in time. We must depend on borrowings,” Zareena says unfazed about her 100-day loan of Rs.3,000 at an interest of Rs.1,050. She repays by working in a cottage unit like many of her ilk. Her husband works in a tiles factory, but often plays truant on the pretext of power cuts. Cornering him will lead to fights and discord. “There have been instances of husbands committing suicide when pressed by wife to work and earn. That makes us endure everything in silence,” says Shaheda Begum, another woman. (The Hindu 11/2/12) Law meet focuses on feminism (8) Pune: “Women who dress up as ‘sluts’ or drink in pubs late at night invite sexual assault and rape.This seems to be the common notion among law enforcement agencies today. To get an FIR registered in a rape case, women are expected to be absolutely sure they were dressed up ‘appropriately’ and were sober at the time of the incident,” said Ratna Kapur, director, Centre for Feminist Legal Research, New Delhi. She was speaking at a three-day international conference on Feminism and the Law - Revisiting the Past, Rethinking the Present and Thinking the Way Forward. A concern that was raised by most speakers at the conference was the gradual disappearance of feminism-related courses from the curriculum of most universities. Talking about this trend, Margaret Thornton from Australia National University, said, “When I was discussing this issue once at the Yale University, somebody remarked, ‘Women get to vote already, what more do you want?’ Today even many young women want to distance themselves from feminism, thinking it is something that concerns their mothers’ generation and not theirs.” (Indian Express 11/2/12) Delhi: 3 girls kidnapped, 2 raped and one still untraced (8) New Delhi: A 13-year-old student kidnapped and raped by a 30-year-old after she snubbed his friendship request; a teenaged girl gang-raped by two men in a car and another yet to be traced after being forced into a car by two young men. It was a night of shame for Delhi on Thursday as the three incidents were reported from the city within hours. In one of the incidents, one of the accused is a minor while in another case, the accused was the friend of victim's relative. In the first incident, a 13-year-old girl was forced into a car allegedly by three people, including a minor boy, in Jyoti Nagar on Thursday evening and raped by one of them after she snubbed his moves to strike a friendship with her. The incident came to light after the victim walked in to a police station despite the accused -- Gaurav (30), Harish (21) and a minor boy -threatening her and her family with dire consequences if they approached police. The Class 8 student was on her way to the market when she was abducted allegedly by the men who forced her into a car and took her to Gaurav's room where he allegedly sexually assaulted her. According to the girl's claims, the other two boys did not assault her. After she approached police, the girl was taken to Guru Tegh Bahadur hospital where doctors confirmed that she was raped. Police then raided the room where she was assaulted but could not find the accused. However, they were caught late at night. In another case, a 17year-old girl was kidnapped from Kanjhawla in north-west Delhi by two men who sexually abused her for hours in a car roaming around Delhi streets. The two accused Amit and Manoj were arrested in connection with the case. Amit is a friend of victim's relative and she had met him on earlier occasions. According to police, the duo allegedly raped her in the car and then dumped her in Kanjhawla after which she went home and narrated the incident to family. The matter was reported and the police arrested the men based on the victim's statement. In the third case, a 17-year-old girl was abducted by two unidentified men from the Chawla area close to Gurgaon while she was returning home from her workplace in Gurgaon at around 9:30 pm. She is yet to be traced. The victim works in a private firm in Gurgaon and was returning home with her friends when the youths came in a car and kidnapped her. Her friends who tried to fight off the kidnappers were assaulted and the girl was forced her into the car. A

senior police official said they were yet to trace the girl and the kidnappers. (CNN IBN 11/2/12) Father dies to save daughter from getting molested (8) Kolkata: A resident of Malda, who was beaten up while saving his daughter from being molested by a group of youths inside his house on Saturday night, succumbed to his injuries at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital on Sunday morning. With multiple injuries, Gopal Bhattacharjee, a resident of Gajol block, was first admitted to Malda Medical College, from where he was later shifted to Kolkata. According to reports, a group of youths stormed his house Saturday night and attempted to molest his 20-year-old girl, a student of Malda College. The youths beat him up when he tried to save his daughter. The girl complained to the police that the youths had snatched her mobile phone when she was returning home from College a couple of days back. They kept sending indecent SMSes to her and threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the incident to the police. The youths also beat up some of her relatives, who are said to be in stable condition now. Police has arrested one of the accused, but the others are absconding. (Indian Express 13/2/12) 8,500 Pakistani women victims of violence in 2011 (8) Islamabad, Feb 14: Over 8,500 Pakistani women last year suffered from violence like sexual assault, acid throwing and even honour killings, a non-governmental organisation said Tuesday. An annual report issued by the Aurat Foundation to highlight the issue of violence against women said at least 8,539 women became victims of violence in 2011, an increase of over six percent compared to 2010. The report said the figure was 8,000 in 2010, 8,548 in 2009 and 7,571 in 2008, the Online news agency reported. Sexual assaults increased by around 48 percent, acid throwing increased by 37 percent, honour killings by 26 percent and domestic violence increased by 25 percent. The report, however, said that in many cases, police complaints were not lodged, which reflected lack of confidence among citizens to approach the authorities. Among the total 8,539 incidents in 2011, police complaints were registered in only 6,745 cases. Out of total, 6,188 incidents were reported in Punjab, 1,316 in Sindh, 694 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 198 in Balochistan, and 148 in the Islamabad Capital Territory. (IANS) (New Kerala 14/2/12) Orphanage management denies sexual abuse charge (8) NEW DELHI, February 14, 2012: The Arya Orphanage, in which several small children are suspected to have been sexually abused and sodomised by boys and even the staff members, have denied all allegations of sexual abuse and alleged that the entire issue is a conspiracy being perpetuated by local politicians. “The police have tied the hands and legs of the children and extracted a statement. The boy, who has been taken into custody for sexually abusing the girl who died, has not yet confessed,” said Viresh Pratap Chaudhry, president of the foundation that runs the orphanage when asked to respond to the reports about boys being sodomised by other inmates of the orphanage. “It is only this boy who has been apprehended and against whom there is proof that such acts took place inside the walls of the orphanage. Just because of him, the whole institution is being blamed. There are reports that a sex racket is going on and that the orphanage is a hell-hole, does this look like a hell-hole? We are going to take another 1,000 children into our care soon” “It is ridiculous that people are saying there is easy access to the girl's hostel by the boys of the hostel, there are no such things going on here” he saidWhen repeatedly questioned by journalists about whether he had questioned the staff or whether he was going to take any further action to prevent such atrocities in future he responded that he had not seen the postmortem report of the girl who had died in December or reports that damned his staff members. He also termed the entire incident a conspiracy of two MLAs whom he had refused favours. “There is this MLA who asked us to give the front portion of the orphanage land, we refused that is why he is doing this,” said Viresh Pratap Chaudhry, president of the Foundation that runs the orphanage, refusing to reveal the name of the MLA. The failure of the orphanage to register itself under the Juvenile Justice Act despite a detailed report by the Child Welfare Committees following the rape of a five-year old girl inside the orphanage complex in Darya Ganj in 2009 was explained thus: “Our foundation was registered under the Women's and Institutions Licensing Act … our application for registration under the Juvenile Justice Act has been pending since 2008 and is now in the High Court...the Government is at fault, they should be prosecuted.” The incident first came to light when an 11-year-old girl in the orphanage died under mysterious circumstances and the post-mortem report revealed that she had been raped and sodomised. A 14-year old boy in the same orphanage was apprehended by the police for the crime along with charges of sodomising another minor boy. (The Hindu 14/2/12)

Teacher held on charges of sexual abuse in Bangalore (8) BANGALORE: A 30-year-old teacher of a private school was arrested on charges of sexual abuse, levelled against him by a 11-year-old girl student here today, police said. Acting on a complaint given by the parents of the a fifth standard student, Krishnamurthy was arrested, police said. The girl alleged that Krishnamurthy was sexually abusing her for the past one month and detaining her after class on some pretext, police said. (Times of India 15/2/12) Senior UIDAI officer accused of sexual harassment in Hyderabad (8) Hyderabad: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ordered transfer of a senior IAS officer, heading the regional office of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in Hyderabad, following allegations of sexual harassment by a woman Indian Revenue Service officer. The CAT Hyderabad Bench last week directed the Centre that UIDAI's deputy director general VS Bhaskar be transferred after the complainant, who is working as assistant director general at the UIDAI's regional office, sought action against him, her counsel Jonnalagadda Sudheer said on Wednesday. Bhaskar has now approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the CAT directive. The High Court on Wednesday posted the matter for further hearing for tomorrow. The complainant had earlier approached higher authorities accusing Bhaskar of sexual harassment and passing sexual comments and sought his transfer from the regional office of UIDAI to enable her to continue her work, Sudheer said. "As no action was taken against Bhaskar despite the matter being brought to the notice of authorities concerned, she was compelled to go on leave for six months," Sudheer said and claimed even the Enquiry Committee for Sexual Harassment held prima facie that Bhaskar was guilty of misconduct of sexual harassment." "Despite this finding, Bhaskar was not transferred after which she approached the CAT," Sudheer said. Bhaskar could not be reached for comments.(DNA 15/2/12) Man sentenced to 5-year RI, fined Rs 30k for abetting wife’s suicide (8) CHENNAI: A man has been sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 30,000 after being found guilty of subjecting his wife to cruelty with demands for dowry and abetting her suicide. R Sethumadhavan, sessions judge, Mahalir Court, passed the order. The judge directed that the fine amount be given to the mother of the deceased woman as compensation. The case of the prosecution was that D Santhosh kumar married Nagavalli on September 14, 2005. Her mother Shantha lived with her son, Ramesh, a daily wage labourer, after her husband, a rickshaw driver, passed away on May 15, 2003. During the wedding, Shantha presented her daughter with a little less than two sovereigns of gold, silver articles for performing puja, a cot and a steel bureau. While the couple was initially happy after the marriage, Santhosh began demanding a gold ring for their first Diwali. Though Shantha informed him that she could not afford the ring, he persisted. His continuous demands for dowry drove Nagavalli to attempt suicide by jumping into the Cooum. She was rescued and consoled by relatives but continued to face trouble from her husband. On January 3, 2006, Santhosh Kumar told her she should not be home by the time he returned from work. Due to his abusive threats, she suffered agony and committed suicide. (Times of India 16/2/12) Girl’s abuse was witnessed by friend (8) NEW DELHI: The chief warden, warden and a watchman of Arya Anathalaya were arrested on Saturday. Another accused in this case is the 14-year-old who has already been arrested for abusing the girl who died in January. Chief warden Chauhan and warden Maurya have been working at the orphanage for two years now. Two girls in the orphanage told police that Navrattan, who has been working at the orphanage since 1996, caught hold of the 11-year-old in October last year. He reportedly dragged the girl by her hair to a bathroom and sexually abused her. The girl, injured and traumatized, lay near the stairs for almost two and a half hours before one of her friends spotted her and took her away. "My daughter had seen everything. She saw Navrattan dragging her friend to the bathroom. My daughter had gone to her class after that but when she returned after two and a half hours, she was lying near the stairs and was crying. My daughter gave her support and took her to room. They both lived in same room and studied in class III," said the father of one of the girls, who has since left the orphanage. The girl had recorded her statement in front of the magistrate under section 164 of CrPC. "These kids are going through hell. Let there be a medical examination of every kid there and then see what comes out," the girl's father said. Two cases have been registered so far and the Child Welfare Committee, Delhi government and other

agencies are conducting independent inquiries into the functioning of the orphanage. Around 1,100 children continue to live in the orphanage, though several have left since the cases of abuse were exposed. (Times of India 20/2/12)

Dowry case against NRI quashed for Rs 10 lakh (8) New Delhi: Allowing settlement of a dowry harassment case on payment of over Rs 10 lakh to the wife by her divorced non-resident Indian (NRI) husband, the Delhi High Court has quashed the FIR against the man. The court quashed the FIR on a petition by the woman's Australia-based divorced husband and his family members. The court passed the orders after woman's counsel also urged the court to quash it, saying she has settled all the issues connected with the case and did not wish to pursue it. "She has no objection if the FIR is quashed," he said. The counsel also told the court that the marriage between the man and woman has already been dissolved by a decree of divorce in October 2011 by a lower court in Delhi. The couple had reached the settlement before filing of the chargesheet in the case by the Nanak Pura police here in the matter, the counsel said. "The matter has amicably been settled between them for a total sum of Rs 10.60 lakh, to be paid by the man to his wife," he said adding as per the settlement, she has also withdrawn all her complaints filed with the Australian High Commission and other authorities. The local police had registered the case in 2009 on a complaint by the woman against her husband and his family members under Sections 498A (a woman's husband or his relative subjecting her to cruelty) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. The high court, however imposed a cost of Rs one lakh on the man for using the resources of the state and consuming the precious time of the trial court. The court imposed the cost after the prosecution counsel urged it to penalise the petitioners for using resources of the state and consuming the valuable time of the courts since the time when FIR was lodged against the petitioners. "In the interest of justice, I deem it appropriate to impose a cost of Rs one lakh upon the petitioners to be paid in favour of Principal, Senior Secondary School for Blind Boys, Kingsway Camp, Delhi, within four weeks from today and proof thereof shall be placed on the record by petitioners," Justice Suresh Kait said while quashing the FIR lodged against an NRI and his family members. (The Financial Express 21/2/12) ‘Privacy doesn't confer right on consenting adults to do illegal act' (8) New Delhi, February 23, 2012: The Delhi High Court judgment, declaring ultra vires Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code relating to unnatural sex between two consenting adults and holding that it is violative of the right to privacy, is clearly erroneous, Amarendra Saran argued in the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Making his submissions before a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and S.J. Mukhopadaya, the senior counsel appearing for the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said the right to privacy did not confer any right on consenting adults to commit an act which was illegal. It “does not confer any immunity to crimes committed by consenting adults in private.” Counsel noted that the High Court, while reading down Section 377 had held that it was constitutional morality alone that could pass the test of compelling state interest and public morality had no role to play. But “public morality has been a very important consideration in framing a law as is evident from the provisions contained in Articles 19, 25 and 26.” The Bench intervened and wanted to know from counsel whether there was any data to show that Section 377 of the IPC had actually been used to harass the gay community and whether the risk of HIV/AIDS was higher among those people. Mr. Saran said the community had a higher risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and that was all the more reason to ban such behaviour. The Bench asked counsel: “How many cases have been registered under Section 377 after 1947? Has it been enough to prove harassment?” The Commission opposed the High Court decision on the ground that this provision, which had stood the test of time for about 150 years, was required to check exploitation of children. Mr. Saran told the court: “Tomorrow dowry-seekers can say that they are being discriminated [against] by non-dowry seekers. Can they be allowed to challenge the validity of Section 304 B IPC (dealing with dowry deaths)?” Justice Singhvi asked counsel “whether there was data to back its [commission's] claims. Is there any scientific study to show this? Has the government or the National Aids Control Organisation done anything on this?” Additional Solicitor-General P.P. Malhotra, appearing for the Centre, said several studies had been conducted and there was enough data. Justice Mukhopadhyay wondered how the gay community could come under the sweep of the Section when it did not make carnal intercourse per se an offence. Justice Singhvi said a member of the younger generation might want to run naked on the street. That could be a natural right “but is it a fundamental right? In such cases what happens to the right of

dignity of others, or the right of privacy? What about exchange of wives?” the judge asked and said the court must envisage all these scenarios. (The Hindu 23/2/12) Woman found dead, father says in-laws murdered her (8) Ludhiana, Fri Feb 24 2012,: Demanding the registration of a case against the death of a woman, Kulwinder Kaur, residents of Sadiq village in Faridkot district on Thursday held a massive protest outside the city police station, throwing traffic out of gear. According to the police, Kulwinder (40) was married for 22 years to a Faridkot resident — a government teacher. The couple has four children with their eldest daughter being 18. On February 20, Kulwinder reportedly went missing. Her parents claim that the same day, they found her clothes near a canal, which is located just outside the town. The victim’s father, Labh Singh, said: “My daughter has been killed by her in-laws. But the police have not registered a case of murder against Kulwinder’s husband or her in-laws. She was under constant pressure from her in-laws to bring more dowry. They used to beat her up. “We fear that either they have killed her and thrown her into the canal or they have forced her to commit suicide.” When contacted, Kotwali SHO Narinder Singh said: “As per law, till the time we have a confirmation that Kulwinder is dead, we cannot register an FIR of murder. Even if she committed suicide, why will she remove her clothes before jumping into the water. We are investigating the case and if her in laws are found guilty, we will book them. But as of now, we have not found any evidence against her in-laws or her husband.” (Indian Express 24/2/12) Times have changed, sexy is beautiful: NCW chief (8) Jaipur National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Mamta Sharma said on Saturday that women should not be offended when they are called “sexy”, and should take it as a compliment instead. Objecting to her statement, women’s rights organisations and the opposition BJP demanded her immediate resignation. Addressing a seminar organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Terapanth Mahila Mandal in Jaipur on Saturday, Sharma said, “Women need not be offended when called sexy. It is merely a compliment that the dictionary defines as beautiful and charming. There was once a time when sexy was an offensive word, but times have changed now.” PUCL general secretary Kavita Srivastava said such a remark from the chairperson of the NCW was “shameful”. “Such comments only embolden miscreants and ratify sexual harassment. The Supreme Court Vishaka guidelines clearly include verbal and nonverbal types of sexual harassment,” said Srivastava. Meanwhile, state BJP leaders said Sharma had lowered the dignity of the NCW post by making such statements and that she should resign immediately. Senior BJP leaders questioned her judgement, stating that she would be incapable of dealing with complaints from women and gender issues with such a point of view. When contacted, Sharma said she would withdraw the remark if it offended anyone. “If the remarks caused offence to anyone, I apologise and withdraw any mention of it,” Sharma said. (Express India 26/2/12) Women’s plight in India discussed at MICA's Pragati (8) Ahmedabad: Issues relating to Indian women found a stage at the Mudra Institute of Communication, Ahmedabad (MICA) on Saturday. One of the speakers at the institute's social entrepreneurial meet Pragati - and founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Zakia Soman highlighted deplorable condition of women, increased rate of female foeticide and the insidiousness of patriarchal society. In her speech, Soman said that women themselves treat each other as second class citizens and brought to light the existence of two distinct Indians - one that is progressive and the other that is regressive.Pragati, the oneday event, aimed at providing a platform to various social entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge base about social models and for all stakeholders in the social sector, said MICAns attending the meet. The theme of this year's event was "Envision, Encourage and Empower". Official communiqué from the institute state that the event aimed to target issue of sustainability in the increasing race for indiscriminate development. The chief guest for the event was former chief secretary, government of Gujarat PK Laheri, who addressed the crowd and emphasised importance of the youth and direction they take the nation towards, it stated. NGOs like CARE, SMILE Foundation and Help Rural India among others took part in the Pragati event. (DNA 27/2/12) Held for posting offensive photos of wife (8) MADURAI, March 1, 2012: The police have arrested a 28-year-old man on the charges of harassing his wife and pasting her photographs on Facebook by creating a fake identity. Following a complaint from Sarojini Devi, daughter of Kanagarathnam of Sri Lanka, the CCB was directed to register a case. She

married Sivakumar in 2011 at a temple here and within a month, they left for Singapore. However, problems arose and, according to Sarojini Devi, her husband left for India suddenly. She found that her credit/debit cards were missing. She returned to India and was informed by friends that her offensive photographs had been uploaded on Facebook from an ID carrying her name. She claimed the ID was fake. A case under Sections 66 C, 66 E, 66 A of Information Technology Act of 2008 read with Section 4 of women harassment Act and IPC Sections 418 and 420 was registered. (The Hindu 1/3/12) All let off in Nisha Sharma dowry case after 9 years (8) Noida: The Gautam Budh Nagar district court on Wednesday acquitted all the accused in the Nisha Sharma dowry case due to lack of concrete evidence. Nisha had shot to fame in 2003 after she called the police alleging that her bridegroom Manish Dalal and his parents had demanded Rs 12 lakh and car as dowry before the wedding. Police had arrested Manish Dalal and his family for dowry harassment. But on Wednesday the Gautam Budh Nagar district court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Vipin Sharma acquitted all the accused after finding that Nisha Sharma, a resident of Noida's Sector 56, and his family had levelled the dowry charges against Dalal and his family to avoid the marriage. Dalal, his mother Vidya Dalal and his aunt Savitri Sharma had been arrested for allegedly demanding dowry just before the marriage. All let off in Nisha Sharma dowry case after 9 yearsAccording to the court the prosecutions failed to prove that the bridegroom and his family had demanded more dowry as alleged by Nisha's father DD Sharma. The court observed that there was "lack of strong evidence" in the case against Dalal and his relatives. The court also acquitted Navneet Rai, the man who Nisha claimed had forged documents to prove that he was married to her. The court ruled that the affidavit that Navneet had circulated was not forged. Nisha's lawyers plan to challenge the order in a higher court. The marriage of Nisha and Manish was scheduled on May 11, 2003. The groom's party had reached the marriage site at Sector 11 in Noida when the accused had allegedly demanded a dowry of Rs 12 lakh and car at the last moment. Nisha then had claimed to have sent the would-be bridegroom back and lodged a dowry case against them at Sector 24 police station. (CNN-IBN 1/3/12) Women detained by police (8) Kozhikode, March 4, 2012: Six members of ‘Penkoottu', an organisation of women working in S.M. Street, were taken under preventive custody by the Women's Police here on Saturday. According to police sources, the women were held under Section 151 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) following a complaint by some people at the Mofusil bus stand that their reaction to some people who had indulged in harassment of women was harsh and severe. The women were released after two hours. Sources said the Penkoottu members had manhandled the alleged harassers at the bus stand on Friday and handed them over to the police later. Talking to The Hindu , P. Viji, a tailor in S.M. Street and one of the six detained women, alleged that the police had joined hands with certain people in the bus stand to take revenge for their Friday's actions. She said the women joined hands to capture two such persons and handed them over to the police. Ms.Viji alleged that the police let go one of the men and when questioned, answered that investigations were on. “Today, many men surrounded us when we went to the bus stand for organisational activities. Then police arrived on the spot and detained us citing that no activities such as what we alleged were taking place in the bus stand. We were taken to the Kasaba station and later to the women's police station and let off only after the media intervened,” Ms.Viji explained. (The Hindu 4/3/12) 70-year-old held for harassing girl (8) CHENNAI: A 70-year old manager of a temple in Madipakkam was arrested allegedly for harassing a 12year-old girl on Sunday. He was arrested based on a complaint from Maheshwari, a maid in the temple. Maheshwari cleans puja items in the temple and cooks for the manager. On Saturday, she was not well and sent her 12-year-old daughter for work. The girl returned home and told Maheshwari that Krishnamurthy had harassed her physically. (Times of India 5/3/12) Two teenagers raped in Bhopal (8) BHOPAL: After a string of rape cases in the state, two more incidents of sexual assault on teenagers have been reported from the state capital in the last 24 hours. In the first incident, a 19-year-old girl, who was on her way to attend tuition classes in Saket Nagar, was abducted on January 31 and taken to a nearby Raparia village by five persons. They forcibly performed marriage rituals before allegedly raping

her. The Class XI girl, resident of Bag Mugalia, was allegedly abducted by the accused as she was going to her tution classes in Saket Nagar. She was forced into a four wheeler and taken to the village. The accused has been identified as Rakesh and his four friends. The accused kept her confined for about a week in the village and subsequently outraged her modesty, the police said. Initially, the Bagh Sawenia police was reluctant to registering a case. However, after the intervention of senior officials, a case against Rakesh was registered on rape charges on March 2. While four other persons identified as Shravan, Vinod, Jagdish and Nannulal have been booked for helping Rakesh in abducting the girl and forcing her to perform marriage rituals. In another incident, a 17-year-old girl residing in Kushipura in Bilkheria area was raped at midnight on March 2. Police said when the victim came out of her house, her neighbour Jagdish dragged her to his roof and outraged her modesty. The accused in both the cases are absconding. (Times of India 5/3/12) Mahila Sangthan raps NCW, police for being insensitive towards women (8) New Delhi, Mar 5 : Delhi state committee of 'Pragatisheel Mahila Sangthan' today organised a march here to mark the 102nd anniversary of the International Working Women's Day and criticised the National Commission of Women (NCW) for being indifferent towards women. Raising slogans like -- stop antiwoman changes in dowry laws, ensure at least minimum imprisonment in all proven cases of rape and provide 50 per cent reservation in all jobs to women -- the Sangthan started its procession from Ranjeet Singh flyover in Connaught Place and ended it at Jantar Mantar. Addressing the gathering, Sangthan president Shobha criticised the NCW saying it was insensitive towards the Gujarat riot victims and had done nothing for them even after 10 years of the riots. She also condemned the commission for not being able to provide any help to Noida rape victim and said Delhi and Ghaziabad police have failed to ensure security of working women in these two cities. "The recent modus-operandi of rape in Delhi and Ghaziabad have been of abducting and raping girls/women in moving cars...on that the police say not each and every car can be checked," she said condemning the courts for lighter punishments. "Asking the guilty of rape to distribute blanket etc would embolden the new rich class for committing such crimes against women," Ms Shobha said. (UNI) (New Kerala 6/3/12) 150 murders, 54 rapes unsolved in past 5 years (8) Mumbai: Despite the Mumbai Police’s claims of cracking a majority of serious offences in the city, official figures accessed by Newsline reveal a different picture. According to figures obtained from the police, scores of murder and rape cases are yet to be cracked — some dating back to five years. Of the 1,103 murder cases registered from January 2007 to February 2012, 150 remain unsolved, with the accused either remaining untraceable or unknown, statistics show. Figures also revealed that of the 995 rape cases registered in the same period, perpetrators in 54 cases are yet to be nabbed. The highest number of unsolved murders date back to 2008, when 210 cases were registered. Of these, only 168 have been detected and 42 remain unsolved. The highest number of murders in this five-year period took place in 2007, in which 229 cases were registered. While 194 of these were solved, the remaining are yet to be cracked. The year 2008 also has the highest number of undetected rape cases. Of the 215 cases registered, 201 have been solved and 14 still remain undetected. While 2011 saw 219 rape cases being registered — the highest in the past five years — 209 have been solved and 10 remain undetected. Senior officers claimed that the unsolved cases had not been forgotten and efforts are on to nab the perpetrators. “A lot needs to be done to ensure that crimes like murders and rapes do not remain undetected. These cases have to be solved soon and those who have committed the crimes should be nabbed immediately,” said an officer, who did not wish to be named. (Indian Express 6/3/12) Domestic violence: Act's teeth left to rot (8) Thiruvananthapuram, March 6, 2012: Meena (name changed) had lived all her life with her husband's family, which included her husband's brother and his family too. In 2008, her husband passed away. Within a month, her husband's brother filed a case asking her to move out of the house. Having no other go, Meena filed a case under the Protection of Women against Domestic Violence Act (DVA), pleading for an interim order that the respondents be restrained from evicting her. The application for interim relief was rejected after a year in 2010. Meena's lawyer filed an appeal in the High Court, which directed the case back to the lower court. In 2011, after a long process of evidence taking, the lower court threw out her case because “someone trying to evict you from the house cannot be termed domestic violence.” When the DVA was enacted in 2005, it was hailed as a very progressive and thoughtful legislation. For the first

time, the law acknowledged sexual, verbal, psychological, and economic abuses as acts of domestic violence and provided for the victim's protection and protected her right to live in the matrimonial home as well as her right to property. However, the euphoria seems to have been short-lived because seven years after the implementation of the Act, women are still fighting in courts even to be acknowledged by the court that she is a victim of domestic violence.“Women are up against such apathy and resistance from the very same quarters that they are seeking justice from. Cases filed under the DV Act since 2008 or even before that are pending even though the statute says that women should be provided justice within two months,” says J. Sandhya, a lawyer-activist with Human Rights Law Network in the city. Lack of funds and support from the government, bureaucratic apathy to the handling of cases and a total lack of empathy or gender-sensitivity on the part of the implementing officials are becoming the undoing of this progressive legislation which, in the initial years of implementation, had given so much hope to thousands of women who were suffering violence silently within their homes. “There is a lot of awareness about the Act and many battered women are now boldly coming forward to file cases, but now they are being accused abusing or misusing the Act. Unless the judicial officers are sensitive to the plight of a victim of violence, the Act is useless,” she says. One of the most positive aspects about this Act is that the courts will give immediate interim relief to a victim of violence as soon as the Protection Officers filed a detailed Domestic Incident Report (DIR) so that she is not thrown out of her marital home or the perpetrator of violence is prevented from entering the house. “How can a victim of violence stay in the same house unless the court issues a restraining order on the perpetrator of violence? The courts are not giving interim relief and insist on hearing the respondent's version before giving any order. The cases are not followed up properly either,” a Social Welfare Department official handling DV cases says. Joint Director of Social Welfare C. K. Raghavanunni says that at least 5,000 cases of domestic violence are being filed across the State every year. But the actual figure could be much higher because a lot of parallel services which deal with domestic violence cases — the ‘Bhoomika' gender-based violence management centres in each district, Women's Commission, the Police Women's Cell — have their own figures. There are no separate registers in courts for DV cases also. “Women activists have been demanding that special courts, with a gender-sensitive outlook, be set up to handle these cases,” Mr. Raghavanunni says. The feedback from the judiciary has been that a DV case is just one among the multitude of litigations that a lawyer may file against the opposite party in a divorce case, often ‘to harass' the respondent. Lawyers however point out that in a single case itself, they have to necessarily file several cases for getting maintenance, for getting domestic rights and a 498 (A) too at times, to bring the abusive husband to the negotiating table. It is high time the higher judiciary set up a monitoring system to look at the implementation of DV Act, many feel. (The Hindu 6/3/12) City sees 650 dowry deaths in last 10 years (8) MUMBAI: On an average, one woman in the city has killed herself every week of the last decade after being pushed to the brink over incessant demands for dowry, accompanied by mental and physical torture by her husband and his family. In all, police records show, there were 509 suicides and 141 murders between 2001-11. Another tragic figure was added to these chilling statistics on Monday when Shehnaz Dattedar (26) died after being set ablaze at her Goregaon residence. Her husband, a businessman, and two of her in-laws have been arrested for killing her for dowry. (Times of India 7/3/12)

Woman paraded naked in Faridabad village (8) Faridabad: A group of armed men allegedly assaulted a woman and paraded her naked in a village in Faridabad district, police said today. The incident took place in Raipur Kala village yesterday. According to police, a villager Ishwar Singh had fixed the marriage of his minor daughter on March 11, but it was called off after local authorities intervened following an anonymous complaint. Ishwar suspected that his neighbour Balihar Singh had complained to the authorities and vowed to take revenge. On the day of Holi, Ishwar along with around 30 armed men barged into Balihar's house. Not finding him there, they allegedly assaulted his mother and sister, Faridabad DCP Rajkumar said. Later they blackened the mother's face and paraded her naked in the village. On the complaint of the victim, the police have registered a case under IPC sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), among others. (Zee news 10/3/12) After alleged rape, Bengal woman asked to leave village (8)

After being gangraped, a tribal woman in West Bengal's Birbhum district is now facing the ire of her villagers. They are now forcing the victim out of the village. The tribal woman was gangraped allegedly by five men at Shalkhela village in the district on February 26. The incident occurred when the 33-year-old married construction worker was returning home at Indragacha from Suri along with a male colleague. According to the FIR lodged by her, five men accosted them and looted cash before taking her away to an isolated place to commit the crime. She is now being threatened by the villagers and warned her to leave the village. They have also fined her Rs. 12,000 and seized her cows. They are telling me to commit suicide, want me to hang or to drink poison. They want me to leave this village, said the victim. (India Today 10/3/12) Stringent punishment needed for harassment of women' (8) As per Supreme Court's order, committees should be formed in Government and private sectors to fight against women harassment and sexual abuse in the workplace, a resolution passed at the Consumer Welfare Council conference at Salem said. As part of observing International Women's Day and organised by Scantrust and Government Arts College for Women, Salem, the resolution called for passing of Women's Reservation Bill giving 33 percent representation to women in Parliament and State assemblies. The resolution called for providing compulsory education for girls till the age of 18 years so as to prevent child labour. Action should be taken against spinning mills and export companies that harass girl child labourers under the ‘Sumangali Thittam' and ‘Thirumangalya Thittam'. The resolution sought action against private schools that deny 25 per cent reservation for girl students coming from Below Poverty Line families. Infrastructure development, action against teachers involving in sexual harassment of school students, rigorous punishment for persons involving in child marriages were the other resolutions passed at the meet. (The Hindu 11/3/12) Midnight terror: Pub girl gang-raped in Gurgaon (8) Gurgaon: In yet another instance of crime against women, a girl was kidnapped on the road at night and assaulted. A 23-year-old girl working in a pub at a mall here was allegedly gang-raped by six youth in a flat in the city. After the assault, the girl was dropped by the youth near Chattarpur Metro Station in Delhi where she approached Delhi Police who in turn contacted their Gurgaon counterparts. On the complaint of the girl, Gurgaon Police have lodged an FIR against six unknown youth and have started the investigation, Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner of Police, East, Maheshwere Dayal said. According to the girl's complaint, she was going to her home in a taxi after completing her duty in the pub in Sahara Mall last night when occupants of a car forced the taxi driver to stop the vehicle. As the taxi stopped, the carborne youth kidnapped her and took her to an flat where they raped her, the girl alleged. Police said they are getting the girl medically examined and following all leads. "We have crucial leads. Soon we will be able to solve the case," a police officer said, adding "we are getting CCTV footage from the pub so that we get more clues from there".He said the taxi driver is not the suspect. In January this year, some youths had tried to abduct and molest a girl outside the same mall. (The Financial Express 12/3/12) 'India, worst place in world for girl child' (8) DONA PAULA: Despite decades of struggle particularly by the feminist movement, gender discrimination and sexual harassment - both breaches of human rights -- continue to cast a shadow on women in the country. "In an age where we talk about equal rights for men and women, there are still instances of people being discriminated against because of their gender," observed Nandini Sahai, director, ICG, at a regional seminar on 'Gender discrimination at workplace: Myth or reality' on Sunday. Stating that the gender bias against women begins in the womb itself, Sahai referred to a report which stated that India was the worst place in the world for the girl child. The two-day seminar is being jointly organized by International Centre - Goa (ICG), Media Information and Communication Centre of India, FES-India, Goa University's (GU) Centre for Women's studies and Goa chamber of commerce and industry. Sahai pointed out that discrimination in pay to men and women for the same hours of work still exists. Pratima Dhond, chairperson of GCCI's women's wing felt that rural women are not exposed to the outside world. She criticized "self help groups being mobilized by politicians." Dr Shaila de Souza, HoD, Centre for Women's Studies at GU maintained that gender discrimination was the outcome of the manifestation of power. "Our society is in a transition phase," said de Souza, while adding that the earlier generation felt the only workplace for women was the home. "Women are seen as a recruitment liability due to maternity leave, child care leave," she lamented, while adding that the reality of economic vulnerability was ignored.

Social activist Shanti Fonseca, was of the opinion that women have to compromise particularly on their health in balancing home and office responsibilities. Speaking on why sexual harassment at the workplace gets swept under the carpet, Auda Viegas, president of Bailancho Ekvott, said despite the existence of complaint committees in the government sector, women are afraid to come forward as they fear reprisal, the stigma and the element of shame attached to such incidents. Narrating examples of harassment cases, Viegas said, "Many are forced to give up their jobs (as a result)...and face embarrassment." "Reporting incidents (of harassment) requires courage," she added. Viegas felt monitoring of sexual harassment committees was required. Sahai contended that a lack of legal awareness was one of the primary reasons sexual harassment at workplace goes unreported. "India has the best laws for women, but there is almost no awareness of the same," asserted Sahai. Albertina Almeida, founding trustee of Saad Aangan said the concept of 'family or institutional honour' was a serious concern that acts as an impediment to reporting of harassment cases. Almeida felt there has to be personal accountability for non-compliance of harassment guidelines. Trupita Madkaikar, a HR manager was of the belief that many companies in Goa do not have committees to address harassment at the workplace. "In Indian culture, the man plays a dominant role," Madkaikar observed. Anita Mathew, women and child rights consultant, felt the social system does not give women the forum to participate, while adding that there was also a need for participation that wasn't tokenistic. Sabina Martins, founder of Bailancho Saad said there was a need to break stereotypes. Cases (of rape, murder) get visibility only when there are politicians involved, said Martins. (Times of India 12/3/12) Women discriminated against in media: experts (8) Kozhikode, March 13, 2012: Though more number of women had joined the field of journalism with the proliferation of television channels, they were yet to emerge as decision makers in key posts in media organisations due to chauvinistic reasons, said speakers at a debate on ‘Women in media', held as part of the ongoing Thantedam Gender Fest. Delivering the keynote address, political observer Jayasankar, lawyer, said what still prevailed in the media scenario was a clearly male dominated feudal system with different sorts of discrimination and prejudices against women. He said though there were rare examples of women climbing up the organisational ladder in media bodies in the State, the work environment for women left much to be desired. Some participants said there were many instances of women mediapersons quitting the field after failing to get the expected job satisfaction for reasons including unfair treatment meted out to them by their male counterparts at the workplace. Journalist Shani Prabhakar was the moderator of the programme. Mediapersons including Parvathy Devi, Rashmi Padma, Sreedevi Pillai, Anjali Menon, Deedi Damodaran, Damodar Prasad, Rusheeda Pattanam, Kerala Women's Development Corporation chairperson Khamarunnisa Anwar, Gender Fest convener Noorbina Rasheed and Social Welfare Director M.S. Jaya, among others, attended the function. Inaugurating a seminar on ‘The challenges in the life of women' organised as part of the Gender Fest at Swapnanagari here, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said women were often harassed and persecuted by those who were entrusted with the task of protecting them. “Women should boldly voice their protest against such treatment,” said Mr. Baby John. Addressing a media seminar at the Malabar Palace here, noted mediaperson K.M. Roy said the media had largely failed to address the pressing problems of marginalised people, including women and tribal folk. Mr. Roy, who maintained that no one talked seriously or inquired into the numerous cases of sexual harassment of tribal girls in different parts of the State, said the serious labour issues faced by the nurses across the State were being discussed not by the mainstream media but in social media.(The Hindu 13/3/12) Stringent punishment mooted for gender crimes (8) PUNE: The state government is looking at increasing the quantum of punishment for offences like molestation and eve-teasing, home minister R R Patil said here on Monday. "The state government is also considering an increase in the number of courts in districts where crimes against women are high. These additional courts will help in speedy disposal of related cases," he said. A molestation case presently invites a punishment of two years' jail or fine or both while eve-teasing is punishable with a year's simple imprisonment. Patil was speaking during the inauguration of a three-day state-level workshop for members of women vigilance committees, jointly organised by the Pune police and the Maharashtra state commission for women. Pune police commissioner Meeran Chadha Borwankar, secretary of the commission Shomita Biswas, additional commissioners of police Anant Shinde and Sureshkumar Mekala and deputy commissioner of police Rajesh Bansode were present. (Times of India

13/3/12) Woman burnt alive for dowry in Bihar (8) NAWADA (BIHAR): A young woman was burnt alive allegedly by her in-laws for dowry at Bari Gulni in Nawada district, police said on Tuesday. It is suspected that kerosene was poured on Hema Devi (22) before she was set ablaze by her in-laws on Monday night for her father's falure to meet their dowry demand. An FIR has been lodged against eight family members including her husband. (Times of India 13/3/12) Declining Child Sex Ratio in HP due to societal change: Expert (8) Shimla, Mar 12 : The declining Child Sex Ratio in Himachal Pradesh is a result of an ongoing process of societal change coinciding with the period of economic liberalisation that began 15 years ago, says a new book. Himachal Pradesh may be patting itself after claiming major improvement in CSR but this did not satisfy the experts as recent case study in this hill state paints altogether different picture. A book 'Vulnerable Daughters in India' authored by Mattias Larsen: Rutledge revealed that CSR result of 2011 was equally shocking, if not worse. Mattias Larsen in his 225-page book published in year 2011 highlights the reason lies in culture, development and changing context. Dedicating his book 'Vulnerable Daughters in India to the 'unborn girls' , he says it is an attempt to uncover what he calls the structural reasons for the decline. A researcher at the School of Global Studies, Peace and Development Research, University of Gutenberg, Sweden, Larsen is a specialist in economic sociology of development . His approach is dominantly sociological and so is much of the theoretical underpinning of his argument. Through his fieldwork in select districts of Himachal Pradesh, Larsen reveals what people already know but have failed to emphasise adequately that the sharp decline actually began roughly 15 years ago and also coincided with the period of economic liberalisation. The already subordinate position of women suffered further with the advent of the cash economy and less dependence on the economic role played by women in agriculture. This argument is not new, and neither does Larsen appropriate it as his own. His field study in villages of Kullu district shows that the changes in the economy from subsistence agriculture to a highly developed cash economy brought about substantial changes in the lives of women. Earlier, women used to spend a good part of their time doing agricultural and household work. In the changed circumstances, men now looked after the orchards and negotiated the rates of hiring labour, while the women lost the income from agricultural activities that they earlier had control over, though there was now more social mobility and also freedom from the drudgery of agricultural work. Though not a tradition, dowry, almost all respondents agreed, had become a serious problem. More dowry meant higher status in the cash economy. (UNI) (New Kerala 13/3/12) Woman 'assaulted' by RPF personnel at Sealdah (8) KOLKATA: A Railway Protection Force officer and his subordinate allegedly assaulted a woman when she inquired about her husband who was picked up by RPF men from Sealdah station on March 10. The woman also alleged that when she went to GRP at Sealdah, they refused to lodge a complaint against the RPF personnel. Uma Yadav, a resident of Guri Para Road of Beliaghata, said she went to Sealdah station along with her husband Harender Yadav in the afternoon of March 10. "Harender was supposed to board the Balia Express. It was scheduled to leave Platform 9B at 1.25pm. Harender and Uma reached the station by 1pm," said Harender's brother Binod. "Suddenly, a group of youths, one of whom introduced himself as RPF inspector Anupam Kumar, accosted my husband and dragged him towards the RPF booth," alleged Uma. She alleged that when she asked the policemen about her husband's fault, they just kicked and slapped her. Binod said they were informed about the matter by Uma. Till late at night, they failed to trace Harender. Meanwhile Uma fell ill with abdominal pain. "Unable to find my husband, I went to GRP station but they refused to register my complaint," alleged Uma in her written complaint submitted to Director General of Railway Police. Uma claimed that she had to be admitted to NRS Medical College and Hospital. Later on Monday, she met DR (Rail) Dilip Mitra who asked his officers to take adequate action on the complaint. A senior RPF officer said: "The initial inquiry revealed that Yadav was not arrested by Anupam Kumar. He wasarrested for illegal possession of railway properties under Railway Protection (Unlawful Possession) Act by RPF Inspector BK Nandi from Bidhannagar station." The RPF officer said if some of their officers are found guilty for assaulting the woman, then action will be taken against them. Binod Yadav, however, claimed that his brother is a reputed trader and RPF officers are trying to frame him as he refused to meet their 'demand". Senior GRP officers assured

that they are probing the case. (Times of India 14/3/12) Accused of harassment, cop told to respect wife (8) New Delhi: A man is obliged to accord due respect to his wife in society, a Delhi court has said, dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of a Haryana Police constable who has been accused of harassing his spouse. Additional Sessions Judge S C Rajan rejected the bail plea of Satish Kumar, a constable in Haryana Police, against whom his wife had registered a complaint of harassment for dowry. "In consideration of submissions and rival contentions, I also perused the contents of the FIR supplied by complainant's (wife) counsel and other documents and I am of the view that present applicant Kumar, being the husband of the complainant, is responsible to give due respect to his wife in society and to look after her," the judge said. Kumar's counsel, while pleading for the anticipatory bail to him, said his client, working as a constable with Haryana Police since November 2003, had got married in February 2007 at Najafgarh here. Denying allegations that he demanded dowry from his wife or harassed her, Kumar's counsel sought bail for him saying he was ready to join the probe as and when required. The prosecution counsel, however, opposed his bail plea saying he and his family members have been demanding a Maruti car and Rs five lakh as dowry since the marriage was solemnised. The prosecutor said Kumar also used to beat up his wife after consuming liquor. The court dismissed Kumar's anticipatory bail plea saying, "keeping in view the allegations against him in the FIR, the applicant (Kumar) is not entitled to be released on anticipatory bail". (Express India 15/3/12) 'Domestic Violence Act not against men' (8) PUNE: The nature of Domestic Violence Act (DVA) of 2005, awareness about the role played by protection officers and counsellors at the family court and understanding important cases were some of the topics of discussion on the concluding day of the Women's Vigilance Committee conference at the Centre for Police Research (CPR) on Wednesday. Compared to Sec: 498 (a) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the DVA is a civil law that gives aggrieved women their rights and practical remedies in terms of protection order, a home, monetary relief, temporary custody and compensation, among other benefits, said family court lawyer Rama Sarode. "Sec: 498 (a) criminalises the family as an institution, but DVA aims at safeguarding the family system while also providing much relief to female victims of domestic abuse. DVA needs to be interpreted with much rationality and open-mindedness. The fact is that most men think the DVA is against them, which is not so. This act is against violence. Point is does the troubled woman have the power, support and negotiating abilities to stop the violence meted out on her? We need to change our perspective towards this Act. We always talk about the misuse of law; why not talk about its proper use. The spirit and objective of this law needs to be understood," she said. Sadly, most women are not aware of the benefits of this law, says Sarode. She handles around 15 cases of domestic violence on a weekly basis. "In our society, people are not trained to deal with marriages via pre-marital counselling. Forced marriage, inconsideration towards a woman's education and career and other issues women face need to be tackled properly, first," she added. The role of the police in this process is equally important. "People are not aware of protection officers. The police, too, needs to be aware of the DVA, because this law has better options as compared to Sec:498 (a) of IPC. Next is to connect the aggrieved woman to the legal aid committee, lawyers, protection officers and counsellors. Timely interaction and a coordinated effort from all these sources is very important," Sarode added. The conference is aimed at sensitising the police on the same. "Domestic violence is a concept which even the police often finds difficult to understand and interpret. The police do not understand their role here and how it can coordinate with the WVC. This is where this conference can help us," said police inspector (crime) Smita Jadhav. The judiciary's inability to correctly interpret the nature of violence or harassment faced by a woman is also a lacuna, said human rights and Family Court lawyer Asim Sarode. "Very often, judges concerned do not understand the application of DVA. Most of them are not aware or are sensitive enough to understand issues of domestic violence. The nature of mental harassment in such a case cannot be measured. This law allows auditing of the various types of harassment, but the focus is often on only physical harassment. Mental, sexual and economic harassment are not taken seriously by the judges themselves because the victim cannot always produce evidence for the same. Understanding a woman as a human being in a relationship is very important, but this is not happening and leading to contradictory judgements," he said. Elucidating Sec: 28 of the DVA, he added, "this section says that a magistrate can establish his own procedure to decide the judgment in order for the victim to get justice. Magistrate, the lowest in hierarchy is given the authority of High Court judges, but they don't have the

guts or a right-based attitude to interpret the DVA correctly. This provision is very good, but not being used properly by the magistrate," he said. Given the rising number of cases filed under DVA, professional counselling should be the first priority before making use of the law, said Family Court counselor Smita Joshi. "The counsellor's foremost aim should be to avoid the family concerned from breaking up. The use of appropriate law comes into the picture much later, after all other options fail. Counselling is very important to keep the family together. Misuse of the DVA is rampant, too. Efforts are on set up more family courts. Also, every court doesn't have procedures for counselling, but as per my observation almost 55 per cent of all DVA-related cases are settled via counselling, out of the court," said Joshi. Commissioner of police Meeran Borwankar urged the members of WVC to refer to past Supreme Court and High Court judgments pertaining to cases of domestic violence.(Times of India 16/3/12) ‘50% Pakistan urban women get beaten by their husbands’ (8) ISLAMABAD: Fifty percent of women in Pakistan’s urban areas admit that their husbands beat them, a 2009 US State Department report on Pakistan has revealed. In 2009, efforts were in progress to come out with a new domestic violence law in Pakistan. A private bill on domestic violence had been passed in the National Assembly in 2009, which required approval by the Pakistani Senate. However, the Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) warning that a law against domestic violence will ‘push up divorce rates’ coupled with Mohammad Khan Sheerani’s objections (of the JUI-F), led to a deferment of the hearing in the Senate. Since then the government has not paid much attention to the matter and the bill has lapsed, The Express Tribune reports. It appears that due to a fault within our social structure, even urban women not only tend to have a high tolerance for domestic violence, but also are often at the forefront of inflicting pain on other women.(DNA 17/3/12) PIL on sexual assaults on tribal girls (8) CUTTACK, March 17, 2012: In the wake of a PIL describing massive sexual exploitation of tribal girls in the government-run residential schools and seeking compensation to one of the victims, the Orissa High Court on Friday issued notices to the State government. The Division Bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B. N. Mohapatra issued notices to the State government asking the government counsel to obtain instructions within 15 days and fixed the matter to be heard again after the government's reply. The HC notice came while hearing the PIL filed by eminent social activist and HC lawyer Prabir Das, who is also the petitioner in the sensational Pipili gang rape case. Das in his PIL has stated that a class IX student of a Bolangir-based government school was raped by two teachers of the same school in July 2011.(The Hindu 17/3/12) Sexual harassment bill to cover domestic help (8) New Delhi, March 18, 2012: In a move that will benefit about 47.5 lakh women registered as domestic workers in India, the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry has decided to include them under the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010. "We have circulated a draft cabinet note seeking official amendment to the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill. After the cabinet nod, we intend to bring the amended bill in the budget session of Parliament," said a ministry official. The bill ensures a safe environment for women at workplace — be it public or private, organised or the unorganised sector. Ministry officials said inclusion of domestic workers will allow them access to an efficient redressal mechanism as mandated under the bill, which presently they do not have. The bill mandates setting up of Local Complaints Committee (LCC) at district level where a victim of sexual harassment can lodge complaint. It will then be the committee's responsibility to look into the complaints and take action. "The ministry has now proposed to cast the responsibility on the LCC to receive complaints from domestic worker," said an official. The ministry had earlier kept domestic workers out of the proposed law on the grounds that it will be practically difficult to enforce the provisions of the law within the confines of a home. This despite the Parliamentary standing committee on HRD, which examined the bill after it was referred to it in 2010, recommending the inclusion of domestic workers under the proposed legislation. The panel had submitted its report in December last year. The bill provides protection not only to women who are employed but also to any woman who enters the workplace as a client, customer, apprentice, and daily wage worker or in ad-hoc capacity. Students, research scholars in colleges and universities and patients in hospitals have also been covered. (Hindustan Times 18/3/12)

Calling ‘bitch’ amounts to sexual harassment: Madras high court (8) CHENNAI: Does calling a woman employee 'bitch' at the work place amount to sexual harassment? The Madras high court thinks so. At a time when the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairman is facing flak for saying that a 'sexy' tag doesn't amount to teasing or harassment, the Madras high court has said that dubbing women teachers 'bitch' by their male colleague does fall within the definition of 'sexual harassment'. The matter relates to the complaints lodged by parents and women teachers of Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School at Egmore against a male teacher, Tharmen Fernandez. The teacher has since been suspended and a committee, as per the apex court guidelines in the Vishaka case, has been formed to probe the issue following HC orders. The present petition, raising issues such as conduct of the special committee, the question of inquiring the child witnesses and the term of the committee, was posted before Justice K Chandru. The judge said while the special three-member committee claimed that staff members had declared that there was no personal harassment by the teacher, a perusal of their depositions made it clear that they all stood by their allegation of sexual harassment by Fernandez and also stated that they were repeatedly referred to as 'bitch' by the teacher. Slamming the committee for its lack of understanding of the issue on hand as well as the Vishaka's case guidelines, Justice Chandru said: "A reading of the complaints given by various teachers and statements given by them before the committee clearly showed that the allegations come within the definition of the term 'sexual harassment' The term 'sexual harassment' has a wider meaning." He then directed the school management to constitute a new committee which was aware of the Vishaka case. As for allowing child witnesses, who are students of the school levelling sexual harassment allegations against the teacher, to let in evidence, the judge said the school must follow the apex court's guidelines in the Sakshi case, where it has been held that a child witness should not be made to see the face or body of the accused. A screen should separate the child witness and the suspected offender, and if the accused wanted to cross-examine the child, he should supply a questionnaire beforehand. Justice Chandru also held that not only teachers and students, even outsiders can invoke the provisions of the Vishaka case to seek prosecution of an offender for sexual harassment. "Vishaka's guidelines not only dealt with women employees, but also the sexual harassment faced by third parties or outsiders. It is (the) employer's obligation to take action," he said.(Times of India 18/3/12) To sweep-, stamp-out dowry, take to gaming (8) Kolkata: Thousands of women in India have now taken up brooms and slippers against dowry-hungry grooms. Angry Brides, an online game against dowry, on social gaming platform ibibo.com has caught the fancy of female gamers ever since it was launched earlier this month on Women's Day. In the game, players can punish dowry-hungry grooms with brooms, chappals and stilettos. In doing so, players not only channelise their anger against dowry, but also make a strong statement against it. As the players proceed through the various levels of the game, different options of weapons are available for the 'angry brides'. With these they can hit three different husband-types – a doctor, an engineer and a pilot - who come with different 'price tags' for dowry demands. Each hit adds up towards the "anti-dowry fund".The tag line of the game says, "A woman will give you strength, care and all the love you need... NOT dowry!" Developed by a well-known matrimonial site, the game has been played by around 10,000 women, officials of the site said. Young gamer Sangeeta Chauhan said, "While women in India have come a long way, there still exists some age-old taboos which hinder their status in society. Angry Brides is a fun game which reminds us that together we can stand up against this inhuman practice". (The Financial Express 19/3/12) New trends of killing the girl child (8) By Kavita Kumari, Darbhanga, Mar 20 : The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs report indicating that India is not a safe place for the girl child hit the headlines in many newspapers and news channels in the country. Indian society has been known for its preference for the male child. Among the 150 countries surveyed, including countries classified as LDR (Less Developed Regions), India has the highest rate of female child mortality. According to this new data - an Indian girl between the ages of one and five years old is 75 percent more likely to die than an Indian boy, giving the country the worst gender differential in child mortality in the world. For every 56 boys that die in this age group, there are 100 girls who die in India. However, statistically with the biological benefit that girls have over boys for survival at this stage, the standard ratio of child mortality for the rest of the world is 116 boys to 100 girls. The question is, despite several efforts of the Indian Government at national as well as state level, why are we

unable to arrest this trend? Why is the situation waning despite a number of laws to prevent female foeticide and numerous schemes to encourage families to have girl children? The answer, if any, will only reveal a picture dirtier than ever. Female infanticide has existed long before sonography and abortion techniques arrived in India. In the current scenario, the insensitive people of the same school of thought have devised new methods of putting a full stop to the lives of young infants. Today, they are not dependant on doctors or machines. On the freezing morning of December 17, I witnessed an incidence, which hitherto I had heard about only in the news. That day, the litter bin in my neighbourhood became the carnage ground for a newborn who was ferociously being wolfed down by few canines, that too, in front of several "human beings". By the time I reached the site, the dogs had already ripped off the body. For a moment, everything around me came to a halt and later the inevitable feeling of vulnerability, agitation and melancholy overwhelmed me into frozen inaction. How could anyone do this to their own child? I informed a local news channel in the hope that police will follow them but much to my surprise they came, shot the video and left saying "we have covered the news, thank you." No action was taken and that hapless newborn became simply another 'breaking news' item. This is not a case in isolation; pick up any newspaper around you and there are numerous such cases reported; the recent ones being a mentally ill father drowning her girl child in a drain in the national capital Delhi and a two month old girl found abandoned in Haryana. Each state in the country, it seems, has chillingly evolved their own unique ways of killing baby girls: drowning the infant in a bucket of milk, feeding her salt, or burying her living in an earthen pot are few of the "easier" options to get rid of the burden. While visiting areas where female infanticide is practiced in India, Gita Aravamudan, author of the book Disappearing Daughters (2007), observed that the traditional methods of female infanticide can often be traced successfully, enabling investigations to be launched against them. According to Gita, "[To avoid arrest] families adopt more torturous methods of killing [infant girls]... inducing pneumonia was the modern method. The infant was wrapped in a wet towel or dipped in cold water as soon as it was born or when it came back home from the hospital. If, after a couple of hours, it was still alive, it was taken to a doctor who would diagnose pneumonia and prescribe medicine, which the parents promptly threw away. When the child finally died, the parents had a medical certificate to prove pneumonia. Sometimes the infant was fed a drop of alcohol to create diarrhoea: another 'certifiable disease." This is the level where human sensitivity has reached today. The PCPNDT Act 1994 (Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act) was modified in 2003 to target the medical profession. What we have achieved, or not, by such laws is reflected in the current statistics. Much hard work has gone into researching the reasons behind the cruel act. Social and economical factors were found to play a crucial role. During her research, Gita found that there was a strong link between female foeticide and factors like wealth, education, success of family planning, and medical progress. We may find several reasons, but none would hold good when it comes to killing, leave alone gender biased killings. What makes it hard to fight is the involvement of fairly educated people. No law can change the mindset of the people which even education failed to alter. Does this situation indicate a hopeless future? If this trend of killing girl child, inside or outside the womb, continues, the entire country will bear the consequences. More than education, we need to create awareness on the issue in every state, in every region. Community efforts are required to bring that change which no law or education has succeeded to bring till now. The Charkha Development Communication Network feels that women themselves need to come forward and fight for the rights of their girl child. Men should participate equally in the cause. If not taken seriously, the day is not far when no girl will be available - no daughter, wife, sister or friend. A boy from Haryana bringing a girl from Orissa to get married due to a scarcity of girls in his region is just the beginning! (ANI) (New Kerala 20/3/12) Lawyer accused of sexual harassment (8) HYDERABAD: A city-based lawyer working at the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has landed in trouble for allegedly seeking sexual favours and demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a 24-year-old woman who had approached him to settle a property dispute. The police took a complaint from the victim on Tuesday after hearing her on the SHRC premises. The 24-year-old girl and her mother from Amberpet had approached the commission last month to settle a family dispute. They met Ram Mohan Reddy who assured help and collected a fee of Rs 1,000 to submit their petition. The mother-daughter duo wanted the commission to grant them protection against a member of their family who was threatening them over a property dispute. They had also appealed to the commission to help them get their property share lawfully as they were facing financial trouble. The commission had ordered the authorities concerned to investigate the matter and submit a report soon. Meanwhile, Reddy contacted the victims and allegedly

asked for a payment of Rs 50,000 claiming that he would have to bribe the members of the commission. Later he reportedly demanded that the daughter meet him alone at a city lodge if she wanted the case solved soon. Following this, the mother and daughter duo approached the commission and complained against Reddy. The commission took a serious note of the issue and called both the Abids police and the victim on their premises today and helped her lodge a complaint against the lawyer. K Shiva Kumar, Abids inspector, told TOI that they had filed a compliant. Cautioning the public, a commission official asserted that a lawyer's services are not required for approaching the SHRC. Gopal Singh, PRO of the commission, said, "Those approaching the commission should not encourage middlemen. Having a lawyer is not compulsory for filing a petition at the SRHC and no added expenditure is involved in ensuring justice." (Times of India 21/3/12) ‘Women in rural areas still face violence' (8) MANGALORE, March 23, 2012: Women still face violence, and harassment in rural areas, Padma Ramachandran, former Chief Secretary of the Government of Kerala, said here on Wednesday. Speaking after inaugurating a conference on “women and development” organised by Mangalore University, Ms. Ramachandran said that women in rural areas continued to suffer. They were still subjected to violence and harassment and faced problems because of their husbands' alcoholism. There was a need to fight for equality as women needed equal opportunities, she said. Injustice meted out to women must be countered, she added. Ms. Ramachandran emphasised that knowledge, a positive attitude, and developing skills would go a long way in empowering women. President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Latha Kini said that empowerment of women had to happen within the family. Without the support of the family, she said, success was not possible. She said that education played an important role in empowering women. Vice-Chancellor T.C. Shivashankar Murthy said that despite constitutional guarantees, women in India continued to suffer from malnutrition and anaemia. He said that the enrolment ratio of women in higher education was a third of the total enrolment ratio. The former ViceChancellor of Karnataka State Women's University Geetha Bali said that women of Dakshina Kannada were more motivated than women in other parts of the State. The conference was organised as a part of International Women's Day celebrations. (The Hindu 23/3/12) Dowry cases dip in Mumbai as cops play peacemaker (8) Mumbai: Women have been subjected to mental and physical harassment for dowry for years. However, statistics from the Mumbai police show that such cases in the city have seen a steady decline from 2009 after a disturbing upward trend between 2006 and 2008. The number of cases registered under section 498(A) — cruelty to a woman by husband or relatives of husband) — of the Indian Penal Code fell from 389 in 2008 to 287 in 2011. The success in bringing down harassment cases against women is attributed to a special cell of the Social Service Branch (SSB) of the city police. The cell resolves disputes among couples with the objective of bringing down cases of domestic violence against women. "It is difficult to pinpoint a particular reason for the success. In a fast-paced city like Mumbai where people are under tremendous stress and there is lack of communication, such cases tend to occur frequently," said Nisar Tamboli, Mumbai police spokesperson and deputy commissioner of police. Advocate Paresh Desai said cases of mental and physical harassment for dowry under the Domestic Violence Act are declining too. "This is because of counselling by the police to couples with differences in their relationship," he said. Some policemen, however, claim that the statistics do not reveal the complete picture. "One cannot entirely believe the statistics as they may also include cases purposely filed by women against their inlaws,” said Sunil Deshmukh, assistant commissioner of police. “Section 498(A) is often misused by women to create a fear psychosis among their in-laws so that they do not torture them. Also, the decrease in such cases must be marginal compared to previous years," said Deshmukh. "The section is misused as many times, a woman, in a fit of rage, mentions every member of her husband's family in her police complaint to take revenge. It is very difficult to prove in court that the victim's in-laws demanded dowry. Therefore, in 90% of such cases, the accused is acquitted due to lack of evidence," said Desai who practices at the family court in Bandra. Assistant commissioner of police Firoj Patel of the SSB said women with domestic problems related to harassment or torture should approach the police as timely solution can curb such offences. Deshmukh said in harassment cases related to dowry, the police meet the couple face-to-face and counsel them to ensure their marriage lasts. "Earlier, we would first register cases related to section 498(A) after the victim approached the police. But now, we record the statements of all the people and verify facts to check whether it is a genuine complaint before registering an FIR," he

said. The deputy commissioner of police personally verifies the facts to ensure the complaint is genuine. "However, in several cases we found the complainant was misusing the law to settle scores with her inlaws. As a result, offences were registered against innocent people," Deshmukh said. (DNA 24/3/12) IPS officer accused of sexual harassment dismissed (8) Ranchi, March 24: Indian Police Service (IPS) officer P.S. Natarajan, suspended from service on charges of sexually exploiting a tribal woman, has been dismissed from service, a senior Jharkhand official said Saturday. "Natarajan has been dismissed," state Home Secretary J.B. Tubid told IANS. Natrajan, then inspector general of police of Ranchi, remained suspended since August 2005 when a television news channel showed him in a compromising position with a tribal woman, Sushma Badaik. In her complaint, Badaik said she was sexually exploited by Natarajan who assured her justice against another IPS official. After his suspension, Natarajan was sent to jail. He is at present on bail and facing a case in a Ranchi court. Following the scandal, the Jharkhand government had initiated the process for Natarajan's dismissal. The state had recommended to the central government and the Union Public Service Commission that Natarajan be sacked and its recommendation was accepted. (IANS) (New Kerala 24/3/12) Crime against women on rise in trains (8) New Delhi, March 25, 2012: Despite initiating steps to prevent crime in trains and stations, there has been an increase in cases of misconduct against women passengers. As per data available with the Railways, a total of 712 cases including rape, murder, robbery and eve-teasing were reported against women and children in railway premises in 2011 as against 501 cases in the previous year. There were 15 rape and 362 eve-teasing cases reported in 2011 as against 10 and 352 similar cases in 2010. Incidentally, in order to check increasing incidents of crime, RPF and GRP personnel escort about 3,500 express and local trains. "Currently all important trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto are escorted by security men and steps are being taken to strengthen security at stations by implementing integrated security system," a senior Railway Ministry official said. Railways is installing CCTV cameras at 202 stations as part of the integrated security system. There are about 8,000 railway stations in India. "We are regularly reviewing the safety and security of the trains and adopting proactive measures to ensure safety of passengers," the official said. He said anti-drugging squads are also functional. (Hindustan Times 25/3/12) Thanks to reservation, more women are joining politics: Prema (8) MYSORE: The practice of female foeticide not only exists in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, but also in north Karnataka and in foreign countries, according to Prema Cariappa, chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board. Speaking at a programme to commemorate Women's Day organized by Karnataka State Social Welfare Board at JSS Hospital here on Monday, she said in foreign countries, ultrasound technology is used to check the health of the foetus, but in India, it is used to identify the gender of the baby. Saying that people still believe that only men take care of their parents during their old age, Prema questioned: "If it is true, why the number of old-age homes and orphanages is increasing across the nation?" Sharing two instances on the plight of women in society, she said: "In Haryana, an educated woman has undergone abortion four times to avoid giving birth to a baby girl as her in-laws don't like it. Due to shortage of girls in Gujarat, six men have married one woman." According to the 2011 census, there are only 914 females for every 1,000 males, and the shortage of females exists in all districts across the country due to female foeticide, Prema said, adding: "Ever since the implementation of 33% reservation of women (in Parliament), 10 lakh women are joining politics every year. Also, women are working efficiently in all professions." Addressing the gathering, Karnataka State Women Development Corporation chairperson Sarojini Bharadwaj said the increase in divorce cases is a threat to Indian culture. "Today, getting divorce is easy. In one year, 12,000 persons have applied for divorce in Bangalore. Apart from government, NGOs should work for the upliftment of sex workers. There are 77,000 registered sex workers in the state," Sarojini added. (Times of India 27/3/12) Stress driving more women to substance abuse, reveals study (8) A survey by Baya Karve Women’s Study Centre shows an increase in substance abuse among women in recent years. The survey shows that stress had driven women, mostly in the 31to 40 years age bracket, to smoking, alcohol, anti-depressants or sleeping pills. The study was based on data collected from 371

women in the age group of 18-60 who underwent de-addiction therapy at one of the four de-addiction centres in the city, Muktangan De-Addiction Centre, Manasvardhan De-Addiction Centre, Krupa Foundation and Anandvan De-Addiction Centre. The women covered in the survey had taken treatment for de-addiction between 2005 and 2011. Anuradha Karkare, programme co-ordinator at Krupa Foundation, said age of women patients visiting the centre for de-addiction has come down from 40s to 30s in the past two to three years. Karkare attributes the rise in such cases to changing lifestyle, easy availability of alcohol and drugs and women having more powers of earning and spending. At any given time, the centre has around 10 women patients taking treatment for addiction that mostly lasts three months. “Ninety per cent of these women are married and earn a good salary,” said Karkare. From 1999 to 2011, 261 women had de-addiction treatment at Krupa Foundation. On the positive side, Karkare said it has been observed that husbands of such women are extremely supportive and are the ones to enroll their wives for de-addiction programmes and conduct regular follow ups. As per the survey, almost 28.57 per cent of total cases were women aged between 31 and 40 years. Most of these women started drinking or smoking with their husbands and then got addicted. On an average, 23.45 per cent of the women were addicted to alcohol and substance abuse for a period of one year to five years. (Indian Express 28/3/12) ‘Protect women rights defenders' (8) JAIPUR, April 1, 2012: The National Commission for Women intends to work closely with the “women human rights defenders” in their battle against violence and discrimination against the fair sex and will launch a study at the national level for evolving a mechanism for their protection from threats and intimidation as well as against the widespread practice of implicating them in fabricated cases. The NCW Chairperson, Mamta Sharma, announced this while addressing a multi-State consultation on the issues of women human rights defenders (WHRDs), organised by Shivi Development Society-Indraprastha Public Affairs Centre (IPAC), at the Institute of Development Studies here over the week-end. The consultation was held for consolidating the views, opinions and ideas submitted by WHRDs from different regions of Rajasthan and to develop a State-level policy framework for their protection. Delegates from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh attended the day-long consultation. Ms. Sharma said the WHRDs could play a crucial role in eradicating gender discrimination which would ensure extension of benefits of all Government schemes to women. She called upon women's non-government organisations to work for economic empowerment of the fair sex, which she said would ensure their security and protection against all kinds of risks. The NCW chief called upon the participants to resist female foeticide and said that youths in the country would not be able to find brides for them in the next 10 to 15 years due to the dwindling number of girls in society. “The Commission has noticed that 25 per cent of women complainants are harassed by the police in the rape cases. The behaviour of law enforcement agencies with women victims is generally not good,” said Ms. Sharma. She also called for changing the mindset in favour of women's education in certain communities, including Dalits and Muslims. The consultation was organised against the backdrop of U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders in India Margaret Sekaggya stating in her recent report that WHRDs are at particular risk of various kinds of violence including prosecution. The event followed a series of regional meetings in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Kota and Udaipur where the working environment, challenges, problems and strategies for WHRDs were discussed. Shivi Development Society-IPAC chief functionary Narendra Kumar said the WHRDs had done a phenomenal work despite numerous challenges for promotion and protection of women's rights in Rajasthan, leading to a better life based on dignity, justice and quality. Rajasthan State Women's Commission Chairperson Laad Kumari Jain said there were three kinds of violence against women reported in the State -- gender-based discrimination, domestic violence and pre-birth violence in the shape of female foeticide. “It is most unfortunate that even the right to be born is being snatched from girls,” she remarked. Ms. Jain registered her protest against the practice of police forcing compromise in the cases of demand for dowry and domestic violence. She regretted that though women are in the forefront of savings, their economic condition is bad. Manjula Pradeep of Gujarat-based Nav Srajan Trust said women's security, economic empowerment, right to property and participation in governance were the important aspects of work of WHRDs. Namrata Daniel of All-India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, New Delhi, and Jaipur-based psychologist Asha Dutta also addressed the consultation. (The Hindu 1/4/12) Dowry harassment cases up in Kerala (8) Kochi, Apr 1 : Despite its hight rate of literacy rate, the number of dowry harassments cases was

increasing in Kerala, as an average number of 130 such cases were registered daily in 2011 in place of 112 registered in the previous year. According to an information made available to Kudumba Samrakshna Samithi through RTI, a total of 47,369 cases related to the dowry harassment cases against women were registered in various courts in the state, as against 40,984 registered than the previous year. 'Currently dowry cases were being registered under Domestic Violence Act or Section 498(A) of the IPC, both would be helpful only to punish the husband, even if he was innocent. Hence, we had filed a petition before the Supreme Court to change or remove the wrong clauses in the act so that all could get social justice ,' Samiti General Secretary Mohanan Pillai, who obtained the details through RTI, told UNI. Admitting that there were dowry harassment cases prevailing in the state, he said the current system was not at all capable of patching up differences. Instead it was destroying the family bond, he claimed. (UNI) (New Kerala 2/4/12) Ageing India may see a rise in number of widows: WHO (8) NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned India that feminization of its ageing population could lead to a rapid increase in its number of widows. Reacting to a TOI story that showed how the majority of India's elderly are now women, WHO's representative to India Dr Nata Menabde said the trend has significant consequences for the health of older women. She said, "Women's longer life-spans compared to men, combined with the fact that men tend to marry women younger than themselves, mean that the number of widows will increase rapidly." She added, "Being a male-dominated society and given the fact that women in India rely on their husbands for the provision of economic resources and social status, a large percentage of older women are at risk of dependency, isolation, and/or dire poverty and neglect." According to her, a quarter of the global elderly population will be in India by 2015, and the elderly population in India will be more than 12% of the total population by 2026. The Registrar General of India's latest data from the Sample Registration System, 2010, had found that the percentage of women in the age bracket of 60 years and above is higher in 17 out of the 20 large states. Dr Menabde said that a further consequence of differential life expectancy "is that there are more women especially among the oldest old, those 85 years and above. Given that disability rates rise with age, this means that there are substantially number of older women than older men living with disabilities." WHO says that women have higher chances of getting excluded from various social security programmes due to lower literacy and gender issues. "Women's labour in developing countries is concentrated in the informal, agricultural and service sectors. Older women have less access to social protection such as health insurance, which has a cumulative negative effect over a woman's lifespan and can seriously affect their health in old age," Dr Menabde added. She suggested that the government should consider bringing in a state sponsored insurance policy just for the old. With 30% of India's elderly being below the poverty line, Dr Menabde spoke about the provision for services for BPL families and elderly population under the National Programme for Healthcare of Elderly that is being rolled out in 100 districts. Between 1980 and 1985, the life expectancy for women in India was lower than that of men due to high maternal mortality, discrimination against women in nutrition and access to healthcare. As the conditions improved, the life expectancy of women has become higher than that of men. From 2001 to 2005, the life expectancy of women was 66.1 years as compared to 63.8 years for men. "Due to higher life-expectancy among women, it was expected that the population of women will take over the population of men," she added. (Times of India 3/4/12) Child & woman beaten to death (8) Raiganj, April 3: A 10-year-old girl and a woman were beaten to death last night in a tribal pocket of North Dinajpur by villagers who branded them witches. Police said Chameli Soren’s mother was among the three women initially targeted but when the attackers did not find her at home in Palpara, they went for the girl with bamboo sticks and axe. The child died on the spot and so did Phulmoni Hansda, her 50-yearold neighbour who was also lynched. The bodies were found after 11pm when the police led by a deputy superintendent of police Amlan Ghosh arrived in the village. Arati Soren, who was among those targeted, said a section of villagers had been blaming her, Phulmoni and Chameli’s mother Mano Soren for two deaths that occurred last week. “Since then, a group of influential people of the village started spreading the word that the three of us were behind the deaths and we were witches. When we protested, they said we would have to pay Rs 10,000 each,” said Arati. She refused to identify any of her attackers. Palpara, an adivasi village, is located nearly 22km from Raiganj. Most of the 100-120 people who stay in the village, are day labourers, the deputy pradhan of Bindole gram panchayat Mansur Alam said. Palpara is

in the Congress-run panchayat. Asked if the villagers had BPL cards, Alam said nine of the 16 families had. “The rest have applied for it. Most of the people are illiterate and superstitious.” He said most of the villagers don’t send their children to school. “We have at least seven-eight primary schools in the area. The Bindole High School is 2km from Palpara. But the children are mostly engaged by the parents in weaving baskets and mats.” Around nine last night, nearly 10 people armed with bamboo sticks and axe descended on Arati’s house first. “I was hit with a bamboo lathi and stabbed on the back. I fell down too but somehow managed to flee in the cover of darkness and took shelter in a bamboo grove,” she said. Arati said she was alone at home when the raid occurred. The mob then attacked the houses of the two other women. Thakur Hansda said he and his father were not at home when his mother Phulmoni was killed. “I rushed home when I heard that a mob had attacked our house but it was too late. I found my mother in a pool of blood,” he said. He said Mano, who was also targeted by the mob, was also not at home. “Not finding her, they beat and hacked to death her 10-year-old girl,” he said. Thakur has filed an FIR against eight villagers without naming anybody. “I am living in panic as the offenders might attack us once the police withdraw the picket from the village,” he said. Deputy pradhan Alam said the murders could be linked to something other than superstition. “I have heard that some of the villagers were demanding money and the women refused to pay up. This could have provoked the attack. There is also a possibility that the villagers wanted to scare them off and grab their land.” Alam said the two men who died last week were very ill. “One of them was suffering from cancer. The other’s body had swollen up. Both were above 60,” said Alam. North Dinajpur police chief Dipankar Bhattacharya said a murder case had been started against the accused. “We have not arrested anyone so far, but the police are looking for the culprits. Since there is tension in the area we have posted a picket in the village,” Bhattacharya said. District magistrate P.N. Bhutia said he was yet to get a report from the Raiganj BDO. “Let me go through the report. I will then see what can be done and if the village needs more financial aid.” (Telegraph 4/4/12) Govt cannot ignore ignominy of child marriage (8) Although the Child Marriage Restraint Act was passed in 1929, the unfortunate practice is still prevalent because of the social sanction for it, which is strong enough to overcome any legal obstacle. As a result, 47 per cent of the women in India have been married before the legal age of 18 and 18 per cent of them below the age of 15, according to the ‘State of the World’s Children’ UNICEF report. Not surprisingly, the percentage is higher at 55 in rural areas where orthodoxy and traditional customs are more prevalent and the conditions for law enforcement are more lax. It is not a matter of honour for the country, therefore, that 40 per cent of all the child marriages in the world take place in India. It is obvious that as in the cases of dowry or female foeticide, the existing laws are not enough to stop the practice. Either they are not properly enforced or the punishment prescribed is not stringent enough to act as a deterrent. It is also not impossible that since the police are a part of society, they are not as strongly opposed to a case of child marriage as they ought to be, especially if the bride is close to the legal age of marriage. Besides, unlike dowry deaths or female foeticide, a child marriage does not cause any revulsion. However, some ray of hope is provided by the fact that there has been a decline in child marriages in the 2001-’10 period with only two states — Jharkhand and Rajasthan — recording such marriages in 2010 compared to eight in 2001. Of these states, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have shown the sharpest drop while Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh and Kerala recorded a minor dip. Interestingly, the percentage of women marrying at the age of 21 and above is highest in Jammu and Kashmir at 81.7 per cent and lowest in Rajasthan at 36.7 while the national average is 48.8. It is possible, therefore, that an intensive campaign against the practice can prove successful. (NIE: Editorial 5/4/12) Crimes against women high in Villupuram district (8) VILLUPURAM: Villupuram seems to have turned into an unfriendly district for women with the district recording the highest number of cases of rape, kidnap, abduction of women and young girls and dowry harassment, among the north zone districts in the State. On the contrary, Thiruvallur district has recorded the lowest number of crimes against women with a total of 89 in 2011. According to details availed from the police department, a total of 2,044 cases of rape, molestation, dowry death and kidnap have been registered in north zone — Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Thiruvallur and Villupuram districts — in 2011. Of this, as many as 900 cases including 86 cases of rape and 274 cases of molestation, 187 abductions and 167 dowry harrassment cases - were registered in Villupuram district. The district has also recorded the highest number of dowry harassment cases. Of 314 cases of dowry

harassment in the north zone district, 167 cases have been booked in Villupuram alone. With 57 cases, Cuddalore has recorded the second highest number of dowry harassment cases, while Kancheepuram and Thiruvallur districts have seen the least number of dowry harassment cases - nine and 12 cases respectively. Of the 39 dowry deaths reported last year in the north zone, 16 cases were from Cuddalore, seven each in Villupuram and Thiruvallur districts, and six in Vellore. Interestingly, when it came to eveteasing, only Vellore district recorded 10 cases with not a single case being reported from any of the other districts. The police department has also registered a total of 690 cases under various sections of Women Harassment Act. Since January this year, a total of 35 rapes, 36 molestations, 79 kidnap and abductions and 42 dowry harassment cases have been reported in north zone. (NIE 7/4/12) ‘Stern action against sexual harassment' (8) KOZHIKODE, April 7, 2012: Asserting that the party would not brook any case of sexual harassment in the organisation, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said it was committed to fight against the increasing violence against women and that it stood for stringent punishment to all criminals in such cases. On Friday when the party Congress adopted a ‘Violence against Women' resolution, Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat stressed that the CPI(M) was “clear there is no case of sexual harassment and that if it ever occurs it will not be tolerated [in the party]…there is not a single case in which has been tolerated.” Ms. Karat's response came to questions about reports mentioning some party members being involved in such cases. With some sections of the media criticising the party for not accommodating women in decision-making apparatus, and questions on whether more women would find a place in higher echelons of the party, Ms. Karat said the matter would be known in three days' time when the new Central Committee would be reconstituted. In the resolution on women adopted on Friday, the party expressed concern over the steep escalation in crimes against women and said it was alarmed by the “barbarity and savagery” of atrocities being committed at a time when women were entering public life, institutions of learning, and diverse work spheres in increasing numbers. “The crude commodification of women and the portrayal of women as sex objects in the mass media is highly objectionable and is not only demeaning to women but creates an environment which trivialises the crime of sexual harassment and violence against women,” it said. Crimes against women during the period 2006-2010, it said, shot up by 29.3 per cent while registered cases of domestic violence went up by five per cent over the previous year as did the rise in number of dowry deaths. Yet there was a campaign to dilute a section of the laws dealing with it. Turing to cases of rape, it said in 2010 alone 94,000 cases were registered and the increase in the number of cases showed that the safety and security of women were deeply compromised. Many cases go unreported because victims who belonged to the poorer, socially oppressed, sections had little access to justice. “Shockingly, the conviction rate in crimes against women is just 26 per cent, which means that three fourth of the criminals get away scot-free. The failure to punish the criminals and the long delay in the judicial process is undoubtedly one of the reasons for the increase in rapes and gang rapes being witnessed in several parts of the country,” the resolution notes….(The Hindu 7/4/12) Araria's sex workers rally to demand security for women (8) Araria (Bihar), Apr 9 : To check the rising crime against women and spread awareness about them, a number of sex workers from red light area of Araria took out a rally here. The rally was also attended by feminist icon Gloria Steinem, including philanthropy icons Peter and Jennifer Buffett, on April 7. Apne Aap Women World Wide organized this rally, and asked the Bihar Government to immediately check crimes against women, such as trafficking, prostitution, child marriage, female feticide, dowry death, eve teasing and rape. Manish K Jha, state head of Apne Aap Women World Wide, said women will have to protect themselves, hoping that the state government would make efforts to curb violence against women. They visited Bihar on a "learning tour" conceptualized by Steinem, funded by the NoVo Foundation run by the son and daughter-in-law of Warren Buffett. The India tour for the team started on April 2 with a visit to Gandhi Smriti in Delhi followed by a trip to Kolkatta and then Bihar's Araria district. The demonstrators demanded security for women from the Bihar Government, and said if government fails to provide them adequate protection cover then women would be forced to come on to the road to defend themselves. Ruchira Gupta, founder president of the organization, apprise the team about the coming together of all the marginallised women on a common platform to raise their voice. Gupta founded Apne Aap Women Worldwide with 22 women from the red-light districts in Mumbai in 2002 before expanding its offices in Delhi, Calcutta and Bihar. (ANI) (New Kerala 9/4/12)

Bitten and beaten by father, 3-mth old girl vomits blood (8) Bangalore: In a painful rerun of the Baby Falak saga, a three-month-old baby girl is battling for life at a hospital here today after being allegedly battered by her father who is also accused of biting the infant. Omar Farooq, a car painter, has been arrested following a police complaint yesterday by his 19-year-old wife Reshma who accused him of beating Baby Afrin since he was not happy with delivery of a girl. The baby was admitted to the intensive care unit of state-run Vani Vilas Hospital yesterday after vomiting blood and suffering breathing problems and she would be kept under observation for 48 hours, hospital sources said. Reshma in her police complaint also charged her husband with even biting the baby in her absence. The woman alleged that her husband, whom she married in 2010, did not want a girl child and that once she gave birth to Afrin, was continually harassing her to bring in Rs one lakh as dowry and threatened to end their lives if the demand was not met, police said. She said she noticed her child vomiting blood on April 7 morning and immediately took her to Bowring Hospital, where she was treated for a day and referred to Vani Vilas Hospital, where she is now being treated. Medical Superintendent of Vani Vilas Hospital Dr Gangadhar said the baby is in critical condition as she has suffered brain haemorrhage. "She has been put on ventilator support and her condition is being continuously monitored", he told reporters. Dr Premlata of the hospital's peadiatric department said there are lot of injury marks on the skin of the baby, who was either bitten or hit by something or thrown. "There is also a history of smothering the baby with pillow," she said. The incident sparked outrage among child rights bodies. "The attack on the girl was unpardonable," Karnataka Child Welfare Commission Chairperson Meena Jain said. Two-year-old Falak died on March 16, 56 days after she was admitted to AIIMS hospital in Delhi with severe head injuries, both arms broken and human bite marks all over her body. (Financial Express 9/4/12) Women and child development ministry fails to make use of budget .. (8) NEW DELHI: An increasing incidence of crimes against women has failed to stir the government into action. At a time when women report to feel increasingly unsafe travelling at night, are subject to rape, domestic violence and molestation the ministry of women and child development (WCD), headed by Krishna Tirath, appears to be sitting on its budget meant for improving living conditions for women. Of the 12 schemes amounting to about Rs 687 crore, the WCD ministry has spent less than half in five of them, including establishment of working women's hostels, support for training and employment of women and the ambitious National Mission for Empowerment of Women. The ministry spent a paltry 4% of the Rs 40 crore allocated for working women's hostels in 2011-2012. Spending on the national mission - that was inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil and was expected to provide a single window for all womenrelated services - is a mere 15%. The ministry has managed to spend only Rs 6.01 crore of the Rs 40 crore allocated for the last fiscal. Support for training and employment programme for women (STEP) has seen 18.6% spending while barely 23% of the budget allocated for the Priyadarshini scheme has been spent. The Central Social Welfare Board spent a little more than 54% of its budget for awareness generation, but a little more (73%) in conducting courses. Except for Ujjawala - scheme for prevention of trafficking and rehabilitation of victims - where the ministry has spent 97% of the Rs 10 crore allocated to it, there has been below par expenditure in nearly every other scheme. Spending is better on programs like day care facilities for children provided under the Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme for the children of working mothers (86%) and Rashtriya Mahila Kosh where loans sanctioned and released amount to 64% that is Rs 12.8 crore of the Rs 19 crore allocated. Women's share in the budget has increased from Rs 687.48 crore to Rs 858 crore with women activists clamouring for higher allocations. However, with such poor spending, the fight for higher allocations will only get tougher. (Times of India 10/4/12) Pregnant women should not be sacked: Government panel (8) NEW DELHI: To plug loopholes in the law on maternity benefits, a government panel has suggested an amendment forbidding the sacking of a pregnant employee on any ground. The Planning Commission's working group which had been asked to review the Maternity Benefit Act 1961 has also recommended increasing the duration of maternity leave, though it did not specify by how days it should be increased. The group wants the government to incorporate a clause in the Act, saying, "No woman should be discharged from service during the period of pregnancy on any pretext." A panel member said although the existing maternity law prohibits the sacking of a pregnant employee, there were many examples

where employers have sacked pregnant women for 'misconduct' to avoid giving them maternity benefits. Under the existing law, a pregnant woman can be fired for gross misconduct. "The move is to plug this loophole and ensure protection to pregnant employees," the member said. The panel, headed by the women and child development secretary, was in favour of making maternity leave flexible, allowing a mother to take it according to her convenience. As of now, women are entitled to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave. "Review the Maternity Benefit Act 1961 with a view to increasing the number of days of leave that a woman worker can take and to give her the choice of utilizing the period of paid absence as per her convenience," the report said. The panel also wanted the government to sensitize the various committees for implementation of labour laws on issues relating to gender. These committees should be made functional and special cells should be formed to monitor implementation of legislation for women workers, the group suggested. During the 11th Five Year Plan period, the government has taken steps to ensure safe and secure motherhood through various schemes such as Janini Suraksha Yojana to encourage institutional deliveries and the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana for conditional cash transfers to mothers during their pregnancy. (Times of India 10/4/12) Human rights report exposes 7,563 rapes in Jharkhand in 10 years (8) A report titled – “Jharkhand Human Rights Report 2001-2010”, compiled by the Jharkhand Human Rights Movement, revealed 7,563 reported rapes, 3,398 dowry atrocities, 576 custody deaths and over 100 hunger deaths in Jharkhand in 10 years after constitution of the new Jharkhand state on November 15, 2000. The report also cited 174 rapes on tribal women and 194 cases of atrocities on tribals Rights activist Gladson Dundung, also a member of the Jharkhand Human Rights Movement said that during compilation of the report we felt that human rights violations had been rampant in Jharkhand and it could be controlled if the state government was active. The rights activist said of the 100 hunger deaths, 40 are from primitive tribe groups. Most of the deaths are reported from Palamau, Chatra, Ranchi, Koderma, Hazaribagh, Godda, Dumka and Giridih. The report has also accumulated figures from the National Crime Records Bureau and annual reports of the National Human Rights Commission, besides fields verification. The report also highlighted the plight of dalits where 60 murders, 106 rapes on dalit women and 1,437 cases of dalit atrocities and 19 cases of untouchability were mentioned.The report also mentioned 249 cases of child atrocities including six cases of sale and purchase of children for prostitution. (Business Standard 12/4/12)

7,563 rape cases in Jharkhand in 10 years: Report (8) RANCHI: As many as 7,563 rape cases were reported in Jharkhand during the ten-year period since the formation of the state in November 2000, a local NGO Jharkhand Human Rights Movement (JHRM) has reported. In a report titled "Jharkhand Human Rights Report 2001-2010", the human rights group said women in the state were easy prey to crimes like rape, witchcraft and dowry. The report, released here in the form of a book, details various human rights violations in the state between 2001 and 2010. The report, which JHRM claims is sourced from state government and National Crime Records Bureau statistics, said: "The state registered total 7,563 rape cases in 10 years against the total of 1,90,008 rapes in the country during the same period." According to the report, a total of 2,707 women were killed for dowry, and 3,398 cases of dowry were registered between 2001 and 2010. During the same period, the state registered 3,854 cases of abduction of women. Among others, there were 3,384 cases of molestation, 230 cases of sexual harassment/exploitation, 136 cases of girl-trafficking and 75 cases of prostitution in the state. According to the report, 5.3 per cent rape accused were family members against a national average of 2.6 per cent. Nine per cent were relatives against 6.7 per cent of national average, 34.8 per cent were neighbours against national average of 34.5 and rest were 50.9 per cent against national average of 56.2 per cent. The report said that a total of 1,157 women were killed in the state between 1991 and 2010 after being branded witch. "The state government has failed to enforce law. Even society is responsible for rising crimes against women. As per data, more than 5 percent rape accused were family members. When girls are not safe in their house, then how we should expect them to be safe from neighbours and in society," Gladson Dundung, JHRM president said. He said: "State should ensure strict enforcement of law to minimize witchcraft and dowry cases. Society should also take initiative with progressive mindset. The witchcraft cases are higher in tribal society despite the fact that tribal women are considered progressive." (Times of India 13/4/12)

‘Restitution of conjugal rights comes only with maintenance’ (8) Husbands who do not maintain their wives cannot seek restitution of conjugal rights unless they can themselves perform their marital duties, the Bombay High Court has said. “ ....In every petition of the husband whether he demands the company of the wife in a petition of restitution of conjugal rights or whether he demands his own freedom from his wife in a petition for divorce, the condition precedent for the grant of relief must be that he is himself ready and willing to discharge his marital obligations including duty to maintain his wife...the husband must, therefore, show his own offer to demonstrate how he wants to perform his part of the marriage contract,” Justice Roshan Dalvi said. The court was hearing a petition filed by a woman whose plea for alimony was turned down by the family court. She had left her husband’s home after persistent demands for dowry. “It is endemic in our country of which judicial notice is required to be taken that new, fresh and further demands of dowry at various times of marriage continue to be made as an abhorrent custom. These demands first made are met if they are reasonable. They cannot be continued to be made and met,” the court noted. The court said, “In this situation it is to be seen whether refusal of the wife to live with the husband and return to her matrimonial home would be justified.” Justice Dalvi said, “The courts must, therefore, look not only to the form of allegations but the depth of the substance.” The husband has been asked to pay interim maintenance of Rs 1,000 per month with arrears from September 2010. (Indian Express 14/4/12) Dowry: 3 get 10 yrs in jail for ‘pushing’ woman to suicide (8) New Delhi: Taking a strong view on the “evil” practice of dowry, a Delhi court has sentenced three persons to 10 years in jail for allegedly pushing a young woman to take her own life due to “constant” harassment. The woman was also allegedly forced to undergo two abortions as her mother-in-law, one of those convicted, had a “premonition” that she would give birth to six daughters. Though the defence counsel had pleaded for leniency for Bimla Jain, the mother-in-law, Additional Sessions Judge, Rajender Kumar Shastri said her incarceration should send a message to all those who seek dowry. “May it be sheer avarice, or zeal of supremacy over her daughter-in-law, a by-product of her subjugation suffered during her lifetime or any other psychological reason, it was Bimla Jain who led other family members in subjecting the victim to cruelty. Let her convey to the seekers of dowry in our country that the law has no sympathy towards perpetrators of such heinous crimes,” the court said. As per the prosecution, the victim had committed suicide in September 2009, four years after she got married to Sanjeev Jain, another convict in the case. The cause of death was noted as strangulation. According to the woman’s parents, their daughter often told them that her in-laws were never happy with the marriage, and that they used to beat her up. They allegedly made constant demands for her to get more money as dowry. The woman’s parents said that she had told them her mother-in-law had twice given her some medicine, which resulted in abortions on two occasions. She had said her mother-in-law believed that she would give birth to six daughters. (Indian Express 15/4/12) Man sites masculinity in wife's looks as basis for divorce (8) Mumbai: In yet another case illustrating the perils of arranged alliances, where the young are often hitched without being allowed to meet their prospective spouses before marriage, a man in his midtwenties has been booked, along with his family members, for harassing his wife. The case was recently registered at the Amboli police station. The accused were mentally and physically harassing the woman for want of dowry, said the complainant in her statement. According to sources, the complainant Subuhi Sheikh (name changed) married Altaf Shaikh (name changed) more than a month ago; the marriage was arranged by both families, with the help of a mediator. Since the families were orthodox, the bride and the bridegroom were never brought face to face with each other, and had to make do with photographs, the sources added. The marriage was solemnised in a grand manner, with scores of people from both sides attending the function. However, things changed soon after the wedding. Altaf soon wanted divorce from his wife, alleging her of being ‘manly’ in her physical appearance. “He charged that his wife had lots of hair on her face, similar to the moustache and beard of a man,” said a police source privy to the case’s investigation.Altaf also complained that due to her muscular body, his wife looked much older than her actual age. Police sources said that this led to severe spats between the families, who finally landed up at the Amboli police station. At the instance of her family members, Subuhi registered a case of dowry harassment against her husband and in-laws. (DNA 16/4/12) ‘Women more moral than men’ (8)

Research has confirmed what women have for long been claiming — that they are more moral than men. The study, based on a survey which measured responses to questions about honesty, found women to be more moral than men, with those over 30 years having the strongest values, the Daily Mail reported. The study, by a leading philosopher, also showed that females are more likely to make decisions based on how they impact on others. In fact, Professor Roger Steare has based his conclusions on a “Moral DNA test” which he developed four years ago to measure both a person’s morality and changes in their value systems when they enter the workplace. Since then 60,000 volunteers have taken the questionnaire in more than 200 countries, ranging from chief executives to manual workers and housewives. Those taking the test are asked to rate a series of statements about their personal and work life — for example, whether their colleagues or family would say they were “honest” or “competent”. They then have to evaluate assertions about themselves, such as “I always honour people’s trust in me” and “I am good at exercising self-control”. Those taking part then receive a report naming them as one of six personality types: Judge, Philosopher, Angel, Teacher, Enforcer or Guardian. Professor Steare said: “Women prefer to make their decisions based on how it impacts others — which tends to produce better decisions — while men have a more individual approach and are more self-interested. “What this shows is that when it comes to work men have to grow up, put their ego to one side and show some humility and compassion — qualities they all too often have in their personal lives but put to one side when they walk into office. (Asian Age 17/4/12) New guidelines proposed to deal with sex assault victims (8) Mumbai | Agency: DNA: Health-care professionals often seem to believe that a well-built woman cannot be raped. Or that if there is no physical injury on the victim, she could not have been raped. It is with the aim to tackling such biases that KEM Hospital, along with the Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (Cehat), a research centre for health and related services, is deliberating on the crucial role doctors, medical students and health-care professionals can play in better handling sexual assault and rape victims. At a conference organised on Sunday, speakers sought to sensitise these professionals to the needs of sexual assault victims by proposing a new set of guidelines for collecting evidence from sexual assault and rape victims. While terming the evidence collection procedures currently in practice as “outdated” and “regressive”, Dr Jagdeesh N, a forensic scientist and consultant with Cehat said, “While the patient must be made aware of his/her right to not give away certain information, the doctors should explain why a particular piece of information or evidence is necessary instead of just demanding it.” Stating that the standard query on ‘the last date of consensual sex’ might not have any bearing on the case, “as the question is only relevant if the rape has occured within the week prior to the rape, doctors should accordingly modify it,” said Jagdeesh, adding that, “This is something we have remedied in the form.” Jagdeesh also advocated a step-down in the emphasis health-care professionals paid on the hymen, and if it’s torn or not. The new guidelines, he said, wished to do away with the archaic and intrusive practice of the two-finger test, where the doctor inserts two fingers into a woman’s vagina to check size. However, there is much resistance to the new guidelines at a government level too. (DNA 18/4/12)

Girl's foetus found in Rajasthan town (8) Jaipur, April 19 : The foetus of a girl was found abandoned on the edge of a sewer line in Rajasthan's Dausa town Thursday, police said. Police said that foetus was spotted by some passers-by Thursday in Kotwali police station area of Dausa, some 150 km from Jaipur. "The passers-by spotted her lying on the brink of the sewer line in the city and informed police," a police officer told IANS. "It seems he girl had been dumped in the early hours on Thursday," the officer added. "We have registered a first information report (FIR). We are questioning the staff of some private hospitals situated nearby, said the officer. Rajasthan has recently been in news for increasing cases of female foeticide and female infanticide. According to Census 2011, Rajasthan has 883 girls between the age of 0-6 for every 1,000 boys. The child sex ratio in 2001 was 909. Alarmed over the state's skewed sex ratio, the state government recently announced steps to curb pre-natal sex determination tests at ultrasound clinics. The steps include increasing the number of health department inspection teams and equipping them with devices like hidden cameras and voice recorders. The state government has also increased the amount of money given to a person who complains about errant ultrasound clinics. (IANS) (New Kerala 20/4/12)

Forced into abortion 6 times, woman turns whistleblower (8) AHMEDABAD: She was forced to go for abortion not once but six times by her in-laws as they were obsessed for a male heir. Today she has used RTI to rescue several women who go through this ordeal many times in their lives. Amisha Bhatt, 36, from Vastrapur has exposed errant sonography clinics, how despite laws like Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and measures to prevent sex determination tests doctors have been maintaining a secret list of patients who are being sent by in-laws for abortions. This list is never revealed to the state government. In her RTI Bhatt has exposed this practice in clinics located in Anand, Anand, Vadodara and Panchmahals. Bhatt had already filed a police case against her husband and in-laws for harassment. But in order to expose this practice Bhatt filed RTI applications with the health officers of two districts seeking details about her abortion case and other such cases. The explosive information exposed a nefarious nexus between gynecologists and sonography clinics involved in illegal abortion and sex determination tests. Bhatt found that her name did not figure in the elaborate list of patients who had undergone sonography tests. "This meant that the government had no information on the tests conducted on me, as mandated under the PCPNDT Act. There may have been many such women like me. The doctors were maintaining a secret list of patients on which sex determination tests were being conducted," says Bhatt. Due to Bhatt's expose, licences of two doctors' were cancelled for malpractice and the state government reviewed the requirements for doctors to submit their monthly reports. Bhatt married Priyavadan Bhatt, a resident of Anand, in the year 2000. Between 2001 and 2009, she was subjected to six abortions. She even gave birth to Kamya, a girl child. Bhatt was sent to clinics in Anand, Vadodara and Godhra. Rajendra Shukla of Yogkshem Manav Sansthan, a city-based organization, who helped Bhatt, says, "The records revealed an ugly truth. Bhatt's name was not mentioned in the monthly reports sent to the health officers. We proved the abortion and sonography with help of the bills of the doctors. The form 'F' for sonography did not have signature of Bhatt, a prerequisite. We submitted the proofs to the health officials and blew lid off the scam," said Shukla. (Times of India 23/4/12) Sex with minors to be treated as rape (8) New Delhi: The Union cabinet on Thursday approved the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Bill, which will address sexual offences, sexual harassment and assault on children under 18 years of age. According to the new law, having sex with persons below 18 years of age will be deemed as “rape”, irrespective of “consent or no consent”. The amendments to the law were suggested by the parliamentary standing committee which scrutinized the bill. “In the original bill, the provision was not to treat consensual actions by and against children between the age group of 16 to 18 as crime,” a cabinet source said. The parliamentary committee had expressed the view that once the age of the child had been specified as up to 18 years in the Bill, the element of consent should be treated as irrelevant up to this age and suggested that provisions related to age of consent should be deleted. Section 375 of the IPC will now read as: “Rape will be committed with or without consent when the girl is under 16 years of age.” The proposed law also aims to protect children from offences, including sexual assault, sexual harassment and pornography. Another amendment to the Bill was approved after which the responsibility to create awareness about the law would be vested in both the central and state governments, officials said. The Cabinet, meanwhile, referred the Protection of Women Against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010, to a group of ministers as the women and child development ministry had proposed several amendments to it.— —With agency inputs (DNA 27/4/12) Regressive clause clashes with IPC rape laws (8) NEW DELHI: If the Bill seeking to protect children from sexual offences is passed by Parliament in the form in which it was cleared last week by the Cabinet, then there will be a direct but unstated conflict between the general and special laws on rape. Under the special law proposed in the freshly revised "Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Bill" , no person below 18 years will have the legal capability to give consent for engaging in any kind of sexual activity. This flies in the face of the general law, Indian Penal Code (IPC), which recognizes 16 as the age of consent for girls. The uncertainty inherent in this conflict makes a mockery of the lofty intentions with which the age of consent is sought to be increased from 16 to 18 as it may serve as a loophole for the accused even in the most serious cases of sexual offences against children. The Bill in its original form, as introduced last year in Parliament, did not contain any such contradiction . In keeping with the definition of rape in Section 375 of IPC, the Bill, envisaging special safeguards for children, expressly said that where "penetrative sexual assault" is

committed against "a child between 16 to 18 years of age, it shall be considered whether the consent for such act has been obtained against the will of the child or the consent has been obtained by use of violence, force ..." This eminently sensible caveat to clauses 3 and 7 of the Bill has since been deleted by the Cabinet, thanks to a recommendation made by a parliamentary standing committee headed by Congress leader Oscar Fernandes. Little thought appears to have been paid to the implications of removing those IPCcompliant clauses from the Bill. How can the age of consent be both 16 and 18 in the same sexual context under two different laws? In its report tabled in Parliament in December, the standing committee addressed this critical question cursorily. All it said was: "Section 375 of IPC would operate in totally different circumstances when compared with provisions in clauses 3 and 7 of the present Bill." The claim is far from true as one of the clauses in the special legislation , clause 3 of the Bill, dealing with "penetrative sexual assault" , would fall squarely under the ambit of Section 375 of IPC. Equally dubious is its claim that the recommendation to make consent "irrelevant" up to the age of 18 even in sexual matters was "in consonance with the country's commitment" to the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child (UNCRC). For, nowhere does the UNCRC stipulate that the age of consent for sexual activities should be fixed at 18. This is borne out by the fact that an overwhelming majority of the countries, including advanced democracies, have adopted an age of consent that is below 18. The only source from which the standing committee could have drawn any kind of justification for its recommendation to increase the age of consent is a draft Bill put out by the home ministry over two years ago to amend various provisions of IPC, including Section 375. The draft criminal law (amendment ) Bill proposed, among other things, to increase the age of consent in the rape provision from 16 to 18. If the home ministry has since made no visible progress on this draft Bill, it could well have been - at least in part - because of the adverse reactions it might have received from feminists and human rights defenders of the controversial proposal of criminalizing teenage sex. It is curious that elements of the executive (home ministry) and legislature (standing committee) came up with such proposals even after the law commission headed by a retired Supreme Court judge had twice in recent years debunked the idea of increasing the age of consent . The first time was in 2000 when the law commission headed by Justice B P Jeevan Reddy specifically said in its review of rape laws that the existing age of consent should be retained. Then, while proposing amendments in 2008 to the child marriage Act and allied laws, the commission headed by Justice A R Lakshmanan reiterated the need to maintain the present age of consent. (Times of India 30/4/12) Girl child cash sop in dowry storm (8) New Delhi, April 30, 2012: The National Advisory Council (NAC) has cast serious doubts on the government’s cash-incentive scheme to check female foeticide and correct India’s skewed sex ratio, saying the money given out under the plan is indirectly promoting dowry. The Centre and 13 states have been offering cash incentives to poor families with the twin aim of saving the girl child and supporting her after she turns 18. The scheme was introduced after the 2001 census showed the child sex ratio had dipped to 927 girls for 1,000 boys. But according to the NAC, the scheme has failed to check this dipping number that now stands at 914 for 1,000 boys, the lowest since Independence. “Giving lump sum cash when the girls turn 18 or 21 may be perceived as a subliminal message in favour of the practice of giving dowry,” an NAC working group jointly headed by Farah Naqvi and AK Shiva Kumar said. The NAC, which is headed by UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, did not rule out the possibility of parents using the money on their daughter’s marriage and dowry instead of education. While Punjab and Delhi offer Rs. 1 lakh to the girl child, Madhya Pradesh gives Rs. 1.18 lakh. The money is deposited in a government or a post-office account opened in the name of the girl child at the time of birth. They can withdraw it after they turn 18. “There’s is a need for a systematic evaluation before such schemes are promoted as the centerpiece of the fight against declining sex ratio," the NAC said. (The Hindustan Times 30/4/12) Call to stem dipping sex ratio (8) New Delhi, April 30: The National Advisory Council has asked the Centre to formulate a national policy to stem the declining sex ratio at birth that it believed was “located at the complex interface of the status of women in Indian society, patriarchal social mores and prejudice, spread and misuse of medical technology and the changing aspirations of urban and rural society”. The council’s draft recommendations — prepared by members Farah Naqvi and A.K. Shiva Kumar and posted on its website for comments — outlined four major constituents that could be a “guide and a template” for initiatives the Centre and the states might take in the future. These were strengthening the present legal regime to prevent the abuse of

medical technology for sex selection and developing a legislative framework that included, but was not confined to, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PC and PNDT Act). The NAC, headed by Sonia Gandhi, also called for reviewing other gender-related laws and policies, including the dowry prohibition law, sexual assault amendments to the IPC and the national population policy. It also suggested revisiting the current schemes of conditional cash transfers meant for the education of girls in schools and colleges. Naqvi and Kumar noted that the “key considerations” for drafting a national policy should be gender equity and gender justice and not just restricting it to decreasing birth of girl children, inter-sectoral planning and action, and safeguarding reproductive rights and the right to safe and legal abortion. On the last, they recommended that the national policy must “specifically exhort governments and civil society actors to move away from the practice of pregnancy-tracking as a method of reducing sex selection”. “Declining sex ratio is an issue that enters the private domain of pregnancy, abortion and the right to choose.” On the laws, they explained that there was need to go beyond the “single legal remedy” of the PC and PNDT Act because the act itself could become “redundant” with the spread of new technology, including pre- conception genetic manipulation. Listing the 16 existing cash incentive schemes initiated by the Centre and the states that include the Dhan Lakshmi Scheme, Ladli Lakshmi, the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana and the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vivah Yojana, Balri Rakshak etc, the NAC members questioned their ability to directly change perceptions about a daughter’s worth. “For example, some schemes provide incentives only if the couple accepts sterilisation after two children, others limit the incentive only to two girls, with a larger incentive for the first girl as compared to the second,” Naqvi and Kumar pointed out. “Do schemes inadvertently end up valuing girls differentially depending on their positions in the birth order?” They sounded sceptical about targeting poor families with cash incentives, stating that their analysis of the child sex ratio from the 2001 census showed that ratios were lower among the educated and the affluent, especially in cities and towns. So they emphasised that sex selection required social and behavioural change. “In an era of a communications revolution, effective and well-planned communications strategies can make a dent.” They said that the strategies should specially target young unmarried women who are “most open to questioning received wisdom” and have the “greatest discomfort with sex selection”. The NAC members also pushed communications advocacy to be accompanied by grassroots mobilisation through panchayati raj institutions, unions, co-operatives, self-help groups etc. (Telegraph 1/5/12) Only 18% dowry death cases end in conviction: data (8) New Delhi Only 18 per cent cases registered under dowry death charges end up in conviction, statistics available with the Delhi Police reveal. According to the Delhi Police figures, a dowry death is reported in the city every third day. Of the 681 people arrested under the sections of dowry death in Delhi, only 207 were convicted of the charges and sent to jail. Around four years ago, the Delhi Police had issued a circular that no arrests would be made in cases of dowry harassment without the prior permission of the deputy commissioner of police (DCP). This was done after the courts issued strict guidelines against the misuse of dowry harassment laws. According to the data available for the years 2008, 2009 and 2010, as many as 413 cases were registered under Section 304B (dowry deaths) of the IPC in Delhi. However, when the cases came up for trial in the courts, only 75 cases ended in a conviction. It meant a jail term for only 207 people, the records said. Police said it was not necessary that the other cases would have ended in an acquittal, as they might have gone for appeals in a higher court. The data was provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the present session of the Lok Sabha. Earlier, police arrested all men and women, including distant relatives of the victim, even on the mere mention of their names in the First Information Report (FIR). “From the allegations set out in the FIR and other subsequent allegations or material collected during investigation, if necessary only the prime/main accused, whose primary role in the commission of the offence has been established, should be arrested, and that too after the prior written approval of the DCP. The arrest of the accused should be an exception not a rule,” an order issued by the then police chief Y S Dadwal had specified. An order by the Delhi High Court had said that dowry harassment was a much abused section and was exploited by police and relatives of victims to the level of absurdity. (Express India 1/5/12) Unfolding in Haryana - saga of abandoned girls (8) Rohtak (Haryana): A leading medical health institution in Haryana, not far from the national capital, is grappling with a peculiar problem - an increasing number of abandoned newborn girls who were brought there in a critical condition. In the last 10 days alone, four such baby girls have been admitted to the Post-

Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak, the hometown of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, 70 km from Delhi. "Incidents of abandoned infant females have recently shot up in an astonishing way. Earlier, one or two cases that too over a long period of time would come to the notice of PGIMS," Ashok Chauhan, medical superintendent (MS), said. In all the recent cases, the condition of the abandoned girls has been very serious or critical. These girls were brought from different parts of the state. "We inform the deputy commissioner's (DC) office for further action when the condition of baby girl becomes normal. The DC's office later makes arrangements for shifting the infant to child care homes from PGIMS," Chauhan said. Haryana continues to be the state with the worst sex ratio in the country with just 877 females per 1,000 males, as per Census 2011. In the 2001 Census, Haryana had fared worse with a sex ratio of only 861 females per 1,000 males. On April 18, an infant female with multiple infections was rushed to PGIMS after being referred from the Civil Hospital in Bhiwani district. "The baby was found in a critical condition, abandoned at HUDA Park in Bhiwani. Now she is recuperating in the child nursery of PGIMS," said Jagdish, a volunteer of Hariom Seva Dal, who is taking care of her. Two days later, another baby girl recovered from a dustbin near Ram Chowk in Gurgaon was brought here. "The girl is now out of danger," a doctor at PGIMS said. On April 23, a three-day-old baby girl with acute liver infection was admitted to PGIMS by her parents. "While medical treatment was being given to her, the parents abandoned her April 27. The condition of the baby remains critical," said Subhash Bhatnagar, volunteer of Jan Seva Sansthan, who has been taking care of her. Another baby girl, who was found near a bus stand of Dharuhera town in Rewari district, was rushed to PGIMS April 27. The girl is suffering from multiple diseases but is said to be responding to medical treatment. An abandoned baby girl was found in Sonipat district Sunday. In February this year, a woman fled after delivering a baby girl in the toilet of the casualty ward of PGIMS. Rajeev Gupta, chief of the psychiatry department at PGIMS, said "There is an urgent need to bring a change in the approach of a male-oriented society towards girls. Women will have to come forward to counter this distressing trend." Expressing concern, Mukesh Kumari, a social activist, said such incidents were increasing even as women's organisations in Haryana were "striving round-theclock to alter the orthodox mentality of society towards girls". Sunita, who works with a women's outfit, said: "Haryana is already facing an acute shortage of girls. The next generation will have to face dire consequences if concrete steps are not taken to counter it." (Zee News 1/5/12) NCW stinker to Didi on West Bengal’s rising crime rate (8) New Delhi | Agency: DNA: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a stinker to West Bengal government pointing towards a steep rise in crime against women in the state in recent months. The NCW had constituted an inquiry committee to look into the recent incidents of crime against women in the state. A three-member committee which visited West Bengal during first week of April, also met the West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, observed that incidents of such crimes coupled with a set of unpreparedness among the officers at the level of public contact may actually make the crime a nearly risk-free business for criminals. The Commission expressed unhappiness over transfer of two key officers - Damyanti Sen, DCP, Kolkata and Pranab Kumar, SP, Bankura - who were transferred before the investigation could be completed in the Park Street gang rape case and the Bankura case of sexual assault on a deaf and mute girl. It also recommended review of the convention presently adopted by the Comissionerate of Police, Kolkata, which requires an order of a Court before a victim of rape is subjected to a medical examination. The Commission pointed out that this convention is not present in other police organisations including the DGP, West Bengal, and is against the spirit of law and recent judgments of Supreme Court and high courts which clearly indicate that neither the medical officers nor the accused should get advantage in the process and valuable medical evidence against the accused is lost in any matter. The NCW quoted an analysis of recent cases conducted by a NGO network called Maitree which pointed that West Bengal recorded the 2nd highest number of rape cases in the country and the rate of increase in reported cases was twice the national average. Moreover, this state had the second lowest conviction rate. It said girls from the age of 7 to women of 72 were subjected to rape and that in 44% cases of gang rape 39% victims were minor girls; 17% of victims were mentally/physically disabled; 8% rapes happened in hospitals/trains; in 44% of cases, accused is still absconding; in 17% of cases, women’s character, or the veracity of cases were publicly questioned; about 39% of rapists were known to women; in about 25% of the cases, FIRs were not filed at all, or filed later due to public pressure or court orders to this effect; and that majority of the case took place in the districts and small towns and villages. (DNA 2/5/12)

Crime against women: Bengal rights body wants more teeth to law (8) KOLKATA: The rising crime against women in the state hasn't escaped the notice of West Bengal Human Rights Commission. The commission - headed by retired Supreme Court judge Asoke Ganguly - has proposed changes in the law to make it an effective deterrent. It has recommended to the state government to increase punishment for such crimes from the present two-year jail term to seven-year term and make the offence non-bailable. Justice Ganguly said, "The commission in its recommendation has cited the changes made by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in the first schedule of CrPC, 1993 and Section 354 IPC to give the law more teeth." This, incidentally, is the first time when WBHRC is using its powers under Section 12(d) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, which empowers it to periodically review constitutional and legal safeguards and recommend measures to make them more effective. The commission's attention to the issue was drawn by the media reports. It also consulted the National Crime Records Bureau data, which indicates that in the last decade, the number of molestation cases (punishable under Section 354) has increases 10-fold. According to NCRB data, in 1992 the number of such cases was 384. In 1993 it reached 1,074. It increased in the successive years (showing a partial decline in 2001-2002). The highest number of such cases occurred in 2011. The figure was 3,340. The year before, it was 2465. At present, Section 354 is bailable and punishment is a two-year jail term. This, the commission feels, isn't effective enough. In 1995, Odisha had amended the CrPC (to make the offence non-bailable) and four years before that Andhra had increased the punishment under to a maximum of seven years. Also, the Law Commission in its 84th report (in 1980) and 156th report (1997) had recommended sexual assault be punishable under this section and the punishment increased to a five-year jail term. Most importantly, the commission observed that in many cases, where rape is not proved and the court has to let off the accused with minor punishment even if he is found guilty of outraging a women's modesty. This, it feels, causes a social imbalance and injustice to the victim. What the commission proposes for Bengal has been done in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. It proposes to make the law non-bailable like Odisha and wants the punishment increased as in Andhra Pradesh. It proposes a maximum seven year jail term in Bengal and a minimum of five years. And if somebody is given a jail term less than five years, the reasons for that must be mentioned clearly in the judgment. The commission's recommendation mentions that social movement in Bengal to protect women's honour was a harbinger for the entire country. Section 354 IPC - Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Classification of offence - Cognizable, Bailable and Non-compoundable. What other states have done? Andhra Pradesh - Increased the punishment to seven years and not less than five years. If for special reasons, the court gives a lesser sentence it can't be less than two years. Madhya Pradesh Extended the punishment term to a maximum of 10 years. Odisha - Made the offence bailable. WBHRC's recommendation for Bengal - Increase the punishment to a maximum of seven years and minimum of five years. If less than five years, the reasons have to be mentioned. Make the offence non-bailable. (Times of India 3/5/12) Rapes in Bengal twice India's average, reveals National Commission for Women report (8) NEW DELHI: Fresh from its April visit to the state, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a stinker to West Bengal government pointing towards a steep rise in crime against women in the state in recent months and adding that this rise in rapes in the state in the recent past is almost twice than that of the national average. The report also, significantly, expressed the commission's "unhappiness'' at the twin transfers where former joint CP (crime) Damayanti Sen - who investigated the Park Street gang rape case - and Pranab Kumar, SP (Bankura) - who investigated the rape case of a deaf and mute girl - were shunted out after preliminary investigations. The commission laid more emphasis on the Bankura case. "The case is extremely distressing considering that the victim is a person of special needs and she was under the care of a doctor, who not only is alleged to have committed the crime but also breached the trust of the patient. The commission notes with dismay that the young SP who took prompt action in the matter and ensured timely enquiry was transferred," a three-member committee that probed the matter said in its report. The NCW had constituted a three-member inquiry committee to look into the recent incidents of crime against women in the state and it had visited Bengal in the first week of April. It comprised Wansuk Syeim and Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar, members of the commission and Anita Agnihotri, member secretary, NCW. As a source in NCW clearly noted, the team had observed that incidents of such crimes coupled with a set of unpreparedness among the officers at the level of public

contact may actually make the "crime a nearly risk-free business for criminals".Member secretary Anita Agnihotri said, "The report has been placed and the NCW recommendations sent to the state government. This is not aimed to target the state government but to build a system where such issues are promptly addressed and the mistakes are rectified. While the state government can transfer any officer, the committee felt at times such acts hamper the continuity of investigations." In another significant development, the NCW team has also recommended review of the convention presently adopted by the Comissionerate of Police, Kolkata, which requires an order of a court before a rape victim is subjected to a medical examination. Stating that such a practice has been discontinued all across the country and even in parts of Bengal, the commission said this was against "the spirit of law and recent judgments of Supreme Court and High courts which clearly indicate that neither the medical officers nor the accused should get advantage in the process and valuable medical evidence against the accused is lost in any matter. This, incidentally, was touted as a reason for delayed medical tests in the Park Street case. The NCW quoted an analysis of recent cases conducted by a NGO network called Maitree which pointed that West Bengal recorded the second highest number of rape cases in the country and the rate of increase in reported cases was twice the national average. Moreover, this state had the second lowest conviction rate. It said girls from the age of 7 to women of 72 were subjected to rape and that in 44% cases of gang rape 39% victims were minor girls; 17% of victims were mentally/physically disabled; 8% rapes happened in hospitals trains; in 44% of cases, accused is still absconding; in 17% of cases, women's character, or the veracity of cases were publicly questioned; about 39% of rapists were known to women; in about 25% of the cases, FIRs were not filed at all, or filed later due to public pressure or court orders to this effect; and that majority of the case took place in the districts and small towns and villages. "The women who have been targets of attack should be offered financial compensation under provisions of the law (Section 357-A Cr.PC) by preparing an appropriate scheme, as has been done by other states. Hand-holding of the women should be done by designated field functionaries of the Women and Child Development Department so as to ensure that they do not suffer trauma and disruption of livelihood. If required, special assistance of psychologists and social workers should be provided," it said. The report goes on to state that victims comprised of all possible ages. Further, girls from the age of 7 to women of 72 were subjected to rape; this included housewives, working women, mentally and physically challenged women, and tribals; the incidents occurred at all times of the day and night in public places, government hospitals, homes, fields and everywhere. The rapists ranged from students to tutors, teachers, family members, robbers, political party workers and government workers among others,'' the report stated. The NCW has been asked the state to set up 24 hour help desks to help these victims. (Times of India 4/5/12) Inter-ministerial talks on ahead of amending Anti-dowry Act (8) NEW DELHI: Government on Thursday said that the women and child development (WCD) ministry was eliciting views of other ministries before amending the anti-dowry Act on the basis of recommendations of the National Commission for Women (NCW). The NCW had suggested amendment to the definition of dowry, provision of registration of lists of gifts received at the time of marriage, provision of separate penalties for giving and taking of dowry among others. "We have sought views from other departments on the issue (proposed amendment to the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961)," the minister of state for WCD Krishna Tirath said in the Rajya Sabha. The amendment bill was drafted taking into account the recommendations of the NCW. However, the NCW's suggestions were opposed by certain NGOs, she said during Question Hour. Tirath said the NCW held further consultations and provided the minutes of the same to the ministry. Thereafter, the ministry held regional and national consultations on it. "Currently, the ministry is examining the proposed amendments in the light of the deliberations made in these consultations," she said. Replying to a separate question, she said 19 states, including Bihar and Rajasthan, have formulated dowry prohibitive rules on the model circulated by the Centre. (Times of India 4/5/12) Domestic workers demand professional recognition (8) BANGALORE, May 5, 2012 For thousands of women like her who work as domestic help in households across the State, no excuse is good enough for a day's leave, including running a high fever. As Renuka said, bunking work on a Sunday means a pay cut, as does reporting to work a few minutes late. These were some of the concerns raised at a public meeting held here on Friday, organised by the Joint Action Committee of Domestic Workers. At the meeting, the workers pledged to ask for recognition as a part of which they will appeal to the Labour Commission for their enrolment as domestic workers and also ask for

formal contracts for their jobs, which fall under the unorganised sector. Geeta Menon, secretary, Domestic Workers Rights Union, said they also want the government to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention on Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which provides domestic workers rights and benefits other workers get. She urged the participants to continue to fight for their legal rights so that they may be “respected and judged as valued citizens”. Manjula, secretary, of Akhila Karnataka Domestic Workers Trade Union, promised the members to immediately arrange a meeting with the Labour Commission, and get a systematic enrolment in place. (The Hindu 5/5/12) Woman dies in terrace fall, kin allege dowry torture (8) NEW DELHI: A 27-year-old woman fell from the terrace of her house under mysterious circumstances and died in the Lahori Gate area in north Delhi on Friday night. Farzana's husband told police that the woman had committed suicide but her family has alleged that she was being harassed for dowry. The incident was reported around 11.40pm. "She was declared brought dead at hospital. We have recorded the statements of both parties and, on her sister's complaint, registered a case of murder and dowry harassment against her husband and his family. An inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate has been ordered," said a senior police officer. Farzana got married to Javed one and a half years ago and had a three-month-old baby. Her sister Tahira, who was staying with her, told cops that Farzana was depressed as her in-laws used to torture her. In another incident, a 22-year-old woman was found hanging from ceiling at her residence in Nazafgadh, police said. She has been identified as Ritu from Nangli village. The incident came to light on Saturday morning when her husband's family informed Ritu's parents about the incident. A inquiry by SDM has been ordered after the deceased's family alleged that she was being harassed for dowry. "A case under appropriate section has been registered," said a senior police officer. (Times of India 6/5/12) Dowry demand claims two young lives (8) Rewari (Haryana)/Meerut, May 7, 2012: A woman was allegedly strangled to death for dowry by her inlaws near Kosli area here, the police said on Sunday. Three persons, including her husband, have been booked for killing her on Saturday. Poonam, 21, and Pooja, 19, got married to brothers Pawan and Ashok Kumar in February 2011. Pooja's in-laws “strangled her to death” for insufficient dowry and then conveyed a concocted story to us, father Ram Avtar alleged in his police complaint. Pooja's husband, mother-in-law Lali Devi and brother-in-law Pawan have been booked, the police said. In another incident, a newlymarried woman was allegedly burnt alive by her husband Gaurav and in-laws over dowry near Meerut, the police said on Sunday. According to a complaint filed by Sangeeta's brother, she was set on fire by Gaurav and in-laws on Saturday. Sangeeta, who got married to Gaurav in December, was allegedly being harassed for dowry by her in-laws, the police said. A case has been registered against six persons in this regard and a probe into the matter is on, they added. — PTI (The Hindu 8/5/12) Children suffer the most in divorce matters: HC (8) Mumbai: Children suffer the most in divorce matters and get traumatised, observed the Bombay high court while allowing a father to take his 13-year-old son to hill stations for summer vacation. But the court also expressed displeasure when informed that the father did not wish to take his daughter on the trip. “We saw a television show about how families want only male children and how female foeticide is on a rise,” said justice PB Majmudar. A division bench of justice Majmudar and justice AV Mohta was hearing an application filed by the father seeking permission to take his 13-year-old son to Mahabaleshwar, Matheran and Panchgini during summer vacation. The couple’s marriage was dissolved by the family court on January 10, 2011. The family court granted permanent custody of the children to the mother and granted access to the father. The father later filed an appeal in the high court challenging the order. When the man’s advocate argued that his client was allowed to take his son during summer, Diwali and Christmas vacations, justice Majmudar said: “In divorce matters, children suffer the most. Parents don’t realise that. They want a few hours of happiness with the kid, but the child gets traumatised.” Opposing the application, the wife’s advocate said her former husband was being partial towards the son. Moreover, the boy does not wish to spend the vacation with his father, her advocate said. Showing displeasure towards such an attitude, the bench interviewed the parents and children in their chamber. The court permitted the father to take the son for vacation from May 14 to 21. (DNA 9/5/12) Female feticide gives new life to orphan girls (8)

NAGPUR: The ever increasing disparity in sex ratio in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat is having an impact on lives of destitute and orphan girls of Shri Shraddhanand Anathalaya in Nagpur. As it gets increasingly difficult for boys of middle and lower middle class homes in these states to find brides, they are turning to orphanages to find a suitable girl for themselves. Two such marriages were performed recently at the orphanage. The grooms, a salesman from Aurangabad and a businessman from Dombivli in Mumbai, married Chhaya and Padma both brought up here. Nisha Buty, the honorary secretary of the institution, says it is the word of mouth publicity that brings in the suitors. "Those who apply are in the age group of 28 to 30 years. Our girls are anywhere between 18 and 22 years. These people, mostly from Gujarat and Rajasthan and sometimes Punjab and Haryana, say that female foeticide in their states has resulted in a paucity of brides there." Buty adds that they are very careful while picking up a boy. "We do background checks, ask them to get an NOC from the police. They should also have a house or land in their name and income in between Rs13,000 to Rs 18,000 a month. Before the ceremony, they are required to put in Rs 25,000 in a fixed deposit in the girl's name that remains with us and is given to the girl one year after marriage." It's not the grooms alone who are thoroughly checked. The girls too are prepared for matrimony. "Most of the girls here have experienced negativity and trauma since the time they were in their mother's womb. Here, they live in a cocooned environment but their faith and trust is badly shaken. They have doubts about themselves and want to know how they would fit into the society," says Buty. To ensure they have a harmonious life, girls are counselled and are taught life skills. "After we decide upon the suitability of a match, the boy meets the girl and if they are fine with each other we organise a meeting with the in-laws." Even the in-laws are counselled as the girls in the orphanage have never lived in a family set-up. So the family is asked to treat them with compassion and not to expect too much from them. Meera Khadakkar, former principal judge of family court, who has been providing life skills to these girls, says they are equipped to make good wives. "With a lot of exposure to adversities early in life, these girls are mature beyond their years. Living together and managing meals and decorations for events and festivals make them socially compatible." Khadakkar says they are moulded to be obedient. The wedding ceremony held for them is a simple one with some people from the society coming in to do the kanyadaan and the donors and patrons of the institution giving gifts. "The groom and his family thus feel that the girl is not alone but is a part of a supportive extended family," she adds. The orphanage with a capacity to hold 240 girls of all ages has, at the moment, only 170 inhabitants. Out of these, barely two to four girls in a year are ready for marriage. Archana Meshram, who processes the applicants, says she has been turning down applications now. "We have only two more girls who might get married this year. And there are at least 25 such proposals before us. Once I accept an application, the person keeps calling me up requesting to fix a match at the earliest," she says. For the girls, marriage is a dream offering a family and security that life had deprived them of so far. Shruti Sarkar, for whom a groom is being finalised, says, "The boy should have parents and a sibling too as I have never had a family. He should also understand me and together we should make a good pair." (Times of India 10/5/122) 'Proposed age of consent for sex regressive' (8) New Delhi, May 13, 2012: The centre's proposal for raising the age of consent for sex from 16 to 18 years would be "regressive" and "draconian" as it would remain a penal offence, a Delhi court has said. The court opined that keeping in view the change in social attitude and sensibilities, exceptions should be made while deciding the age of consent for sex as in rural parts of the country marriages are solemnised at an early age. "No doubt, there is an urgent need to protect children from sexual offences, harassment and pornography but at the same time it is necessary to ensure a close-in-age reprieve and a lenient view in case of close-in-relationship as adopted by various western countries where there is no exploitative coercive situation including impersonation, fraud, fear, threat and false promises. "In the absence of such a safeguard the proposed increase in the age of consent would become regressive and draconian as it tends to criminalise teenage/adolescent sex. The need is to correct this behaviour and not punish," the judge said. The court's observations came while acquitting a youth of the charges of kidnapping and raping a 17-and-a-half-year-old girl, to whom he got married and is now having a child with. The court referred to the proposed special 2011 bill for protection of children from sexual offences, which provides that that no person below the age of 18 will have the legal capability to give consent for any sexual activity and the bill makes sex under the age of 18, even if consensual, to be deemed as statutory rape. The court acquitted Ghaziabad resident of kidnapping and raping a Delhi-based girl after considering that they were in love and she had eloped as their families were against their relation and married him with

her consent. "Both the girl and the boy being happily married with a young child, any hyper-technical view would be devastating for the young couple. I hold the charges against Ajay do not stand establishes and I acquit him for the same," the ASJ said. The court said keeping in mind the changes in social attitude and sensibilities, exceptions should be made while deciding the age of consent for sex as in rural parts of the country, the marriages are solemnised at an early age. "Exceptions and allowances have to be made while considering the age of consent/protection keeping in view the changing social attitudes and social sensibilities and the situation in rural India where early marriage is a norm and acceptable in diverse cultures and religions particularly where the age gap between the youngsters are within the acceptable limits and no exploitative coercive situation is reflected," ASJ Lau said. Referring to the case in hand, the court noted the girl, at the time of recording her statement before a magistrate told him she had voluntarily gone with Ajay after telling her parents and then married him on November 6, 2011. The judge said it was clear from the evidence that the case was registered by the girl's brother as the family was against the couple's relationship but later they accepted their marriage and even performed formal ceremonies as per the Hindu rites. "The girl is happily residing at her matrimonial house along with her husband Ajay and the child," ASJ Lau said. (Hindustan Times 13/5/12) Victims of domestic violence pour out their troubled tales (8) HYDERABAD, May 15, 2012: A revelation by a victim of domestic violence who is a community member of Ushassu and Navatejam, networks of women in sex work and sexual minorities, set the stage for depositions by others at a consultation organised by the Council for Social Development (CSD) here. The revelation pertains to the plaintive narration by a sex worker, both of whose hands were chopped by her spouse after a quarrel at home. The suffering of the women, who have now found a voice, led to marginal depositions by members of the State-level networks who organised a consultation ‘Strengthening Community-centered Approaches and Statutory Mechanisms to Legal Entitlements' on Monday. CSD's regional director Kalpana Kannabiran said; “The communities have transformed and have come out boldly and now we have to transform and change public perceptions about them. Continuing the dialogue is essential for these marginalised communities to enjoy the right to live with self-respect and dignity.” “To remove deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes, you have to continuously wage a battle. The votaries of discrimination can only be silenced if you keep on fighting for your rights like the wind that chisels and breaks the rock over a period of time,” said Asha Menon, Member Secretary, Delhi Legal Services Authority. Director, SVP National Police Academy, V.N. Rai, on Monday said conditioning of officers to make them tolerant while dealing with all segments of society, including marginal groups, would be included in the syllabus for new recruits on sensitive issues. He urged the communities to visit the academy and interact with personnel to prepare a training module for new recruits. About 150 members of Ushassu, Navatejam, voluntary workers in HIV prevention programmes, legal luminaries and officials of the A. P. State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) were among those present. Nominated MLA Christine Lazarus, SP, Women Protection Cell, Kalpana Naik, K. Srinivasa Sivaram, Administrative Officer, AP Legal Services Authority and Kailash Ditya, Joint Director, APSACS, spoke. (The Hindu 15/5/12) AIDWA demands judicial probe into child abuse (8) CHANDIGARH, May 15, 2012: All-India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA) activists staged demonstrations at several district headquarters in Haryana on Monday to highlight “collusion of the establishment, particularly that of the State Government, in scandals involving worst forms of abuse of children, women and elderly in ‘Protection Homes' in Rohtak and Gurgaon.''AIDWA national vicepresident Jagmati Sangwan, who led the protestors in Rohtak, told The Hindu that the citizens were shocked by the facts that had come to light following raids of such institutions by the teams of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Gurgaon and Rohtak. Reiterating the demand for a judicial probe, she said that all facts relating to child abuse and the alleged involvement of officials and politicians in shielding those running these “Homes'' should be brought out especially in the context that the accused were recipients of “government favours and awards.''She said that the AIDWA would launch an agitation if a judicial probe was not ordered immediately into the running of all such protection homes and institutions where vulnerable children and women are lodged. Meanwhile, Haryana CPI (M) Secretary Inderjit Singh has also demanded a thorough impartial probe into “revelations of all kinds of abuse and exploitation of female inmates in the “Homes'' in Gurgaon and Rohtak. (The Hindu 15/5/12) Few women dare to complain against harassment: Statistics (8)

New Delhi: It is no secret that women are harassed while on move in Delhi but it appears that many of them prefer not to complain to police, if one goes by government statistics. Only 41 cases of harassment of women in various modes of transport were registered in the past three-and-a-quarter years in Delhi with woman flyers topping the list by reporting 15 incidents -- 12 harassed on aircraft and three in taxi. Women air travellers are followed by women travelling in buses, who registered 10 cases during this period. A total of 50 people were arrested in these cases between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2012, Minister of State for Home Affairs Jitender Singh informed Rajya Sabha in a written reply today. Of the 41 cases, three cases were compromised while court quashed one. One was convicted in 2009, while another was acquitted in 2011. Except for two cases which are still under investigation, all the 33 other cases are pending trial. The year 2010 saw the highest of 13 cases registered in this regard, while 2009 saw 12 cases. Last year witnessed 11 such cases and the first three months of this year saw five cases, including three from air travellers. The statistics showed that air travellers were more confident in registering complaints. A senior police official said most of the cases from airport were related to unruly passengers harassing air hostesses. Of the 41 cases, 15 cases were registered with IGI police station, which again emphasis the point that flyers were more confident in dealing with such cases. (DNA 16/5/12) Women MPs’ meet to fast track anti-dowry Bill (8) NEW DELHI: The government appears keen to fast track the anti-dowry amendments, and has lined up an important meeting with women MPs on May 21. The women and child development (WCD) ministry has been mulling over amendments, which will ensure both moveable and immoveable property to be considered as dowry besides differential penalties for those giving and taking bribes. With a view to curb dowry-related deaths, the National Commission for Women (NCW) had called for changes in the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and the Indian Penal Code ( IPC). The proposed amendments range from changing the definition of dowry to imposition of harsher penalty for dowry deaths. The ministry hopes to garner political support for the bill. The anti-dowry legislation is often seen as ``draconian'' by its critics and the government hopes to get political view on the amendments before bringing it to the Union Cabinet. ``We want suggestions and comments from political parties on the dowry legislation,'' said Krishna Tirath, minister for women and child development. The ministry has proposed that the definition of dowry should be changed to include both moveable and immovable property as well as asking for any favours from the woman's parents. It also wants the punishment for dowry givers to be reduced on the ground that they are victims of coercion. The draft law has sought a mandatory provision for registration of lists of gifts received at the time of marriage and penalty for not maintaining such a list. There is also a proposal to empower protection officers appointed under the Domestic Violence Act, so that they can file complaints in case of dowry harassment. Advisory boards set up under the Dowry Act should assist the protection officers. The ministry also plans to discuss a new clause providing an opportunity to the woman to file a case at the place where the offence was committed or where she permanently or temporarily resides. The recommendations were part of the national consultation in January with representatives of state governments, police and legal service authorities among others. Other issues that are likely to be part of the meeting will be protection of vulnerable groups like sex workers and transgender, and the ministry's scheme for rehabilitation of rape victims. (Times of India 17/5/12) War on dowry goes global (8) MANGALORE: They are young and it was one of the most deplorable systems prevalent in their community that prompted them to work under one umbrella. After making their voice heard in the coastal area, the Youth Against Dowry (YAD), a forum formed by a few socially committed youngsters in the city, is all set to spread its wings. Determined to make Muslim community free from the evil of dowry, the forum will open its branch in Dubai and kickstart its campaign in Gulf countries. YAD will organize the first anti-dowry campaign in association with the Karavali Welfare Association in Dubai from May 25 to June 8. YAD member Zahir Shah told STOI that the objective of the campaign is to create awareness against dowry among hundreds of Muslim community members of Coastal Karnataka who are residing in Dubai. "We will hold meetings and make religious leaders to talk on the evil effects of dowry. We will open the branch of YAD in Dubai shortly," he added. YAD Puttur unit coordinator Abdurrasheed Zaini Kakkinje, religious leaders Alavi Kutti Hudavi Dubai and Azgarali Thangal Kolpe will inaugurate the campaign in Dubai city on May 25. Vishwa Kannadiga News editor C H Abdul Hameed will be the guest, Zahir said. The valedictory of the campaign will be held at Mutheena Indian Islamic Centre Auditorium in Dubai on June 8. On the occasion, several social and religious leaders will deliver talk on the topic, 'Oppose dowry

- save community'. Zahir, an anti-dowry activist, had produced a documentary titled 'Urulu' to raise awareness against dowry. The documentary explains the plight a few Muslim families in the region who fell victim to the evil effects of the prevalent system. It was screened at many places in Dakshina Kannada district. YAD DK district president Farhan Mohammed said the movement against dowry menace will be continued. The organization will start its branches in all taluks. "Awareness will be created on the Dowry Prevention Act of 1961 among community members in each Jama Aths," he added. (Times of India 20/5/12)

‘An amendment divorced from protection' (8) NEW DELHI, May 22, 2012: The All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) has opposed an amendment, cleared by the Union Cabinet, arguing that it will not protect women adequately in a situation created by liberalisation of divorce laws. “In countries where divorce laws are liberalised, as is now proposed in India, women are protected by laws which mandate an equal share in matrimonial property. For the government to propose one without the other is unfair and unjust to women,” the AIDWA said in a letter delivered to Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday. The proposal to give women an equal share only in residential property would not be sufficient, the AIDWA said. Couples often lived in inlaws' homes, so in a large number of cases, women in such circumstances would go without protection, if the law was limited to residential property. The proposal also clubbed women's share with that of children, thus giving husbands a greater share. “Further, the proposal denies a woman a share in the moveable or immoveable property of her husband created during the subsistence of the marriage as a right. Instead, she will have to go to court, and it is left to the discretion of the court to decide on the share, if any, which she will get only in moveable property. As we all know, legal and judicial procedures take a long time and are expensive. Thus, a woman who has been divorced on grounds of irretrievable breakdown [of marriage] will have to run from court to court to get justice without the necessary mandate from the law.” The letter said: “We had suggested an amendment that instead of leaving it to the court, it should be decided in the law itself that moveable and immoveable property, during subsistence of marriage, be equally shared.” “Without prejudice to any custom or usage or any other law for the time being in force, in any proceeding for a divorce or separation, the court may, on a petition made by the wife, order that the husband shall give [her] an equal share of the residential property, and also of any other movable and immovable property acquired during the subsistence of marriage. Provided that the court shall also take into account any disadvantage suffered by the woman, especially taking note of the presence of children, and give her a further share of the property.” The signatories are Brinda Karat and Sudha Sundarraman of the AIDWA and Kirti Singh of the All-India Democratic Women's Association. These views are shared by Vimal Thorat of the All-India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch, Sheila Kakkade of the All-India Women's Conference, Indu Agnihotri of the Centre for Women's Development Studies, Mohini Giri of the Guild of Service, Jyotsna Chatterjee of the Joint Women's Programme, Azra Abdi of the Muslim Women's Forum, Annie Raja of the National Federation of India Women and Leile Passah of the Young Women's Christian Association.(The Hindu 22/5/12) Violence against women is on the rise in the Kashmir Valley (8) Data compiled by the Jammu & Kashmir Police Crime Branch reveals that in the past two years, it has registered 4,066 cases of crimes against women. This includes 1,797 cases of molestation, 187 rape cases, 1 gang rape, 1,279 cases of kidnapping and abduction, 426 eve-teasing cases, one case of dowry death, 177 cases of cruelty at the hands of husbands, 195 suicide cases, 4 cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and two cases of immoral trafficking. In comparison, only 1,832 such incidents were recorded in the women police station. As the number of silent sufferers goes up, it becomes increasingly difficult to track the problem. “We come to know of cases of domestic violence through surveys. This is because women are reluctant to lodge complaints owing to the social stigma attached to it,” says Gulshan Akhtar, Station House Officer (SHO), Women Police Station, Rambagh, Srinagar, who also feels that a sizeable chunk of these women do not want to register complaints to avoid legal hassles and other cumbersome procedures. Talking to women who face cruelty at the hands of their lawfully-wedded husbands is almost like waking them up from a nightmare, forcing them to recall it and then leaving them to live that nightmare again, every day. Statements like “My husband asks me to bring dowry” and “Yesterday my husband slapped me for not bringing dowry...I cannot hear properly as my ear drum has been damaged” come from women who, despite the torture, have survived. Yet many are either killed or

forced to commit suicide for similar reasons. But cases are not just cases; they are a blot on a State already bathed in a history of violence and conflict. Abdul Rashid Hanjura, social activist and lawyer says, “Human rights violations in Kashmir are in flagrant violation of the principles of international human rights and humanitarian law and no attention has been paid to women who have been victims of such crimes.” During the past two decades, Kashmir has witnessed unprecedented crimes against women which many attribute to the ongoing political turmoil. Of the few steps taken by the J&K government to curb crime against women, the most important is setting up of women police stations. Three (Srinagar, Jammu, and Udhampur) have been set up, with the intention of having more of them in the districts. This, according to officials, would provide greater ease to women to register grievances. Officials also hint at amendments in certain laws that could be in the offing. Today, women in Kashmir constitute 55 per cent of the patients visiting the State's lone mental health hospital in Srinagar, with most suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD). “And this is just the tip of the iceberg,” says psychiatrist Dr. Mushtaq Margoob. (Charkha Features) (The Hindu (23/5/12) Woman kills two daughters, herself (8) HYDERABAD: A 26-year-old mother committed suicide by hanging herself, after killing her two daughters, at her residence in Nagarjunanagar. The deceased’s father has lodged a complaint with the police stating that her in-laws and husband had been harassing her for additional dowry. The deceased, Chaitanya, was married to Srinivas, a welder, in 2008. They had two daughters, two-and-half-years-old Likhita and 10-months-old Deekshitha. One year after the marriage, Srinivas started harassing Chaitanya for additional dowry. Her father, Maheswara Rao, had visited to her home to have discussion with his husband over the issue. Police had taken Chaitanya’s in-laws into custody. (NIE 26/5/12) 26-year-old pushed to death over dowry; husband arrested (8) NASHIK: The mother of a six-year-old boy was allegedly pushed to death by her husband and in-laws from the terrace of a building over dowry at Adharsha Society, Lam Road, Nashik Road, on Saturday. Gurupritkaur Chadda (26) was beaten up and attacked with sharp weapons before being pushed allegedly by Kesharsingh Chudda, the victim's relatives said in a complaint filed at the Nashik Road police station. Kesharsingh was arrested on Saturday and remanded to police custody till June 1. Gurupritkaur was married to Kesharsingh about seven years back, but the victim's parents alleged that she was being harassed by in-laws. About one-and-a-half years back, the victim's parents had lodged a case of dowry harassment with the Devlali Camp police station. The community panchayat intervened and the girl returned to her in-laws over a year back, but her in-laws resumed troubling her, which culminated in Saturday's incident. Gurupritkaur had done her HSC, while her husband was into sales and repairs of sewing machines, the police said. Complaints of dowry harassment continue to be lodged at police stations in the city regularly. A 40 year old woman - Bharati Suresh Gaikwad, resident of Lambodar Apartment, Adgao Naka, Panchavati, Nashik lodged a complaint against her husband Suresh Anandrao Gaikwad for torturing her physically and mentally to bring Rs 5 lakh from her parents. The victim said that her husband took away the jewellery she was wearing and drove her out of the house. The Panchavati police have registered an offence and are investigating the case. Another complaint was lodged at the Satpur police station, wherein one Ashwini Tupe (21) of Someshwar Colony said that her husband Mahendra Tupe and three others from her in-laws were torturing her to press their dowry demand of Rs 50,000. The Satpur police are investigating the case. (Times of India 28/5/12) Bihar likely to rope in Aamir to 'save daughter' (8) PATNA: Strongly pleading for a Padma award to Aamir Khan, state health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Monday said the state government was actively considering making the Bollywood actor the brand ambassador for the state government's campaign against female foeticide, to be launched in the state from May 30. Inspired by Aamir's debut venture on television 'Satyameva Jayate', Choubey said people like Aamir should be given the highest award for raising socially-relevant issues in such a strong manner. "We have made Bhojpuri singer Manoj Tiwary and cancer specialist Dr J K Singh the brand ambassador for our cancer awareness programme," he said. According to the minister, there are altogether 1,145 registered ultrasound centres in Bihar of which around 60% are located in Patna. A fresh survey would be conducted across the state to find out how many new such centres have opened. "We will convene a meeting of Indian Medical Association officials in June to formulate a fresh strategy to check female foeticide," he said. The health minister also announced deputation of a liaison officer in

Mumbai to assist patients coming from Bihar to Mumbai for cancer treatment. The decision follows Choubey's recent visit to Mumbai where he saw the miserable condition of Bihari patients in Mumbai's cancer hospitals. Among 80% of the patients in cancer wards there are from Bihar and most of them do not know what help they can get from their native state, Choubey said and added he would talk to the chief minister in this regard. Help for the purpose will also be taken from NGOs and Biharis living outside the state, the minister said. He said the 'Bitiya Bachao', or save daughter, campaign would be launched from Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) on May 30 by taking oath on the bank of Ganga to prevent female foeticide. He expressed concern over the declining sex ratio in the state. According to 2011 census, the male:female ratio was 1000:916 as against 1000:919 in 2001. "I admit the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Test Act has not been implemented properly in the state," Choubey said. Action has been taken in only three cases so far. Among these three cases, the two hospitals which were closed down for violating the law, resumed functioning, he said. "Action will be taken against the Patna civil surgeon in this regard," he said and added a committee would be constituted under the chairmanship of health secretary which will inquire into the charges against the civil surgeon and the private hospitals concerned. The committee will submit its report within one week, the minister said. According to the minister, two new bodies have been constituted to check female foeticide in the state. One is the state supervisory body chaired by the health minister himself and the other the state advisory body. He said the services of CID and other agencies would also be taken to check female foeticide in the state. (Times of India 29/5/12) Rohtak shelter home girl found 6-months pregnant (8) ROHTAK: Medical examination of a deaf and dumb girl, who had been staying at the Rohtak shelter home for the last two years, has virtually confirmed the charges of sexual abuse of girls at the shelter home. The 20-year-old girl was among those shifted to Bhiwani's Baal Sewashram (child stay home) to decongest the Rohtak shelter home, which had 103 inmates. The girl had fallen unconscious two days ago and was taken to civil hospital at Bhiwani for a check-up during which doctors revealed that she had been six months pregnant, said a source. A medical team had carried out check-up of all the inmates a day after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raided the shelter home as investigators had failed to detect her pregnancy for nearly three weeks. This oversight has put the entire investigation under scanner as police have been in denial mode so far over charges about sexual abuse of girls. Rohtak DSP, Dharna Yadav, told TOI that they had failed to detect her pregnancy status during a routine medical examination on May 10, a day after the NCPCR raid. "We wrote to civil surgeon, Rohtak to carry out medical examination of all the inmates, on which they constituted a board of doctors for the task. The doctors also carried out medical examination of all the 103 inmates, but I don't know how they had failed to detect the pregnancy of the girl. Nor she made any such indication when we questioned her".Civil surgeon Dr V K Govila maintained that the team of doctors had carried out routine check-up for injuries on the girls on May 10. Later, the administration sent five girls to hospital for gynaecology tests, but this girl was not among them. District authorities had allegedly been dragging its feet over the demand for medical examination of girls, who had been suspected to be sexually abused at the shelter home. Initially, only one girl was sent to PGIMS, Rohtak for medical examination. Her report indicated that she had been sexually "active" and bruises on her back were obvious pointers, though the district police denied this, stating that the report had not revealed sexual abuse of the girl. Later, the Punjab and Haryana high court intervened and ordered medical examination of all such girls of the Rohtak shelter home at PGI, Chandigarh. "We had sent eight girls to Chandigarh for medical examination and were awaiting the report," said Rohtak DSP. (Times of India 1/6/12) Maid abuse: CWC wants girl's statement under CrPC 164 (8) NOIDA: With two separate cases of domestic help abuse being reported in Noida within three days, the child welfare committee has instructed police to record the statement of a 13-year-old domestic help under Section 164 of CrPC. She was allegedly abused by her employers in their Sector 44 residence. CWC officials said this move would strengthen the girl's case and aid in her receiving swift justice. CWC said that in the FIR, police had applied all sections relevant to child labour, involuntary confinement and bonded labour, but for the girl's rehabilitation, her statement should be recorded by the ACJM under Section 164 of CrPC. "Once the statement has been recorded by the ACJM under this section, the rehabilitation process for the girl can begin and she can be released from judicial custody," said a CWC official. In the other case - in which another girl had been allegedly abused by her software engineer employer for almost a year - police said they were awaiting the medical report to verify the exact age of

the girl. The first case was reported to police on March 24 following which the girl, aged between 13 and 14 years, was rescued from the Sector 44 house in Noida. "The girl was employed by a couple, Jagdeep and Shilpa Relan. The husband didn't live in Noida. When we rescued the girl, her body was riddled with injuries," said the police. The parents of the girl arrived in Noida from their village in Jharkhand on Sunday. In the second case, police are waiting for the health department to submit the age proof of the girl. "In this case, the girl is around 14 years old and we need to be sure about her age because if she's older than 14, the child labour act doesn't apply to her," said a police official. Police also said they had traced the girl's family in Jharkhand with the aid of the state police. (Times of India 1/6/12) Two more girls killed in the womb (8) MUMBAI: Barely a day after two female foetuses were found aborted in a sewer in Beed, state officials on Sunday recovered two more including one from Beed. The second one was found dumped near a residential pocket in Solapur. The undisposed body of a stillborn girl child was also recovered from a farm near Udagir in Latur district. The disturbing developments have further embarrassed a state already grappling with a poor child sex ratio (925 girls for every 1,000 boys in the 0-6 age group). The government has now deployed teams across the state to trace those indulging in such heinous crimes. It is also mulling over changing norms regarding to availability of over-the-counter abortion pills, and procedures related to sonography tests for pregnant patients. Of the two fresh cases of female foetuses unearthed, one was detected from a village in Beed, which has a child sex ratio of 801:1,000 and has attained the dubious tag of becoming the "centre of female infanticide" in the state. Barely a week ago, a case where a doctor couple—Sudam and Saraswati Munde—was charged for illegally aborting a girl child and feeding the aborted foetuses to dogs had come to light in the region. The fresh foetus was recovered at the time of investigations into the foetuses recovered on Saturday. Dr Shivaji Sanap, a private maternity home owner, and two of his employees have been arrested for aborting all the three foetuses found in Beed and disposing of them. The police have also arrested two relatives of a married woman for forced abortion in one among the three cases. The remaining two belonged to unmarried women, state officials said. A district court on Sunday sentenced the five arrested to police custody till June 6. The second one was found dumped near a residential pocket in an urban locality in Solapur. The body of the stillborn was detected from Udagir in the afternoon, state health minister Suresh Shetty said. "The delivery was carried out at the government hospital, but the dead body was not properly disposed of. Further investigations are on," Shetty said. Following the new cases, the state health department has deployed teams to inspect maternity homes and sonography centres across the state. Instructions to inspect all such centres in Beed have been issued. Senior police, health and revenue department officials have been dispatched to Beed to monitor investigations. To curb such incidents, the state government is also considering some major changes in rules and strategies. The fresh spate of incidents has yet again raised the debate on easy availability of over-the-counter abortion pills. State chief secretary Jayantkumar Banthia, who is also in charge of the public health department, said that the option of limiting the availability of such pills to designated centres to ensure that these medicines are not dispensed without a medical prescription was being considered. Even state health minister Suresh Shetty endorses this option to ensure that the pills are dispensed only under medical supervision. Shetty also disclosed plans to make it mandatory for gynaecologists and general practitioners to notify the state government about referral of pregnant women to sonography centres. Such centres will also be asked to similarly provide information to the state. "While sonography centres came under the scanner, medics who refer such patients often go scot free," Shetty said. The state is also planning to ask manufacturers and distributors of sonography machines to submit list of radiologists to whom the machines are being sold. Shetty said a meeting of manufacturers and distributors would soon be held. A new strategy is being devised for Beed and Parli. The feasibility of banning all stand-alone private sonography centers and permitting sonography across government-run centres is being explored. Shetty said plans to maintain an inventory of pregnant patients travelling to Beed from other areas are also being considered. CM Prithviraj Chavan said that a meeting with representatives of the Medical Council of Indian and the Indian Medical Association to discuss options will be held this week. (Times of India 4/6/12) “Laws must be sensitive to victims of sexual assault who have disabilities” (8) KOLKATA, June 5, 2012: A minor girl, suffering hearing and speech impairment, was allegedly raped by a medical professional at the Bankura Medical Hospital in February this year. However, when the victim was asked to identify her assailant in a test identification parade, she was not briefed properly, her

disability acting as a barrier in communication. As a result she failed to identify him. “My daughter was not told what she had to do. And when the time came, she could not point him out,” the mother of the victim told The Hindu here on Monday on the sidelines of a convention on Social Security of Women with Disabilities organised by the Paschimbanga Rajya Pratibandhi Sammilani. “When it comes to a case of a sexual assault against a disabled woman, the measures taken need to be different from those for ordinary victims. The laws and its enforcement need to take their disability into account,” said Kuhu Das, director of the Association of Women with Disabilities. “No single legislation can ever completely solve a social problem….The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill that lies pending before Parliament has dealt with the problems of women with disabilities separately. But it is important to realise that other laws that become relevant in women's rights cases must also be amended,” Malini Bhattacharya, former chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Women, said. Citing an example, Ms. Bhattacharya said that Sections 375 and 376 of the Indian Penal Code that deal with rape and punishment for rape must be amended. If a woman with disability is the victim of rape, then the sentence for the culprit must be tougher. Similarly, the clauses pertaining to evidence must also be made more suitable to the disabled, she said. Jeeja Ghosh, who suffers from cerebral palsy and was recently forced off an aircraft because the pilot was not comfortable having her on the flight despite the fact that she is capable of flying alone and has done so repeatedly, spoke about the reasons that people with disabilities experience abuse differently. (The Hindu 5/6/12) Rohtak shelter home case: Girls supplied for government officials’ parties, claim inmates (8) GURGAON: Inmates of a Rohtak shelter home now in the eye of a storm following reports of sexual abuse have claimed that girls would be taken from the NGO-run facility to Chandigarh to attend birthday celebrations of government officials. The girls said they had tried to present their case to the officials when they came visiting the shelter, but to no effect. Girls over 18 were also married off forcibly to older men in exchange of money, the inmates — six of whom have been brought to a shelter in Gurgaon following their rescue — told TOI. The girls said they were molested and ill-treated by an official of the NGO and her son-in-law. The girls are in trauma and are being counselled by experts, said Meena Sharma, superintendent of Gurgaon's Swadhar Grah. The girls claimed they were tied with ropes, disrobed and beaten. One of the inmates said that a deaf and dumb girl was sexually molested by the NGO official's son-in-law. Said 19-year-old Kiran (name changed): "I used to be thrashed by the NGO official and her son-in-law for no reason at all. The son-in-law used to forcibly take girls to his room and molest them. One of my friends in the shelter was forcefully taken to his room and raped." "I tried to escape from the shelter, but was caught. As a punishment, I was disrobed and I was almost strangulated. I was also beaten me with a stick on my foot because of which I was unable to walk for several days," said Neeti (name changed), another victim. (Times of India 8/6/12) Female foeticides: Maharashtra's progressive image takes a hit (8) Mumbai, June 10, 2012: The image of Maharashtra as a progressive state has taken a beating following the recent spate of female foeticides, particularly in Beed district, prompting the Congress-NCP government to swing into action. Beed district has the lowest male-female sex ratio among children under the age of 6 in Maharashtra at 801 female against 1000 male children, according to the 2011 census. The state government is consulting Maharashtra Medical Council, Indian Medical Association and radiologists to find a way to curb the foeticides and may consider shutting down stand-alone sonography centres. Maharashtra health minister Suresh Shetty said a dedicated official stationed at Pune will co-ordinate with legal and health departments regarding violations of PCPNDT and MTP acts. Joint action by police and health departments will be taken against unauthorised MTP centres, he said. In the last few days, 115 sonography centres have been raided and 22 sealed, while 403 unauthorised MTP centres have been raided and six have been closed down. Authorities have sealed the Munde hospital at Parli, after a doctor couple running the facility, was charged with the death of a 28-year-old pregnant woman last month. The woman, Vijaymala Patekar, mother of four girls, haemorrhaged to death at Munde hospital. She was into her second trimester. Dr Sudam Munde and wife Saraswati, now in the hiding, thrived on illegal abortions for more than two decades. Women came there in large numbers, even those from neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. (Hindustan Times 10/6/12) Posh south Chennai tops in dowry abuse cases (8) CHENNAI: After bearing two years of dowry harassment and sexual torture from her husband Vanitha, a

government school teacher, went to the police and got her husband arrested in Vepery. Hers is not an isolated case, especially in the posh localities in south Chennai. Chennai city police records show that there were 97 dowry harassment cases and 10 dowry deaths in the past five months in the south zone, which has localities like T Nagar, Vadapalani, Guindy, Adyar, Ashok Nagar and Thuraipakkam. In the same period there were 71 dowry harassment cases and five dowry deaths in the west zone, which includes areas like MKB Nagar and Pulianthope. In the east zone, with areas like Tondiarpet, Korrukupet, New Washermenpet and many slums, there were 35 dowry harassment cases and three dowry deaths in the past five months. In areas including Chintadripet, Thousand Lights and Zam Bazaar that comprise east zone, the police recorded 28 dowry harassment cases and four dowry deaths. South Chennai tops the dowry harassment list despite the fact that residents in neighbourhoods in the zone are more educated and well-off, a police officer said. The south zone comprises areas like Adyar, Guindy, Taramani, Saidapet, Thuraipakkam, Neelankarai, T Nagar, Vadapalani, Valasaravakkam, Ashok Nagar, Teynampet, St Thomas Mount, Meenambakam, Pallavaram, Tambaram, Selaiyur and Madipakkam. Social activist Narmada Subramaniam says payment of dowry is a transaction that is weighted against the woman. "Parents who spend money to make their sons doctors, engineers or IT professionals look at dowry as a return on the investment," she said. "Despite changes in the law, growing awareness, economic progress and empowerment, women are bought and sold for a price." She said creating awareness among the youth could lead to a positive change and a drop in cases of dowry harassment. Save Indian Family Movement convenor Suresh Ram says many educated young men marry into rich families and then exploit their wives. "A recent study conducted by the Centre for Social Research said the conviction rate is very low in dowry cases," he said. "Many of the culprits are educated and affluent. They find loopholes in the law and manage to get away." Additional commissioner of police P Thamarai Kannan said an increasing number of educated women from the southern localities of Chennai are lodging complaints against their husbands and in-laws. "This could be one of the reasons that there has been a spurt in cases in the south zone," he said. (Times of India 11/6/12)

Empowering women with her pen (8) KITCHLU NAGAR: Nerotma Moudgil, 46, is no ordinary writer. For, she has used her work to highlight issues like terrorism, dowry, female foeticide, exploitation of children and women empowerment. Wife of Sanjay Kumarm, who teaches in a private college, Nerotma says, "I started writing when I was in Class VII, but lacked the confidence to get my work published. It was only when I got married in 1992 that I started giving a serious thought to the idea of coming up with the book." "After years of hard work, I came up with my first book 'Aashvast' (Assured) in 2007, which is a short novel. The book focuses on the role of a teacher in developing the society by inculcating moral values among the students," she adds. "In 2009, I released my second book 'Jeevan Ke Rang Hazaar' (Thousand colours of life), a collection of poetry. My third book 'Vidula', which has recently been printed, is a novel highlighting that empowerment of woman doesn't happen with slogans. Instead, women have to fight for their own rights." Speaking of her support system, Nerotma says, "My husband and friends always supported me. My father-in-law Manikant, my sons Jyotiraditya and Vibhu also provided me great moral support." (Times of India 13/6/12) Torture, sex abuse in Rohtak home laid bare (8) Chandigarh, June 14, 2012: Sexual abuse and assault, naked parade, pornography, beating, forcible abortion, starvation and intoxication of inmates. This is what went on at Apna Ghar, a Rohtak-based shelter home, as per the report submitted by two members of the four advocates' committee constituted by the Punjab and Haryana high court. According to the report, based on interviews of 101 shelter home inmates, caretaker Jaswanti Devi, her relatives, outsiders and also policemen indulged in abuse and torture. Committee members Anil Malhotra and Sudeepti Sharma have recommended handing over of the case to an independent agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The report was put up before the vacation bench of the high court comprising justice LN Mittal and justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia on Wednesday. The two committee members visited 12 shelter homes across Haryana where 101 Apna Ghar inmates in the age group of 4-60 years were shifted last month. The duo has also recommended immediate medical examination of 50 inmates at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, besides gynaecological examination, psychiatric evaluation, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test and drug addiction tests. The report has suggested that if any inmate is found to be pregnant, their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) should be matched with that

of accused Jai Bhagwan, Satish and Jaswant. Mentioning the panel members' visit to Bal Bhawan at Bahadurgarh to interview Apna Ghar inmates, the report reads, "Shockingly, some children aged between 5 and 10 years complained of perverse sexual abuse in the form of oral sex by Satish and Jai Bhagwan. They also complained that they were stripped naked, suspended from the ceiling in the reverse position with a cloth or dupatta and then brutally beaten with bamboo sticks." "They also stated that every inmate, irrespective of the age, was forced to consume liquor at night, especially on the occasion of Holi. Jai Bhagwan and Satish used to put Holi colours on their private parts… Alternatively, Jai Bhagwan and Satish videographed each other while doing sex," the report said, adding that inmates were also used as construction labourers to build Jaswanti's house. After interviewing inmates at various shelter homes, the committee members found that minor girls were taken out to entertain people. "The girls were told that they were married to the person they were sent with so that they did not object to sexual exploitation. They were also forced to have liquor before sex," the report said………. (Hindustan Times 14/6/12) Provide educational opportunities to empower girl children (8) RIYALUR, June 15, 2012: Education is the key to women's empowerment and the district has been registering a poor child sex ratio due to lack of awareness among masses about the importance of educating women. Parents should provide educational opportunities to their girl children for eliminating the societal evils against women, said Anu George, Collector. Speaking at the valediction of the day-long mass contact day programme held at Alathiyur village near here on Wednesday, the Collector said that as per the census held in 2001, the district has a poor child sex ratio . Higher incidence of female foeticide and infanticide in the recent years has brought down sex ratio. In this context, the Collector referred to the role played by the nurses in primary health centres in explaining various governmentsponsored schemes for the welfare of girl children. A sustained follow-up on counselling to pregnant women would go a long way in preventing female foeticide. Ms.George appealed to villagers to desist from solemnising child marriage, which often results in girl children dropping out from schools. A sanitary complex has been constructed in the village to benefit women and children under the total sanitation project. Earlier, the Collector administered a pledge on protecting girl child's rights and preventing female foeticide. Radhamani, special deputy collector (Social Security Scheme), Pon. Manoharan, assistant director (panchayat), and Sekar, panchayat president, were present. An exhibition was organised in which Agriculture, Horticulture, Information, and Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) departments had put up stalls. A free health camp was also organised as part of the mass contact day. Later, the Collector gave away loans and other assistance worth Rs.1.50 lakh to 34 beneficiaries. (The Hindu 15/6/12) Haryana to set up Swadhar Grah for women in distress (8) ROHTAK: Faced with disturbing revelations of sexual abuse, torture and exploitation of women and girls in Rohtak shelter home, Haryana Government has introduced a revised scheme to protect and provide shelter to women in distress. Announcing to implement a new scheme known as "Swadhar Greh" for distress women to enable them to lead their life with dignity, Women and Child Development Minister, Geeta Bhukkal informed that the state government would give assistance to various agencies or organizations to run "Swadhar Greh" on non-profit basis. The minister said that the scheme aimed at protecting the women who are deserted and are without any family support, widows, survivors of natural disaster who have been rendered homeless and are without any social and economic support. "It will also cover the women affected by HIV/AIDS, women prisoners released from jail and those who are without family or are under social and economic family tension or discord, are made to leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation or facing litigation on account of material disputes. The scheme will also safeguard the trafficked women or girls rescued or runaway from brothels or other places where they face exploitation", she said. Bhukkal maintained that the government would give assistance to agencies or organizations having proven track record of working in the field of women welfare and registered under the Indian Societies Act 1860 and Orphanages and other Charitable Homes Act, 1956. Such agencies or organizations included Women Development Corporation, Urban Municipal Bodies, Cantonment Boards, Panchyati Raj Institutions, Cooperatives Institutions, Public Trusts and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)."The agency should have facilities, resources, personnel and experience to undertaken management of such a project", she said. The minister said that grant for the construction of Swadhar Greh would be given to State Government agencies including Women Development Corporation, Municipal Corporation and Panchayati Raj Institutions. The cost of

construction would be shared by Central Government and State Government in the proportion of 75 per cent and 25 per cent respectively with the ceiling of Rs one lakh per resident i.e. for a home of 30 residents, a maximum of Rs 30 lakh would be given. Assistance for rent of the building would be shared between Central and the implementing organization in proportion of 90 per cent and 10 per cent respectively subject to a maximum of Rs 25000 per month. The women affected by domestic violence could stay up to one year in Swadhar Greh, but for other category of women the period could be up to three years. The older women above the age of 55 years can be accommodated for a maximum period of five years after which they would have to be shifted to old age home or such other institutions. She added that girls up to the age of 18 years and boys up to the age of 12 years would be allowed to stay in the Swadhar Greh with their mothers. Bhukkal said that under this scheme shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security are assured for such women. The special needs of these women are properly taken care of and under no circumstances they should be left unattended or abandoned which would lead to their exploitation and desolation. (Times of India 16/6/12) New Central scheme for women to be launched in Haryana (8) CHANDIGARH, June 17, 2012: A new Central scheme, ‘Swadhar Greh', is being launched in Haryana to protect destitute women, including those suffering from HIV/AIDS, prisoners released from jail and those who are without family so that they could “lead their life with dignity”. It would also cover women who are under social and economic family tension or discord, are made to leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation or facing litigation on account of material disputes. It would also safeguard trafficked women besides girls who are rescued or run away from brothels or other places where they face exploitation. Women & Child Development Minister Geeta Bhukkal told The Hindu that the endeavour is to “protect women who are deserted and without any family support, widows and survivors of natural disasters who are homeless and without any social and economic support”. Assistance would be given to various agencies or organisations having proven track record of working in the field of women welfare and registered under the Indian Societies Act, 1860, and Orphanages & other Charitable Homes Act, 1956, to run ‘Swadhar Greh' on a non-profit basis. Women affected by domestic violence could stay up to one year while other categories could stay up to three years. Older women above the age of 55 could be accommodated for a maximum of five years after which they would have to be shifted to old age home or such other institutions. Senior officers said girls up to the age of 18 and boys up to the age of 12 would be allowed to stay in the ‘Swadhar Greh' with their mothers. Meanwhile, another scheme, “Rehabilitation of Rescued Children Working in Circuses”, has been implemented to protect children working in circuses in the State against neglect, maltreatment, injury, trafficking besides sexual and physical abuse of all kinds, said Director-General (Women & Child Development Sumita Misra). The scheme has been launched in compliance of orders of the Supreme Court under “Bachpan Bachao Andolan” to fulfil the Constitutional mandate to provide safety and security to children, she added. According to norms, no child below the age of 14 is allowed to work in a circus and for those above 14, basic minimum living conditions have to be maintained. Moreover, each child working in a circus should complete at least matriculation by the age of 18, she added. (The Hindu 17/6/12) Woman beaten to death over dowry (8) Badaun (UP): A woman was on Sunday beaten to death allegedly by her husband over dowry in Sundernagar village near here. Pushpa died after her husband allegedly assaulted her as she failed to meet his dowry demands, police said. The victim's husband, Suresh, has been arrested and a murder case registered against him, they added. (Zee News 17/6/12) Domestic workers demand basic rights (8) New Delhi, June 16, 2012, DHNS: Observing International Domestic Workers Day on Saturday, domestic workers in Delhi held a rally demanding access to basic rights. More than 100 domestic workers in Delhi participated in this rally shouting slogans which stressed better working conditions, better wages and getting a day off in a week. “Through the rally, the plight of the domestic workers was brought to the forefront in addition to delving into the importance of affirmative action for their successful upliftment,” said Namita Malik, member of Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA). Domestic workers alleged that they are not paid well and not given any days off during the week. “If we ask our employers to increase our salaries or give us one off in every seven days they become rude and nasty with us,” said a

worker. On June 16 2011, the International Labour Organisation adopted a set of international standards aimed at improving the working conditions for domestic workers across the world. These standards defined certain aspects such as who is a domestic labourer, their minimum age and wage, the terms of employment, requirements for migrant workers and the need to register with placement agencies. However, domestic workers allege that none of this seems to have been fulfilled in Delhi as yet. (Deccan Herald 16/6/12) Haryana govt moved sexually abused HIV+ girls from Apna Ghar (8) Chandigarh: Callousness NCPCR team had barred it from doing so without medically examining each and every inmate, says more inmates may be HIV-positive. There were six HIV-positive girls (between 5 to 17 years of age) found in the Apna Ghar, the controversial shelter home in Rohtak district now sealed by the Haryana police, who were also allegedly subjected to sexual abuse at the behest of the in-charge and prime accused Jaswanti Devi and her son-in-law Jai Bhagwan. The fact came to fore when a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raided the shelter home on May 9. However, despite NCPCR urging it not to do so, the Haryana government moved all the inmates of Apna Ghar to various other shelter homes in the state. “Despite our strict instructions, the Haryana government transferred the inmates, including children, without getting their proper medical examination conducted. The top brass of Haryana government, including the concerned departments’ principal secretaries, the Director General of Police, who appeared before us last month were instructed to get a complete medical check-up done of all the inmates and not to transfer any of them. The officers had assured us to comply by the instructions, but failed to do so,” Vinod Tikoo, who led the NCPCR team that raided Apna Ghar, told The Indian Express. Now, this has created a scare more inmates could be detected HIV positive. Till all the inmates are medically examined, the exact number could not be ascertained. “The possibility of more inmates, including children, being HIV positive, can not be ruled out. Despite our recommendations, the state government took only eight girls for medical examination to PGIMER, Chandigarh. What about the rest over 100 inmates? Why were not they medically examined,” Tikoo asked. Earlier, in January, the NCPCR team had raided another shelter home in Gurgaon, run by Drone foundation and found that the inmates were sexually abused by the caretakers and operators of the home. Thirteen children were transferred out of Drone foundation shelter home to another shelter home in Delhi. From Delhi, out of the 13 children, six girls were transferred to Apna Ghar in Rohtak, while the remaining seven, all boys, were transferred to another shelter home in Karnal. The seven boys are also found HIV-positive. “Haryana government can not escape the liability,” Tikoo said. (The Financial Express 19/6/12) Hillary Clinton praises Ela Bhatt for empowering women (8) Washington, June 22 : Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has praised Indian social activist Ela Bhatt as one of her "heroines" for her work for empowerment of women. "I have a lot of heroes and heroines around the world," she said speaking at the National Partnership for Women and Families here Thursday. One of them was Ela Bhatt, Clinton said, recalling her role in starting the Self-Employed Women's Association in India. "She was a very well-educated woman who had the options available to those in her class with her intellectual ability," she said. "But she chose to devote her life to organizing the poorest of the poor, women who worked in fields, who sold vegetables, who were domestics, who struggled to eke out a living for themselves and their families, women who were considered the last to eat, the least important." Over the years SEWA has grown to million members "and they were being looked at by those around the world who saw what they had accomplished," Clinton said recalling her visit to a couple of housing projects in Cape Town patterned on the SEWA model. "This didn't happen overnight, but it could not have happened without determined, dedicated, persistent, meddling, bothersome, annoying women leaders," she said. "So we need to keep pushing on those closed doors, keep chiselling away at those barriers, keep working together toward a world where every little girl and boy grows up believing that there is a future for them, that if they work hard, if they do their part, they too can make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their larger communities," Clinton said. (New Kerala 22/6/12) Panel set up to probe sexual harassment of women staff (8) WARANGAL, June 24, 2012: A committee to probe into the incidents of sexual harassment of women employees was established in the district, informed rural Superintendent of Police S. Rajesh Kumar. The committee was set up following the directions of Supreme Court. Mahabubabad sub-divisional police officer A. Rama Devi would be the chairperson of the committee. Warangal rural police inspector G.

Venkateshwarlu would act as the vice-chairman. Social activists A Mamata Raghveer of NGO Taruni, G. John of Pragathi Seva Samithi, S. Swaroopa Rani and B. Siva Prasad of Warangal rural police superintendent wing and K. Rajyalakshmi, SI Mahabubabad town police station would be the members. (The Hindu 24/6/12) Indifferent parents to blame for accused going scot-free in dowry cases: Court (8) NEW DELHI, June 24, 2012: While acquitting the husband and in-laws accused of the death of a school teacher, within four months of marriage, for lack of evidence, a court here has faulted the parents of such victims for not standing by them when they were alive and not reporting dowry harassment to the police, relatives and friends before it was too late. Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau said: “Numerous legislation have been brought in to tackle dowry, harassment of women and domestic violence, yet the reality on the ground does not appear to change. It is necessary for the victims and their families to understand that unless dowry demands and harassment are reported well within time and the families of young women stand by them, there is little that the court of law and other agencies can do.” Ms. Lau further said: “We must realise that by not reporting such incidents the most vital evidence is often lost and the guilty frequently get away. The evidence in the present case is totally lacking. If there was harassment or demand for dowry, why was it not reported? Why was the issue not taken up and discussed with friends and relatives? Why, if the deceased was subjected to torture [by branding with tongs], was she not provided immediate medical attention by her parental family and, despite the same, compelled to join the family of the accused? Why, at the first instance after her death, did her family members [parents and brothers] not inform the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and the Investigating Officer of the various instances of harassment and torture in the same manner in which they have now deposed in the court? Or, is it that there was some other reason due to which the deceased ended her life?” In June 2006, when she was living in her parental house, Seema was brought to hospital with severe burns. Her parents alleged that she had committed suicide because of harassment and torture arising from dowry demands that her inlaws had inflicted since her marriage four months ago. The judge noted that when the in-laws shut the doors on Seema and she returned to her parental home, her mother and brothers on May 16 “forcibly left” her outside her matrimonial home at Kingsway Camp, telling the accused that they were not in a position to fulfil their demands. “Further, assuming that all the allegations of torture, harassment and demand for dowry, on the face of it, are correct and are to be believed, then under the given circumstances, is not this act of the parents and the brothers in forcibly leaving the young girl at the mercy of her in-laws who, according to them, had been inflicting brutalities upon their daughter, in itself highly inappropriate, unacceptable and criminal? ... No family which is educated and well-placed would use force/compel their daughter to join the company of her husband and in-laws given the background of torture unless they are themselves satisfied that their daughter would be safe and happy in her matrimonial home,” Ms. Lau observed. (The Hindu 24/6/12) Women shell out cash for quick divorces (8) Hyderabad: Wrangling over alimony and settlements has been a common phenomenon down the years but cut to 2012. Lawyers now find a new emerging trend in family courts. Instead of men paying alimony and divorce settlements, it’s the women who are now coming forward to pay settlements and compensation to their divorce reluctant husbands so that they can quickly get on with their lives. The women shell out money to get rid of the legal hassles of lengthy divorce procedures and to quickly move on with their lives. These women are working, independent and mostly aged in their late-20s and early 30s and place a premium on time. “To get a quick and easy divorce, women are coming forward to pay the legal charges, compensation and settlements to their husbands. They just don’t want to contest the case and drag the divorce procedure for years by letting the spouse appeal to higher courts. All they want is to begin life anew at the earliest and don’t mind denouncing permanent alimony,” pointed out family court advocate Anita Salabh Jain. 28-year-old V. Janaki (name changed), working in the telecommunication department, had filed a dowry harassment case against her husband, a government employee. “My husband got bail and said that he would contest the case and even move the Apex Court to take revenge on me for sending him to jail, as it had cost him his job. It would simply mean our divorce case might get dragged on for years while it was impossible for me to stay with a abusive husband. I withdrew the criminal case against him, decided to forego permanent alimony, gave him adequate compensation for his lost job, paid the security amount and all legal expenses, all of which amounted to a few lakhs of rupees,” she said, adding that after a few counseling sessions and all these compromises,

her husband agreed to go in for a mutual divorce. (Asian Age 25/6/12)

Scheme to help eradicate gender bias (8) VISAKHAPATNAM, June 27, 2012: A single girl child will be eligible for up to Rs. 1,00,000 and in case of two girl children, Rs. 30,000 each, said project director of DWCDA, S. Vidyavathi An anomaly in the sexratio was noticed in the below poverty line surveys. In one of its recent surveys, there were only 928 girls for 1000 boys born. The District Woman and Child Development Agency (DWCDA) officials say that the reason behind the irregularity in the ratio is due to female foeticide and gender inequalities. To eradicate such gender bias, particularly in rural areas, State government had entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the LIC in 2005 and introduced Girl Child Protection Scheme (GCPS). The scheme has several advantages for single and two girl children. The emphasis is on education, prevention of child marriages and female foeticide. A single girl child will be eligible for up to Rs. 1,00,000 and in case of two girl children, Rs. 30,000 each. The bond will be given to the applicants up on completion of 18 years of age. The idea is to provide education up to graduation for the girls and not to restrict them to household chores, said project director of DWCDA, S. Vidyavathi. “With the implementation of the scheme, couples will be discouraged to wait for a male child after one or two daughters,” she said. The literacy rate takes an upward trajectory with the scheme as girls will be encouraged to study up to intermediate. Discontinuing studies makes the girl ineligible for the benefit. Scholarships are also given from IX standard to intermediate. Below poverty line couples with only single girl child or up to two girls with an income of Rs.24,000 will be eligible along with other criteria. Family planning operation is mandatory followed with other terms and conditions. Despite a total of 5,000 applications pouring in every year since 2005, only 32,927 bonds were sanctioned under GCPS till date, is still a matter to ponder. (The Hindu 27/6/12) CBI probe into Dalit girl’s death demanded (8) BHUBANESWAR, June 29, 2012: A large number of social activists, human rights defenders and political leaders from different opposition parties staged a dharna near the Raj Bhavan here on Thursday demanding a CBI probe into the recent death of Dalit girl Bebina Behera, who was allegedly gang-raped and badly attacked in Pipili area in November last. Coming under the banner of Odisha Gana Samaj, the activists and leaders also demanded a CBI probe into the death of another Dalit girl and Bebina’s friend Pravati Behera, who was allegedly raped and died under mysterious circumstances in the same locality three years ago. Bebina had mustered courage to be a witness in the case relating to the alleged rape of Pravati. The Gana Samaj was formed a few months ago by aggrieved political parties in opposition, agonised intellectuals, activists and concerned citizens to fight for justice for Bebina and cases concerning helpless women who had been victims of sexual crimes and criminal conspiracies involving politically powerful elements. In a memorandum addressed to Governor Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare, the activists and leaders who took part in the peaceful protest dharna demanded that the ruling Biju Janata Dal members who were allegedly connected with accused in the case pertaining to the alleged gang-rape of Bebina be arrested without delay. They further demanded that the doctors who had neglected in providing proper treatment to Bebina at Pipili, Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar as well as at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack must be prosecuted for negligence of duty amounting to murder. The Gana Samaj members urged the Governor to ask Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to go for a CBI investigation of the rape and murder case of Bebina and her friend Pravati. The organisation further demanded that all rape cases in the State must be reviewed by an independent body and cases closed before judicial verdict must be reopened for investigation. (The Hindu 29/6/12) Woman suffers miscarriage, allegedly after assault by MLA (8) Ranchi: A pregnant woman in Jharkhand suffered a miscarriage after she was allegedly beaten up by a legislator, police said on Friday. Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator Chandrika Mahta has been missing since the incident in Khajatola village of Giridih district, around 240 km from Ranchi. According to police officials, the legislator thrashed Tara Devi, who was three months pregnant, at her home over a land dispute. He had gone to Tara Devi's house looking for her husband. When he found she was not at home, he started beating her up.Tara Devi, who suffered a miscarriage after the incident, has lodged a police complaint against Mahta. "Suitable action will be taken based on the investigation," a police officer told IANS. (NDTV 29/6/12)

Sexual violence mars the highs of God’s own country (8) On June 16, after a hard day’s work, L Liji (19), a salesgirl working in Varkala, a tourist hotspot in south Kerala, was on her way home. She sensed that a motorcycle-borne man was stalking her. The assailant later pounced on her. When she resisted, he rammed her with his motorcycle. Critically injured, she bled for many hours before she got medical help. Last Sunday, she succumbed to her injuries. She’s the latest in Kerala’s long list of victims of sexual violence. Last year the state was shaken up by the brutal manner which Soumya, a commuter on the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train, met her end. She was first pushed out of the speeding train, then raped in the woods near the tracks. She died three days later. Statistics show that the state’s record on crime against women is abysmal. According to the latest figures from the National Crime Record Bureau, Kerala’s rate of crime rate (number of crimes committed per one lakh population) against women is 27, followed by Delhi’s 24.6, the latter is oft maligned as India’s rape capital. A study conducted by the Sakhi Women’s Resource Centre in Thiruvananthapuram and Anweshi Women’s Counselling Centre in northern Kozhikode shows that verbal abuse and making lewd gestures are the most common forms of sexual harassment - 80% of the respondents attest to that. Sixty percent of the respondents reported physical harassment, 26% attested to being stalked, while 21% said they had been subjected to flashing by men. “Emotional issues are never addressed here. Sex remains a taboo leading to frustration... the frustrated to turn upon the weak,” said Maala Parvathi, a psychologist and theatre person. With the help of a leading Malayalam daily, she recently took a nightly stroll through the state capital. She has later wrote about the demeaning cat calls, jeering, lewd comments, honking and straight invitation she experienced. “Society’s attitude towards women needs to change. Even in educated households, a woman is destined to do domestic chores. Unless we achieve an equal footing, atrocities will continue,” says Prema John, an associate professor at Government College, Nedumangad. The state is also the biggest market for pornography. G Rejitha, project co-coordinator of Sakhi, an NGO, says, “A healthy sense of sexuality is missing here. We need measures to overcome this. In sexual offence cases, the law is tardy and society often views victims as being worse than offenders.” PE Usha, a victim of sexual assault, recalls her bitter experience. “Once you report the offence, the first reaction is why did you do it? Society reacts in a way that she deserved it and was taught a lesson. The system is not woman-friendly at all.” An employee of Kozhikode University says she was subjected to assault in a packed bus in 1991. She took the bus to a police station and got the offender arrested. Later, she faced a series of scandalous campaigns, which forced her to move to another department. “For a victim, it is a double whammy. She has to face more at the hands of the system… so many suffer in silence. What we need is a speedy justice delivery system and deterrent punishment,” she said, adding that things haven’t improved in 13 years since the attack. (Hindustan Times 30/6/12) SC condemns acid attacks on women (8) New Delhi,: The Supreme Court on Monday told the Centre to spell out steps taken to regulate the sale of acid in the country in order to prevent attacks aimed at disfiguring women. A bench of Justices R M Lodha and A R Dave told the states and Union territories to file their responses to a notice it issued in this regard on February 11, 2011. Besides, the bench directed the Union Home Ministry to file a comprehensive affidavit, enumerating the steps taken to check unrestricted sale of acid. Hydrochloric and sulphuric acids, freely available over the counter, are sprayed by men bent on wreaking vengence on women. The victims are disfigured for life and in many cases, lose their lives. The court was hearing a Public Interest litigation filed in 2006 by Laxmi, who was disfigured following an acid attack. The petitioner sought compensation for all acid attack victims and framing of a new law or an amendment to the already existing criminal laws like the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act and the Criminal Procedure Code, to deal with such offences. A year ago, a separate bench of the court said the Centre should decide expeditiously on banning the across-the-counter sale of acid to prevent its easy availability to potential attackers against women. Neighbouring Bangladesh has already banned the use of acid to curb the menace. The Centre had earlier submitted that a Law Commission report on the issue was forwarded to all stakeholders and the National Commission for Women has placed draft legislation to make acid attack a serious offence. The Law Commission, in its 226th report submitted in July 2009, said the distribution and sale of acid should be banned, except for commercial and scientific purposes. Acid should be made a scheduled banned chemical not to be available over the counter. Particulars of the buyers should also be recorded, the report said. It had further demanded amendment in the penal provision to declare acid attack a punishable offence with imprisonment varying between a minimum of

10 years and life term and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.Besides, the Commission further proposed that a separate law titled “Criminal Injuries Compensation Act” be enacted to provide both interim and final monetary compensation to victims of rape, sexual assault, acid attacks, that will provide for their medical and other expenses relating to rehabilitation, loss of earnings etc. During the pendency of this writ petition, the code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, was amended in 2009 to include Section 357A which required the states to coordinate with the Centre to launch a scheme to raise funds for compensating the victims of acid attack.(Deccan Herald 2/7/12) Bengal tops list of crime against women (8) New Delhi, July 2: The National Crime Records Bureau has put the state at the top of the list of crimes against women. According to the bureau’s latest report — for 2011 — Bengal accounted for nearly 12.7 per cent of the total number of crimes against women registered in India. Of them, 2,363 were cases of rape. The report has come at a time the Park Street assault in February — where a single mother was raped in a moving car late at night in the heart of Calcutta and then dumped on the road — is still fresh in the city’s collective memory. Most of the accused have since been arrested. Last month, another woman was raped in a “shuttle” car by the driver, who was later picked up by police. While the state accounted for nearly 10 per cent of the total number of rapes last year — second only to Madhya Pradesh (14 per cent) — what should be worrying is that women aren’t even better off at home. The state has the highest number of cases of spousal violence and ranks fifth in cases of dowry-related deaths. Of the 19,772 cases of cruelty registered against husbands, Calcutta accounted for 557, while dowry-related cases claimed 510 women. Women’s activists, however, said most victims of domestic abuse were loath to come forward and file cases against their husbands, so the actual figures could be much higher. For Bengal, the fall — or the rise to the dubious top position — has been steady. In 2006, it ranked sixth in crimes against women; rose to No. 3 in 2007, remained third in 2008; climbed to second spot in 2009 where it stayed in 2010, before rising to No. 1 last year ahead of Andhra Pradesh (12.4%), Uttar Pradesh (9.9%), Rajasthan (8.7%) and Madhya Pradesh (7.3%).The signs were ominous. A recent report by Maitree, an NGO, had noted that the state recorded the “second highest number of rape cases in the country and had the lowest conviction rate”. A single piece of statistic could be a telling pointer. Between 2006 and 2010, incidents of rape across the country increased by 15 per cent. In Bengal, the increase was 34 per cent. According to the recent study by Maitree, girls from the age of 7 to women of 72 were raped in Bengal and in 44 per cent of cases of gang rape, 39 per cent of the victims were minor girls and 17 per cent were mentally/physically challenged. Of the total number of rapes, 39 per cent of the violators were known to their victims. A three-member panel of the National Commission for Women had investigated the reasons behind the rising cases of crimes against women last month. In its report, the commission took exception to transfers of officers investigating rape cases besides calling for a “neutral” probe and financial and other assistance to the victims. “The women who have been targets of attack should be offered financial compensation under provisions of the law…. If required, special assistance of psychologists and social workers should be provided,” the NCW report said. Bengal women’s commission’s chairperson Sunanda Goswami said it was “wrong” to say that crime against women in the state had gone up. “What you need to see is the fact that more and more women are coming to the forefront and reporting cases of violence against them. This is the credit of activists and even the media that women now have the courage to come out in the open about abuse.” (Telegraph 3/7/12) Yet again, Madhya Pradesh tops in cases of feticide (8) INDORE: If the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) report is to be believed, the state has yet again achieved the dubious distinction of being the feticide capital of the country, that too with a higher number this year. Ironically, the state holds the record even after campaigns like "save girl child". However, the infanticide cases have shown a minor improvement as compared to last year. The data collected by the NCRB from the state show that out of the 132 cases of feticide reported in the country in 2011, Madhya Pradesh tops with 38 cases in the country with a rise of 20 cases as compared to last year. In 2010, a total of 111 feticide cases were reported in the country, out of which 18 were from the state. Indicating a rise of 18.9 per cent in these cases Madhya Pradesh ranks first (38) followed by Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with 21, 15, 13 and 12 cases respectively. These five states together account for 75 per cent of such cases reported in the country. The report, this year, shows more dismal picture of the society as such a crime has surpassed the last three years figures. In 2009, the cases of feticide reported in the country were 123, which declined in 2010 with 111 cases being reported but again

in 2011 the cases in the country along with Madhya Pradesh have seen a rise. Though the yearly report has been indicating a fluctuating trend of feticide in the country, health activists believe that the figure does not present the real picture. The actual figure is high. "NCRB figures under-report crime. The crime rate has increased. Recently, a few centres were penalized for non-maintenance of records," said Mukesh Sinha executive director of Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association. According to the annual survey - Sample Registration Survey, conducted by the United Nations Population Fund , it is estimated that more than 6 lakh girl child in the country are aborted due to sex selection. The figure in MP is around 17,000. According to the census 2011, the state has lost 20 points in the child sex ratio since 2001. The girl count in state has come down from 932 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to 912 in a decade. Experts fear that if trend continues in the years to come then 2021 could show these figures below 900 posing a serious problem similar to Haryana in the state. The NCRB report also reveals that the state holds first rank with Uttar Pradesh in infanticide cases with both reporting 13 cases each out of total 63 in 2011. Last year, state was second in infanticide cases (20) next only to Uttar Pradesh (31). Both the states had accounted for 51 cases out of 100 reported at the national level. The cases of infanticides in the country have shown downward trend. In 2010, the number went up to 100 cases from 63 in 2009, which are again 63 in 2011. (Times of India 3/7/12) Why are women under attack in God's own country? (8) On June 16, after a hard day's work, L Liji, a 19-year-old salesgirl working in Varkala, a tourist hotspot in south Kerala, was on her way home. She sensed that a motorcycle-borne man was following her. The assailant later attacked her and, when she fought back, he got back on his bike and drove into her with it. Critically injured, she bled for many hours before she received medical help. Last Sunday, she died. Liji is the latest in Kerala's long list of victims of sexual violence. Last year, the state was shaken up by the brutal manner which Soumya, a commuter on the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train, met her end. She was first pushed out of the speeding train, then, bleeding and broken, she was raped near the tracks. She died three days later. Statistics show that the state has an incredibly high rate of crimes against women. According to the latest figures from the National Crime Records Bureau, Kerala's crime rate (number of crimes committed per 1 lakh population) against women is 27, higher than Delhi's 24.6, even though the latter is often called India's rape capital. A study conducted by the Sakhi Women's Resource Centre in Thiruva-nanthapuram and Anweshi Women's Counselling Centre in Kozhikode shows that verbal abuse and lewd gestures are the most common forms of sexual harassment - 80% of respondents attest to that. Sixty percent of respondents reported physical harassment, 26% attested to being stalked, while 21% said they had been subjected to flashing by men. "Emotional issues are never addressed here. Sex remains a taboo leading to frustration... the frustrated turn upon the weak," says Maala Parvathi, a psychologist and theatre personality. With the help of a leading Malayalam daily, she recently took a nightly stroll through the state capital. She later wrote about the demeaning catcalls, jeering, lewd comments, honking and straight invitations she experienced. Says Prema John, an associate professor at Government College, Neduman-gad: "Society's attitude towards women needs to change. Even in educated households, a woman is destined to do domestic chores. Unless we achieve an equal footing, atrocities will continue." The state is also the biggest market for pornography. G Rejitha, project cocoordinator at NGO Sakhi, says: "A healthy sense of sexuality is missing here. We need measures to overcome this. In sexual offence cases, the law is tardy and society often views victims as being worse than offenders." PE Usha, a victim of sexual assault, recalls her bitter experience. "When you report an offence, the first reaction is, 'Why'? Society automatically assumes that the victim deserved it and was taught a lesson. The system is not woman-friendly at all." In Kozhikode, an employee of University of Calicut says she was assaulted in a packed bus in 1991. She took the bus to a police station and got the offender arrested. Later, she faced a series of slanderous campaigns, eventually forcing her to shift to another department. "For a victim, it's a double whammy. She has to face more at the hands of the system… so many suffer in silence," she says. "What we need is a speedy justice delivery system and deterrent punishment. Instead, nothing has changed in 13 years." (Hindustan Times 8/7/12) Gujarat third worst in abandoning newborns (8) AHMEDABAD/MUMBAI: Gujarat has been ranked a shocking third in the country in cases of newborns being abandoned, according to a National Crime Records Bureau report. As many as 660 newborns were abandoned between 2007 and 2011. Only Maharashtra with 1,232 cases and Rajasthan with 674 cases were ahead of the state. Experts believe that the number of girls abandoned is disproportionately high in

Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh with 525, Andhra Pradesh with 269, and Delhi with 201 cases were some of the other states with a high number of cases of abandonment in the country. Surprisingly, no newborns were abandoned in Uttar Pradesh in the last five years. In 2011, Gujarat saw 105 incidents of newborns being abandoned with Ahmedabad and Surat reporting 18 cases each. The numbers were much lower in Vadodara (6) and Rajkot (1). In all, 1,131 crimes were reported against children in 2011, making up 3.4% of all IPC cases registered in the state. Ila Pathak, founder-director of Ahmedabad Women's Action Group, says, "It is generally girls who are abandoned. In most cases, it is not a child born out of wedlock that is abandoned but that of poor parents who cannot afford to feed yet another mouth." She adds that while a majority of the abandoned children land up in orphanages and ashrams, some die a brutal death, attacked by dogs and other animals. Interestingly, the data shows no cases of infanticide or foeticide in the state in 2011. This despite Mehsana town notching the shameful distinction of having the lowest child sex ratio among urban centres in India. With only 760 girls per 1,000 boys in the 0-6 year age group, Mehsana has hit the lowest ebb on the gender index, according to just-released Census 2011 figures. The NCRB report for the last five years showed that across the country, 500 cases were registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 315 (act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth); 535 cases were registered under section 316 (causing death of unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide) and 3,569 under section 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years). (Times of India 8/7/12) Maximum rapes in India recorded in this state (8) New Delhi: West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have earned the dubious distinction of leading a list of states where crime against women in 2011 was highest. With 7.5 per cent share of the country's population, West Bengal accounted for nearly 12.7 per cent of total crime against women by reporting 29,133 cases. The National Crime Records Bureau figures show that Andhra Pradesh, accounting for nearly 7 per cent of the country's population, recorded 12.4 per cent of total crime against women with 28,246 cases. Madhya Pradesh reported the highest number of rape cases (3,406) accounting for 14.1 per cent of total such cases reported in the country. Rape cases have been further categorised as incest rape and other. Incest rape cases have decreased by 7.3 per cent from 288 cases in 2010 to 267 cases in 2011 as compared to 9.2 per cent increase in overall rape cases. Maharashtra (44 cases) has accounted for the highest (15.3 per cent) incest rape cases. The national capital Delhi has reported 17.6 per cent of rape cases, 31.8 per cent of kidnapping and abduction cases, 14.0 per cent of dowry deaths and 10.1 per cent of molestation cases among 53 mega cities, the NCRB report said. Among 53 cities, Delhi with 4,489 cases has accounted for 13.3 per cent of total crime against women. Delhi is followed by Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vijayawada recording 1890 (5.6 per cent), 1860 (5.5 per cent) and 1797 (5.3 per cent) cases respectively. The crime against women was significantly higher in Vijayawada, Kota, Kollam, Jaipur and Asansol at 120.5, 57.5, 54.2, 48.6, and 48.2 per cent respectively as compared to average of mega cities at 21.0 per cent. Uttar Pradesh with 7,525 cases has accounted for 21.2 per cent of the total cases of kidnapping and abduction of women at the national level. Delhi has reported the highest crime rate at 12.4 per cent as compared to the national average of 2.9 per cent. The cases of dowry deaths have increased by 2.7 per cent during 2011 over the previous year. 26.9 per cent of the total such cases reported in the country were reported from Uttar Pradesh (2,322 cases) alone followed by Bihar (1,413 cases, 16.4 per cent), the NCRB report said. Andhra Pradesh has reported 42.7 per cent (3,658 cases) of sexual harassment followed by Maharashtra 12.5 per cent (1,071 cases) of total incidences during 2011. Andhra Pradesh has reported the highest crime rate (4.3 per cent) as compared to the national average of 0.7 per cent. Cases of torture of women by husbands and relatives also went up by 5.4 per cent from the previous year. 19.9 per cent of these were reported from West Bengal (19,772 cases). The highest crime rate of 21.6 per cent was also reported from West Bengal as compared to the national rate of 8.2 per cent. Incidents of molestation in the country have increased by 5.8 per cent from 2011. Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest incidence (6,665) amounting to 15.5 per cent of total such cases. Kerala has the highest crime rate (11.2 per cent) as compared to the national average of 3.6 per cent, the report said. 28.7 per cent of dowry cases were reported from Andhra Pradesh (1,899) followed by Karnataka (1,210 cases) accounting for 18.3 per cent of total cases. (NDTV 9/7/12) Woman killed for dowry in UP’s Ballia (8) Ballia: A 21-year-old newly-married woman was allegedly killed for dowry in Bairia area here, police said

on Wednesday. Villagers found Geeta -- who got married to Sonu Thakur in February this year -- hanging from the ceiling at her in-laws' house in Nawka tola village on July 7, they said. After the villagers left, the in-laws tried to burn the body but later buried it in haste and are on the run, police said. On the complaint of Geeta's father Harishanker, police lodged an FIR against four persons, including her husband yesterday, police said. The victim's body was recovered from a pit in the village, they said. (Zee News 11/7/12) Abused maid succumbs to injuries (8) BANGALORE: The 15-year-old domestic help who leapt off the terrace of a three-storey building in Kumara Park on Sunday died around 7.30pm on Wednesday. Her employers had allegedly harassed her. Lakshmi (name changed), who was spotted by neighbours and taken to Seshadripuram Fortis Hospital, suffered a massive cardiac arrest around 5pm. Doctors' efforts to resuscitate her were in vain. She was the eldest of four children of a daily wage worker in MS Palya slum, near Vidyaranyapura. She was assaulted by the son and daughter of her employer, garment entrepreneur Rajesh Jain, for eating lemon rice meant for the family on Sunday. The girl went to the terrace and jumped off. Lakshmi landed on her knees and suffered fractures in both legs. She was operated upon that evening. Though she showed signs of recovery, her situation worsened on Tuesday as a blood clot spread to her brain, pushing her into coma. (Times of India 12/7/12) Political support pours in for Baghpat village panchayat diktat on women (8_ LUCKNOW: After Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), the Rashtriya Lok Dal and All India Jat Arakshan Samiti (AIJAS) have also come out in support the diktat of a panchayat at the Asra village in Baghpat. The diktat puts restrictions on the movement of girls and women. A meeting was held in the village and it was decided that a Mahapanchayat will be held on July 21 in which khap panchayats from other parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana will also be invited. RLD general secretary and Mathura MP Jayant Chaudhary reportedly visited the village on Saturday and later told reporters that the 'instructions' of the panchayat were 'suggestions' and not 'diktat'. Baghpat is parliamentary constituency of RLD chief and Chaudhary's father Ajit Singh, who is also union aviation minister in Congress led UPA government. On Wednesday, the panchayat in Asara village in Baghpat's Ramala area had issued instructions restricting movement of women and girls. The instructions included covering of head by women when ever they leave home, a complete ban on love marriages and those doing so would not be allowed to live in the village, no mobile phones for girls and only women above 40 years of age were allowed to venture out of house for work among other things. Local residents claimed the panchayat had issued the directives after a consensus was reached on them by members several communities living in the village. On Friday, Samajwadi Party leader and minority affairs minister Azam Khan had said that he does not find anything wrong in a 'group of villagers expressing their opinion'. Khan's statement was also seen as 'appeasment' of Muslims and hardliners in west UP from where Azam comes. BKU president and chief of Baliyan khap panchayat Naresh Tikait had also supported the diktat of Asra village panchayat. On Saturday, AIJAS president Yashpal Malik, who also visited the village, told TOI "We endorse the decision taken by panchayat in Asra village and will ask all the panchayats in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states to follow it. The decision in this regard will be taken at the Mahapanchayat to be held on July 21". He said that a section of media is painting khap panchayats in bad light. "We are also oppose to dowry system and female foeticide but it is not being highlighted. Instead the decision we take for orderliness in the society in accordance with our traditions are dubbed as 'talibani',"he said. The decision taken by the panchayat in Asra was an 'advisory' and not a 'diktat', he added. "The advisory also included restriction on boys from taking photograph of girls on mobile phone to check its misuse. Similarly, it restricted both men and women from using ear phones while walking or driving because it can lead to accident. Girls were asked not to visit a mela following complaints of eve-teasing. Boy found involved in eve-teasing were punished," he said. (Times of India 15/7/12) NGO organizes street event to protest crime against women (8) RANCHI: Youngsters gathered outside a prominent mall in the city to protest against the plight of women across the nation, the ill treatment meted out to the fairer sex and the indifference of the authorities in ensuring safety to them. Wake Up India Foundation, an NGO run by college students, organized a street protest on Monday to highlight issues of eve teasing and molestation among other social evils that plague society. The activists danced to the tunes of 'Hai junoon' and 'Rang De Basanti' holding placards with

messages like 'Respect my body, respect my mind and respect me, stop street harassment.' Large number of people witnessed the performances making the event a success. Ravi Vyas, state president of Wake Up India Foundation said, "Recently two such cases at national level has shamed the nation. Guwahati molestation case and the khap panchayat ban on use of mobile by women below 40 in UP has brought forth the shocking reality of the status, women enjoys in our nation, which aims to be a superpower." "Some prominent places in the city including Peace road and Lalpur need strict patrolling as women have been subjected to harassment in these areas." The street event was a first-of-its-kind in the state. "The recent act where a minor girl was raped by a teenager has shocked us. The condition is deteriorating and this initiative by this foundation is a small step towards a crime-free society," said Meenakshi, who came to visit the mall and watched the flash mob dance. (Times of India 17/7/12) Guwahati case: Brinda Karat asks Tarun Gogoi to issue public apology (8) Ranchi, July 17 : Asserting that there are certain rules and regulations that govern the handling of cases of sexual harassment and assault against women, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat today asked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to issue a public apology for being insensitive in issuing a press release with the name and photograph of the young girl, who was molested outside a pub in Guwahati last week. Karat said the identity of the victim should be protected in cases of sexual harassment. "And in this case, for the chief minister to reveal her name and her details in an official press release from his office is quite outrageous. And it shows a high degree of insensitivity. Therefore, I believe that it would be appropriate for the chief minister to issue a public apology," said Karat. "And the reason why I say this is because he is accountable, it is from his office that this has happened and he must take full responsibility for it. He is not above the law," she added. The Assam Chief Minister's Office issuing a press release yesterday into the Guwahati molestation case has also drawn flak from several other women politicians and activists. Gogoi met last evening with the Class XI student, who was molested on camera by a mob in Guwahati last week. Gogoi assured the girl that the government will provide all protection and help for her rehabilitation. He also announced that the case will be handed over to CID. He also criticized the local news channel that aired the footage of the molestation, saying its role was 'unethical'. The Chief Minister's office sent out a press statement after the meeting that revealed the victim's name and shared her photograph. The Chief Minister's office then called and retracted asking journalists not to release the photographs and ensure her identity was protected. They, however, went ahead releasing the name. Assam Police has arrested five more accused in the Guwahati incident, thereby taking the number of those apprehended to 12. The girl was molested last Monday as she was returning home from a party at a bar located in Guwahati's Post Office area. The incident came to light after an amateur video of the incident was uploaded on YouTube. The video shows the mob, consisting of around 20 men, beating the girl before stripping her. The shameful act continued for 30 minutes till police arrived and rescued the girl, and handed her over to her parents. (ANI) (New Kerala 17/7/12) Sexual assault likely to attract life imprisonment (8) New Delhi: The UPA government is finally ready with the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 to slap life imprisonment for sexual assault and acid attacks - seven years after it initiated a review of criminal laws. The proposal that the cabinet will consider soon will replace the term "rape" with "sexual assault" to make it gender neutral, allowing the victim for the first time to lodge complaints against the offender irrespective of sex. The Centre has also decided to widen the coverage under sexual assault, allowing victims of forced unnatural sex to lodge complaints with the police. "Irrespective of the complainant's sex, the offence ... would attract a maximum punishment of life imprisonment," said a top government official. The proposal - prepared by the home ministry - will also end the conflict between different laws by raising the age of consent for sex from 16 to 18 years across all laws. For tackling acid attacks on women, an addition to the IPC proposes a jail term from 10 years to life. It has been made clear that a fine of Rs. 10 lakh will be imposed on the accused, which will be paid as compensation to the victim. What's more, in case a husband, legally separated from his wife, tries to indulge in forced sex, he could face a jail term ranging from two to seven years. Laying down strong safeguards for victims, the police and courts have been barred from making complainants of below 18 years to face the accused. Similarly, changes in the evidence law will include prevention of questions on the past conduct of victims. (Hindustan Times 19/7/12) Activists oppose making rape gender-neutral (8)

NEW DELHI: Amid opposition from women's groups, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal making rape a gender-neutral offence, under which the word 'rape' would be replaced by the phrase 'sexual assault'. Other proposals, including making 'stalking' and 'acid attacks' specific offences, raising age of consent for sex from 16 to 18 years, preventing rape accused from questioning the character of victims and harsher punishment for custodial rape also got the Cabinet's nod. All these provisions are part of a draft proposal, which seeks amendments in Indian Penal Code (IPC), CrPC and Indian Evidence Act. "Amendment bills will be brought in Parliament during the forthcoming monsoon session next month," said an official. Mumbai Advocate Flavia Agnes said, "I oppose proposal to make rape laws gender-neutral. We had opposed it when the government made child rape laws gender-neutral. After the feminist wave of the 1980s, many countries in the West made rape laws gender-neutral. But, they have realized these laws are harming women more than men. "There is physicality in the definition of rape, there is use of power and the victim has a stigma attached to her. If made gender-neutral, rape laws will not have the deterrence value and it will make it more complicated for judges in court. "The consequences of rape for a woman are far-reaching. She has to battle social stigma, social mindset. While fixing marriages, nobody asks a man if he is a virgin." Delhi advocate Vrinda Grover said: "Why should rape laws be gender-neutral? That would be making a mockery of what is actually happening in the country. There are no instances of women raping men. I don't think men are facing serious sexual violence as women. Consider the brutality and intensity of sexual violence against women. Hope the home minister does not put out a bill that delays or obfuscates discussions on the issue".At present, the offence is defined under section 375 of the IPC, which deals with a crime where a man is said to commit 'rape' in case he has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will. Speaking about the Cabinet's decision, the women and child development (WCD) minister Krishna Tirath said it had also been decided by the Cabinet that certain sections of CrPC or IPC, which define minors as below 16 years, would be amended and a uniform age bar of below 18 years, would be set as the legal age for minors. (Times of India 20/7/12) Women from Muzaffarnagar villages burn jeans and tops (8) LUCKNOW: Hundreds of girls from Dudaherdi village and its adjoining areas in Muzaffarnagar burnt heaps of jeans and tops that they had collected from local girls as a symbol of their resolve not to wear the outfits which are not traditionally Indian and which, they believe, add to the possibilities of girls being subjected to eve-teasing, molestation and rape. The event marked the opening of another all-women panchayat held by Dudaherdi village with participation from Moghpur, Mansoorpur and another half a dozen adjoining villages in the district. Held a day after the mahapanchayat in Aasara village of Baghpat, the all-women gathering in Muzaffarnagar approved the mahapanchayat decisions and outlined the importance of the code of conduct for women. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Sohanviri, who has been mobilizing support for boycott of jeans and cellphones, by young women and is seen as the brains behind the tirade, once again appealed to the womenfolk to adhere the resolve which was, according to her, in the interest of women of the particular social environment they live in. The gathering expressed surprise over "the manner in which certain sections of the media were virtually determined to see the women dressed shabbily and in western attires for reasons best known to them".Referring to a series of talk shows on news channels about the whole issue, Sunita, a resident of Mansoorpur village who attended the function, said: "We have never ever gone out and told anyone to wear shalwar kurtas. It is their choice and so let them wear what they want to. I am surprised how people have got together to object to the decision that we had taken. How can they? Why can't they mind their own business, like we do ours." Sohanviori, who too had participated in a couple of these shows said: "Jeans and tops are not traditional Indian clothing. There (western countries) they don't wear sarees and shalwar kurtas, but we copy them merely because of this sense of being inferior to them is so deep-rooted in our minds. How can someone's attire define if he or she is from a progressive society or not?" she questioned as the gathering answered her questions with thunderous applause. Last week, a panchyat in Asara village of Baghpat announced some restrictions for women below 40 years which included the use of mobile phones and venturing out alone. While there was an outcry over the announcements, the mahpanchayat of 360 villages endorsed them. Meanwhile, some all-women panchayats from western UP also came out in support of the code of conduct for women and announced that women will burn jeans, tops and other un-Indian outfits. (Times of India 23/7/12) Woman 'gang-raped' in UP police station (8)

Kushinagar: A woman was allegedly gang-raped within the premises of a police station in Khadda area in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Monday. The woman was taken to the police station on July 17 by a man Vijay Verma of her village Gainahi promising her help in getting a job but she was forcibly given liquor and a number of policemen allegedly raped her in a room, the woman said in her complaint on Sunday. "On the complaint of the woman, an FIR has been registered against Verma and subinspector Virendra Kumar. The woman will be sent for medical examination today," circle officer Vinod Kumar said. (Hindustan Times 24/7/12) Sexist jokes `negatively impact women’s performance` at work (8) Melbourne: Sexist jokes in the workplace are one of the biggest factors that impact women’s ability to succeed, a new study has found. A Melbourne Business School report found that companies lack strategy to tackle “low level sexism” despite having policies in place that target “overt” sexual harassment. The report recommends that one way organisations should target low-level sexism is by implementing a “no just joking” policy. “Still in the general population there is a perception it’s ok to engage in sexual slang and sexist jokes,” News.com.au quoted report author Victor Rojo as saying. “This has negative impact on the health and performance of female workers, and it creates a culture where it’s okay to be a bully,” he said. The meta-analysis of 103 studies found that existing strategies for increasing the number of women in leadership roles have “peaked in their impacts”. The report identified key risk factors that impacted women at work, and found that sexism was “one of the most pervasive and pronounced” indicators of women’s “fit” in their organisation. “If women feel they do not fit in or are not accepted as equals they are less likely to stay in their role or in the organisation,” the report said. The risk factors of sexism, sexual harassment and gender stereotyping were found to be key characteristics of maledominated work environments, in industries such as natural sciences, engineering, medicine, police forces, military forces, information technology, law firms and financial services. The research is aimed at helping organisations improve gender balance. (Hindustan Times 25/7/12) J&K Guv seeks support of NCW for development of women (8) Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has sought support and advice of National Commission for Women (NCW) for the development of women in the state, an official spokesman said on Friday. Vohra made the request to Chairperson of NCW, Mamta Sharma when she called on him at Raj Bhavan last evening, the spokesman said here. The governor asked Sharma to pay regular visits to the state to support and advise the departments and agencies, which are engaged in promoting issues relating to women development in the state. During their meeting, Sharma briefed the Governor about the various initiatives being taken by the Commission to spread awareness among women about their rights and the programmes and policies of the government aimed at securing their socio-economic empowerment. She said that focus has also been devoted on issues relating to domestic violence against women, female foeticide and, besides, on promoting women education. "For maximising benefits of the initiatives taken by the Commission, for creating awareness among women about their socio-economic empowerment, sustained campaigns would need to be organised, with particular focus on women belonging to the less-privileged sections of society and those living in the remote and far-flung areas," Vohra observed. (Zee News 27/7/12) Short skirts cause women harassment: Trinamool lawmaker (8) Kolkata: Bengali actor and Trinamool Congress legislator Chiranjeet aka Dipak Chakraborty Saturday contended that short dresses worn by women were one of the main reasons behind the increase in incidents of harassment of women in his constituency in the North 24 Parganas district. "Eve-teasing is a very old thing. It has been going on for ages. One of the reasons behind the increase in incidents of eveteasing is short dresses and short skirts worn by women. This in turn instigates young men," said Chakraborty, who represents Barasat. His comments come a day after a girl was harassed in the area. "The incident of eve-teasing is not good. We condemn it but we need to see one thing that there can be no Ramayana without a Ravan," said Charaborty. (IANS) (New Kerala 28/7/12) Why blame only wife for no child? rules high court (8) MUMBAI: It has become a practice in Indian society to blame only the wife when she does not conceive a child without conducting a medical examination to check if the fault lies with the husband, observed the Bombay high court while hearing a dowry death case. The court also condemned the trend of blaming in-

laws and relatives in such cases. On July 20, Justice T V Nalawade of the Aurangabad bench of the high court heard an appeal filed in 2000 by a man challenging his conviction and sentencing under sections 306 (abetment to suicide) and 498 A (dowry) of the Indian Penal Code for his wife´s death. His parents, too, were convicted under Section 498 A for her death and had moved court. The man´s wife died on July 21, 1993, after consuming insecticide while working in a field. The couple was married for three years. According to the prosecution, the accused had started harassing his wife within a year by calling her infertile and black in complexion. He also heaped insults on her saying she was suffering from tuberculosis and couldn't cook, said the prosecution. The in-laws were accused of asking the woman to fetch a dowry of Rs 4,000 from her parents and threatened to get their son remarried if she did not. Justice Nalawade upheld the sessions court's verdict that there was sufficient evidence to prove the offences against the husband. But the judge said the complicity of his parents cannot be ascertained using the same standards which were used against him. The judge pointed out that under the law, the onus lies on the husband to explain things because there cannot be the demand for dowry or other articles unless he is involved. In view of the nature of our society, the husband becomes primarily responsible to take care of his wife as she is totally depending for everything on him. In our society, it has become a practice to blame only the wife when she does not conceive child nobody goes for a medical examination to see if the fault is with the husband. In view of these circumstances and the practice of our society, it becomes necessary for the husband to behave properly, Justice Nalawade said in his order. The judge said that absence of a proper explanation from the husband gives scope to the court to draw a presumption against him, but the overt acts of his relatives need to be proved beyond all reasonable doubt. This is because there is the tendency in our society to rope in all the relatives of the husband and in-laws in such a case. If the courts do not take proper care to ascertain the truth, there will be always possibility of conviction of innocent relatives and innocent in-laws for the fault of husband, said Justice Nalawade. Noting that there was no sufficient evidence to prove the overt acts of the parents, the judge said they were entitled to benefit of doubt and acquitted them. (Times of India 29/7/12) NCW chairman Sharma insensitive towards women: Smriti Irani (8) NAGPUR: Atrocities on women, including cases of molestation, eve teasing and violence, are common even the 21 stcentury. Amid all this, National Women's Commission chairperson Mamta Sharma has not played her role responsibly, believes MP Smriti Irani. Irani was in the city to speak about the condition of women in the contemporary Indian society and ways of improving it, at an event organized by the city branch of Indian Medical Association. Referring to Sharma's reaction to the Guwahati incident, Irani said that the words and actions of the NCW chief were insensitive. "Time and again Mamta Sharma has made controversial statements that hurt the dignity and respect of women rather than protecting them. Earlier, she has said that a girl should not mind being called 'sexy'. After the incident in Guwahati, the girl's identity being revealed in public did not seem to bother her as well," said Irani. She believed that Sharma should be sacked from the post of the chairman of NCW. Irani also said that the issue of violence against women will be discussed in the forthcoming monsoon session of the Parliament. "However, having the law in place alone would not solve the problem. Everybody, including men, social outfits, administration and police, has to share the responsibility of working towards this end," she said. Women, themselves, must strive to be independent financially and otherwise, so that they can stand up to any injustice being meted out to them, she said. (times of India 30/7/12) ‘Implement guidelines against sexual harassment in courts’ (8) NEW DELHI: Fifteen years after it laid down guidelines to protect women against sexual harassment at workplace, women advocates on Tuesday appealed to the Supreme Court to examine implementing them at their workplace - the court premises. Pent-up frustration over the years against absence of any mechanism for their protection at workplace made the women lawyers seek intervention in an appeal filed by an advocate challenging his conviction by the Delhi High Court on contempt of court charges for allegedly behaving indecently and assaulting a lady colleague in a courtroom on January 13, 2012. When a bench of Justices T S Thakur and Gyan Sudha Mishra adjourned hearing on the appeal to permit the contemnor to file reply to the victim's affidavit, senior advocate Indu Malhotra requested the bench to examine extending the protection of 1997 judgement in Vishaka case to women lawyers, who are proposing to file an application in this regard. In Vishaka judgment, the apex court had said, "Each incident of sexual harassment of working women results in violation of fundamental rights of 'Gender Equality' and the 'Right to Life and Liberty'....One of the logical consequences of such incident is also the

violation of the victim's fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business." The court had laid down guidelines and norms for observance at all workplaces and institutions saying it would stay in force till enactment of legislation. The guidelines are still in force as no legislation till date had been enacted by successive governments at the Centre. The High Court had taken serious note of the January 13 incident and sought an explanation from the advocate as to why he physically abused the woman lawyer. It even suggested recording of statement by the Joint Registrar in whose court the incident happened. But the contemnor categorically stated that there was no need of it as he was admitting the incident as reported by the lady lawyer. This led the HC convict him for contempt of court, sentence him to seven-day imprisonment and order debarment from practice in Delhi for three months. The contemnor appealed in the apex court saying he was condemned without a hearing in breach of principles of natural justice. "The high court order was not based on any inquiry. The appellant was denied the opportunity of a fair trial as his unconditional apology was interpreted as admission of guilt," the contemnor said. The victim in her affidavit told the SC that "the contemnor himself did not allow recording of statements because he was afraid that the truth would be recorded in black and white. The appellant herein was afraid that the independent persons who had narrated the incident in their own words would get the same reduced in writing and he would have to face full punishment under the IPC and other relevant Acts. To avoid this, the appellant herein came forward and admitted his guilt." But, the contemnor's advocate said heeding to the advice of senior members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) to tender unconditional apology proved detrimental to him as he was punished for contempt of court, a charge of which the lady advocate was equally guilty of as she was the one who first assaulted him and he had reacted in reflex. (Times of India 1/8/12) Lady lawyers seek SC harassment cell (8) New Delhi, July 31: Some 20-odd women Supreme Court lawyers today asked the top court to set up a committee to probe complaints of sexual harassment from women lawyers, on the lines of the court’s 1997 Vishaka judgment. Senior counsel Indu Malhotra made the demand, which was backed by women lawyers who had packed the small courtroom that was hearing a case relating to alleged sexual harassment of a woman Delhi High Court lawyer. In the Vishaka judgment, the top court had directed every establishment with more than 10 employees to set up a sexual harassment complaints committee headed by a woman and with women making up at least half its members. Ironically, the courts themselves have lagged behind in following the prescription. Neither the high courts nor the subordinate courts have such committees. Recently, a writ was filed in Goa High Court seeking a complaints panel. The top court has a sexual harassment complaints committee for the women employed in its registry, that is, the court’s administrative wing. But that panel does not cover the women lawyers practising in the court. Today, the women lawyers cited past instances of harassment. They said a woman junior of one of the country’s topmost lawyers was stalked and harassed by a male colleague for years till the senior used his clout to get him to back off. In the case heard today, lawyer Amit Chanchal Jha, 34, is accused of physically abusing a female colleague and behaving indecently during a hearing before a registrar on January 13 this year. The high court, acting suo motu, had the same day sent Jha to jail for a week and debarred him from practising in any Delhi court for three months. It also directed the Bar Council of India, the apex disciplinary authority for lawyers, to act against Jha. Saying Jha’s actions had interfered with judicial procedure, obstructed justice and lowered the majesty of the court, the high court had convicted him of contempt of court. Jha then appealed to the top court, where his lawyer Uday Lalit claimed his conduct did not strictly fall under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Lalit argued that the incident took place when the two lawyers were working together and the registrar was not present. He said the incident happened on the spur of the moment and his client regretted his behaviour. He claimed that any disciplinary action against him could come only from the Bar Council and not the court. The Bar Council receives many complaints but is not known to act on them unless directed by a court. It was the high court that had acted against lawyer R.K. Anand when a sting purportedly showed him trying to manipulate a case. Jha had moved his appeal before the expiry of his three-month debarment. Now, the only positive outcome for him could be a squashing of the high court’s direction to the Bar Council. The next hearing has been set after six weeks. (Telegraph 1/8/12) Harassed over dowry, woman sets herself, kids on fire (8) CHIKMAGALUR: A 28-year-old woman set herself and her two kids on fire in their house at Yagati Mudhiyappa extension in Kadur taluk on Wednesday morning. The deceased were identified as Latha,

and her daughter Nayana, 5, and son Sanjay, 3. Before taking the tragic decision to end her life and those of her kids, Latha scribbled on the wall that her husband Ramesh's behaviour had forced her to take the extreme step. Spotting thick plumes of smoke billowing out of Latha's house, neighbours tried to break open the door but in vain. Some people climbed atop the roof and then sneaked inside only to find the charred bodies. They alerted the Yagati police. Latha's uncle Kubendrappa accused Ramesh and his family of pressuring Latha to bring in some more dowry. Latha grew frustrated and took this extreme step, Kubendrappa said. Based on this complaint, police arrested Latha's husband Ramesh, a daily-wage labourer, his father Kariyappa and his mother Jayamma. Superintendent of police Shashi Kumar visited the spot. (Times of India 2/8/12) Pledge on Eliminating Gender Biased Sex-Selection and Violence Against Women (8) In view of the declining sex ratio, from 927 in 2001 to 914 in 2011, the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has recommended to all public servants in all tiers of Central, State and Local Self Governments to take an oath /pledge on preventing sex selective abortion of female foetus on 9th August 2012, a day commemorated in the history of India as Quit India Movement. In his letter to the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, and the Secretaries of all Ministries and Departments of the Government of India, Sh. Prem Narain, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, has stated that the Public Servants have a significant role in arresting the decline in child sex ratio at all tiers of public governance, be it in prevention, advocacy, or in implementing the laws of the land that prohibit sex selective abortion. It is therefore important that the public servants are formally made aware of their role in lending a hand in this social cause. This pledge would symbolize the collective resolve of the Public Servants of India to make the social evil of sex selective abortion to ‘quit India’ for good. The pledge reads as follows- “Recognising that the Constitution of India guarantees the rights and freedoms of men and women equally without any barrier, bias, or discrimination and the same are threatened by the illegal and damaging practice of gender biased sex selection; WE the public servants of India hereby take a solemn pledge today that we shall act in all possible ways individually and collectively to ELIMINATE gender biased sex selection that threatens the birth and survival of the girl child; AND ENSURE that girls are born, loved and nurtured and grow up to become empowered citizens of our country. (Govt Of India. PIB 3/8/12) Karnal shelter home inmates allege sexual abuse (8) Karnal: Allegations of sexual and physical abuse have surfaced at yet another shelter home in Karnal, also called as Apna Ghar. It has now been closed and the inmates have been shifted to another shelter house. Police have registered a case against Monica Das, who runs the shelter. The incident came to light when the inmates complained that they were being ill-treated by the manager. When the authorities investigated, abuse marks were found on the bodies of two inmates. Medical examination of the children has been done and the report has been submitted to police. Incidentally, three girl inmates of the shelter home had complained of abuse last year. However, no action was taken then and the inmates were shifted to another shelter home. The allegations come days after the inmates of another Apna Ghar shelter home in Rohtak revealed that they were being sexually and physically abused. (Zee News 4/8/12) M’lore attack mastermind to be booked under Goonda Act: Ashoka (8) Bangalore: Home Minister R Ashoka on Saturday said that the mastermind behind the attack on the youth at the ‘Morning Mist’ homestay in Mangalore on July 28 would be booked under the Goonda Act. Ashoka told reporters that he had directed the police to show no mercy in dealing with people creating tension in society through such acts. “We have already arrested 15 of the total 23 accused in the case. Booking the mastermind under the Goonda Act will send a strong message to people who intend to pose a threat to peace and harmony in society. It will also be a warning to people who have the habit of misbehaving with women,” he said. On July 30, Ashoka had told the Legislative Council that the State government would book the accused in the homestay attack case under the Goonda Act, and he would not show any mercy to anybody while taking action. Subhash Padil, the prime accused, has already been arrested by the Mangalore police. ADGP Bipin Gopalakrishna said the final report on the homestay attack would be submitted to the State government within three days. “We have already submitted the interim report to the government. Once the final report is submitted, the same will be presented before the High Court as a related PIL is pending before the court,” he said. When questioned about the statement by C Manjula, Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, that failure and negligence of the Dakshina

Kannada police led to the attack, Ashoka said there was no question of failure. “Within eight hours of the attack on the homestay, police arrested eight of the accused. The investigation is progressing well,” he said. (Deccan Herald 4/8/12) UP panchayat tries to muzzle rape victim (8) Lucknow: An alleged gang rape victim was offered Rs 1.5 lakh by an Uttar Pradesh panchayat to keep silent and police refused to register a case even though the suspects had circulated an MMS clip of her molestation. The inactive Bulandshahar police took the plea that the medical examination of the victim had not confirmed rape. Senior officials swung into action only after a week, suspending two policemen, including a station house officer, for laxity and were contemplating another medical examination of the girl, according to reports. About five youths pounced upon the minor, a resident of Madanpur village, while she was returning from her school last week and took her to a secluded place near Khurja railway station and allegedly raped her. They also prepared an MMS and threatened her that they would make it public if she told her family about the incident. A panchayat was later convened at Madanpur, which offered Rs 1.50 lakh to her family to keep silent. The family members later approached police but they did not lodge any report and the culprits continued to roam free. The victim was later sent for medical examination by police. But they did not act, arguing that the rape had not been confirmed. The hapless family members met senior officials and pleaded that the MMS clearly showed her molestation, yet the medical report did not mention any injury and rape. They also alleged that police were exerting pressure on them to settle the matter. Two cops, including the SHO of Khurja, have been suspended for laxity and a probe has been ordered. Two alleged culprits have also been arrested in this connection, police said.The family members of the victim have demanded another medical examination. (Deccan Herald 5/8/12) West Bengal tops states in crime against women (8) New Delhi: West Bengal has topped the list of states that registered the maximum number of crimes against women last year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. "West Bengal recorded 29,133 cases of crime against women. The highest number of cases registered among 28 states in 2011," Jitendra Singh, minister of state for home affairs, told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. According to a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, Andhra Pradesh stood second with a total of 28,246 cases. Uttar Pradesh was third with 22,639 cases of crime against women. The NCRB included rape, kidnapping, abduction, dowry deaths, molestation, sexual harassment and trafficking in its report. (Hindustan Times 8/8/12) “Women should prove they’re not inferior” (8) VILLUPURAM: Chairman of the Adyar Cancer Institute V. Shanta has voiced concern over the prevalence of gender disparity, in terms of education and health, in a large measure in rural areas and on a lesser scale in urban areas. She was delivering the 12th Graduation Day address at Theivanai Ammal College for Women here. Ms. Shanta said that in gender equality, India ranked 118th among 177 countries. Going by socio-economic indicators, it was an unacceptably low ranking, she said. Literacy rate among women stood at 54.5 per cent and sex ratio remained at 927:1000 (927 girls for every 1,000 boys). There was a possibility of the ratio going down further. Social ills such as foeticide, infanticide, child mortality, maternal mortality, suicide, dowry deaths, domestic violence and sexual assault seemed to be on the rise. Ms. Shanta said that gender equality was enshrined in the Constitution. Though a modicum of empowerment could be seen in increasing number of girls taking to education, their absorption in jobs was rather slow. She ascribed the reason for such a state of affairs to the traditional mindset against women and among women themselves. Even educated and career women were dependent on men for decision making in regard to jobs and matters concerning life. Ms. Shanta emphatically said that real empowerment could be achieved only when women get rid of their inferiority complex. In this context, she cited the instance of Muthulakshmi Reddy, who, hailing from a socially constricted environment, overcame many obstacles and challenges to become the first woman medical graduate in the country and the first woman legislator in the world. However, Ms. Shanta said empowerment was not just getting a degree nor should it be construed a licence. It came from the understanding of their rights and how to assert those rights. But, every right came with a responsibility. For, women had a great role to play in eradication of corruption, health education and helping the less privileged sections of society, Ms. Shanta said. In this aspect, she hailed the vision of E. Swamikannu,

founder of E.S. Group of Institutions (including the women’s college) for imparting education among women. College secretary S. Senthil Kumar said 22 students of the 2008-2011 batch brought laurels to the college by getting university rank and three of them had got first rank (of Thiruvalluvar University to which the college is affiliated). Principal Kasturibai Dhanasekaran read out the annual report. (The Hindu 9/8/12) Nepal bans women under 30 from working in Gulf (8) KATHMANDU: Nepal has barred women under 30 years of age from travelling to the Gulf countries for work following reports that they were subjected to harassment and sexual abuse. "Young female workers are reported to have been sexually and psychologically exploited in Gulf countries," the minister for information and communication Raj Kishore Yadav said. "So the cabinet decided to set age bar for women migrant workers going to the Gulf," Yadav was quoted by the Himalayan Times as saying. According to a UN report, as many as 244,000 Nepalese women - mostly aged under 25 - are working in the Gulf, who leave the impoverished Himalayan nation every year to take up jobs as maids in the oil-rich region. Though there have been widespread reports of maltreatment of women workers from Sri Lanka, Philippines and other Asian nations in the Gulf, Nepal is the only country to ban women under 30 from working in the Gulf. The paper said, 15 Nepalese women had committed suicide in Lebanon in 2010, while some domestic helpers had sought refuge in their embassies in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait following instances of abuse by their employers. Nepal had in 1998 imposed a ban on women seeking work in the Gulf. The restrictions were lifted 2010. (Times of India 10/8/12) Activists condemn women’s commission report (8) Bangalore: The Karnataka State Women’s Commission report on the attack on youngsters at Morning Mist Homestay near Mangalore, submitted to the Home Minister on Wednesday, has been condemned by activist groups as being “anti-women” in its approach. “We expect a women’s commission to be nonpartisan and pro-women. But this commission is clearly toeing a party line,” said Shakun Mohini of Vimochana. She said that the report was full of details “absolutely irrelevant” to the issue of women’s rights. Ms. Mohini said the report by commission chairperson C. Manjula was more keen on “questioning the morality of the youth who were at the party rather than the morality of those who beat up women.” Mallige of Samanata Mahila Vedike said that the report “victimised the victim” rather than giving confidence to the women victims of the attack. “The report seems to suggest that women should be kept in safe confinement so that they do not face attacks rather than suggest ways of creating a law and order situation where such incidents cannot take place,” she said. Ms. Mallige said that the commission seemed to have defied the basic procedure of an inquiry which should be based purely on evidence rather than hearsay. “One gets the sense that the commission did not even have proper interaction with the victims,” she said. “There is a very conservative mind at work behind the report.” K.S. Lakshmi of Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane said that the report was “misleading and full of contradictions”. Rather than unequivocally condemning the attackers, the commission was diminishing the enormity of the incident by speaking of the need to hold an inquiry against the victims. “Such incidents have become common in the coastal district. In such a context, the women’s commission should hold the government responsible for controlling such incidents,” said Ms. Lakshmi. (The Hindu 10/8/12) Woman beaten up, burnt to death for dowry (8) JAISALMER: A 21-year-old woman, who was assaulted and set ablaze by her husband and mother-inlaw for dowry in Barmer district, died of her injuries at a hospital here on Wednesday night. On August 1, the victim's husband and his mother allegedly assaulted her and then sprinkled kerosene and set her on fire. The woman, in flames, ran to her relative's place nearby, from where she was taken to a government hospital. As her condition deteriorated, she was shifted to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial hospital in Jodhpur. The victim, Ramila, told police that her husband and mother-in-law kept physically torturing her since her marriage three years ago. She also told cops that her husband had no physical relationship with her. The role of police in the case has come under scanner as no arrest has been made despite recording the victim's statement. (Times of India 10/8/12) J&K women told to keep veil, not to use mobile (8) Taking a cue from Taliban extremists, militants in Kashmir have threatened to throw acid on the faces of women who use mobile phones and don’t keep veil. They have also warned members and heads of

panchayats to quit the panchayats within a week. Handwritten posters, bearing the stamp of hitherto unknown terror organisation “Al-Qaeda Mujahideen,” appearing in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, have warned women and girls to wear hijab and abstain from wearing provocative dresses “failing which they have to face acid attacks.” “We appeal to the people to ensure purdah of their girls. They should not allow their girls to go out of their homes without purdah. If we spot any woman without purdah we will sprinkle acid on her face,” read the posters in Urdu. The terror outfit also warned the girls to desist from using mobile phones. “If we spot any girl using mobile phone she will be shot dead instantly,” the posters read.Reports said the acid attack threats have sparked panic and fear among women in Shopian. In late 1990s and early 2000s, militants had issued similar diktats asking women to follow the Islamic dress code. A few teenage girls were shot in the legs for wearing jeans and a pullover and not covering their hair. However, the diktats failed to yield any results. The militants have also warned sarpanchs and panchs of dire consequences in case they do not resign within a week. “If panchayat members will not to resign within a week and apologise publicly in mosques during the Friday congregational prayers, they will face dire consequences,” the militants threatened. They have also ordered the panchayat members to make sure that their resignations appear in the local newspapers. “They (panchayat members) should also carry along the copies of the newspapers as we can visit any time to see the copies,” read the posters. It further read that the panchayat system was not in accordance with the Islamic jurisprudence and hence not applicable in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “This land belongs to Allah and we will make sure that nothing against His will happens here,” read the pamphlet. Reports said on Friday, a ruling National Conference sarpanch and six Opposition People’s Democratic Party panches resigned following similar threats from militants in south Kashmir’s Tral. It is for the first time that the group by the name of “Al Qaeda Mujahideen” has surfaced in Kashmir. No such group has existed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 23 years of turmoil. (Deccan Herald 13/8/12) Militants warn women not to use mobiles in public (8) Srinagar: Hitherto unknown militant outfits have asked women in Kashmir to observe purdah and not to use mobile phones in public. “People should ensure that girls observe purdah in public places. If we spot any woman without purdah we will sprinkle acid on her face,” handwritten posters of Lashkar al Qaeda and Al Qaeda Mujahideen warned. The posters, appearing at many mosques in militancy-hit Shopian district a few days ago, threatened, “If we spot any girl using mobile phone, she will be shot dead.” The police officers in south Kashmir range are, however, tight-lipped about the posters. “We are investigating the matter and it is too premature to say whether these posters are genuine or just a prank,” a senior police officer said today on condition of anonymity. Warning sarpanches and panches in south Kashmir to relinquish their posts or face dire consequences, the posters asked them to announce their resignation during Friday prayers. Official sources said many grassroot-level representatives have announced their resignation during the Friday prayers but have not put in their papers before the authorities concerned. Similar posters had surfaced in south Kashmir’s Tral township earlier this year, prompting some panches and sarpanches to quit. The names of the militant outfits, which have purportedly issued the posters, have surfaced for the first time in the two decades of turmoil in the Valley. (Asian Age 13/8/12) HRW tells Nepal to protect, not ban young women migrating to Gulf (8) New York: The Nepali government should revoke its new ban on women under the age of 30 from working in Arab Gulf countries, and instead, should improve protections, so that domestic workers can migrate safely – such as by ensuring full monitoring and accountability of recruitment agencies in Nepal, Human Rights Watch said today. At the same time, it said that governments in the Gulf should adopt long overdue labor protections and immigration reforms, including ending the discriminatory treatment of domestic workers, to combat the abuse of Nepali and other migrant workers. On August 9, Nepal's cabinet approved a ban on women under the age of 30 from traveling to the Gulf for work. The ban is a response to several publicized cases of abuse of Nepali domestic workers, including long work hours, unpaid wages, and in some cases physical or sexual abuse. This recent move comes two years after Nepal lifted a 12-year ban on any women working in Middle Eastern countries. “Nepal is right to be concerned about its migrant domestic workers, but imposing a ban on women under 30 from traveling to the Gulf does not solve the problem and discriminates against young women”, said Nisha Varia, senior women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. “A better strategy would be to crack down on abusive recruitment practices, ensure that women migrate with an enforceable contract in hand, and equip

embassies to respond quickly to complaints of abuse.” Official Nepali emigration figures state that as many as 1,000 migrants pass daily through Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu; many others leave by land through the porous Indian border. Many domestic workers have positive experiences and together send home billions of dollars in remittances each year to Asia. Others face abuse. Human Rights Watch has documented discrimination and abuse against Asian domestic workers in the Middle East for several years. Labor laws in the Gulf exclude domestic workers from basic protections guaranteed other workers such as a weekly rest day, limits to hours of work, and compensation in case of work-related injury. Restrictive immigration rules make it difficult for domestic workers to escape from abusive employers. A ban on the work in the Gulf may drive women desperate for work to migrate through irregular channels, putting them at greater risk of exploitation and trafficking, Human Rights Watch said. Human Rights Watch interviewed Nepali domestic workers in Saudi Arabia during the previous ban and found that they were especially likely to encounter abuse. (New Kerala 14/8/12) Rights groups reject women’s panel report (8) Bangalore: Women’s organisations on Thursday described as “biased and influenced” an interim report submitted by the State Women’s Rights Commission on the attack on youth at a homestay in Mangalore. Participating in a protest here, Dona Fernandes from Vimochana said the chairperson of the Commission, C Manjula, seemed to be supporting the attackers in her report, instead of reinforcing confidence in women. “Girls were manhandled and robbed of their money and gold jewellery by the attackers at the homestay. But the Commission chairperson does not mention anything about these incidents in the report. Instead, she does moral policing and tells women how to dress and what to do,” Fernandes said. Asha Ramesh, a women’s rights activist, said Manjula’s report was totally anti-women “The women’s rights commission’s chairperson is living in the “Manu Smriti” times when people were told how to live. Her report is totally influenced and sounds like one written by a Hinduva activist. The chairperson has not even spoken to any of the victimised girls, but she has branded the youth’s get-together a rave party and that girls had crossed their limits. Her statement violates the Constitutional rights of a woman,” she said. The organisations submitted a memorandum to the Women’s Commission demanding the withdrawal of the interim report. Alternative Law Forum, Garment Mahila Karmikara Munnode, Garment and Textile Workers’ Unio and others participated in the protest. (Deccan Herald 16/8/12) Indian men can be raped, not sexually harassed (8) NEW DELHI: When it first circulated a draft Bill in 2010 to amend the rape law, the home ministry stuck to the traditional notion that men alone could commit sexual assault. But when the Cabinet cleared the Bill last month for introduction in Parliament, the offence turned "gender neutral", as revealed by a government press release. Welcome to the brave new world of gender neutrality, in which laws increasingly no longer define men alone as aggressors and women as victims. Unfortunately, this spirit has not extended to another far-reaching Bill cleared by the Cabinet. The protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace Bill is based on the premise that only female employees needed to be safeguarded. Over the last few years, there has been a growing tendency in law towards gender neutrality. The latest example is the protection of children under the sexual offences Bill passed in the last session of Parliament. The law prepared by the ministry of women and child development envisages the possibility of the child victim being either a girl or a boy. Had the Union home ministry not followed this precedent, it would have led to an anomalous situation in which the offence of sexual assault — the new expression for rape — would have been gender neutral in the case of children under 18 years of age and male-specific in the case of adults. The criminal law (amendment) Bill, 2012, defying the gender stereotypes associated with rape, is in keeping with a report from the Law Commission in 2000. In a departure from the definition of rape in the Indian Penal Code enacted in 1860, the Law Commission replaced most references to "man" (the offender) or "woman" (the victim) with "person" (who is either the offender or the victim, depending on the context). In fact, it went to the extent of bringing oral sex committed by either gender under the ambit of sexual assault ("engaging in cunnilingus or fellatio").The spirit of gender neutrality has not, however, extended to another far-reaching Bill which has been cleared by the cabinet. As the name suggests, the protection of women against sexual harassment at workplace Bill is based on the premise that only female employees needed to be safeguarded. The women and child development ministry, which had broken the gender mold in the law to sexual offences against children, adopted a conservative approach when it came to the issue of sexual harassment. The Bill also overlooks the possibility of a male employee being sexually harassed by another male employee. If the argument of

the ministry of women and child development is that female employees were far more vulnerable to sexual harassment, then the home ministry by the same token could have retained rape as a malespecific offence. After all, hardly anybody would have ever heard of a man being raped by a woman. The justification for making laws gender neutral is not so much about empirical data as about the principle of removing distinctions based on sex. In limiting the sexual harassment Bill to female employees, the government also disregarded a parliamentary standing committee's recommendation made in December 2011 in favour of gender neutrality. The committee said the "viability" of protecting men as well from sexual harassment at workplace should be "explored". It pointed out that the sexual harassment laws were gender neutral in advanced countries such as the UK, France and Germany. (Times of India 16/8/12) CM says campaign to save the girl child needs momentum (8) New Delhi: Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said the decline in Delhi’s the sex-ratio was a major cause of concern. “It is time that measures were intensified to save the girl child. There is a need to adopt a zerotolerance stand towards female foeticide,” she said. Stressing upon the need for understanding that there is no difference between girls and boys in today’s society, Dikshit said girls have proved their mettle and competence in all fields. “Bringing momentum to the ‘Save the Girl Child’ campaign will elicit a positive change,” Dikshit said at a function organised jointly by Nanhi Chhaan Foundation and Arsha Dharma Parishad at Mayur Vihar in East Delhi on Wednesday. Census 2011 revealed that the Delhi’s sex-ratio among children up to the age of six had dropped from 868 girls per 1,000 boys in 2001 to 866 girls. The national average dropped from 927 to 914 girls during this period. Statistics for the last five years show that in 2008, the sex-ratio had improved but it dropped again in 2010 despite introduction of a number schemes like Laadli Yojna, aimed at saving the girl child. September last year, Dikshit, in a reply to a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, expressed concern over the declining sex-ratio. Dikshit had said that despite a ban, some nursing homes continued to conduct pre-natal sex-determination tests. She said her government was determined to come down hard on such institutions. (Indian Express 16/8/12) Forum urges national women panel to rescind state women panel report (8) MANGALORE: The Forum Against Atrocities on Women (FAAW) submitted a memorandum to the National Commission for Women (NCW) requesting to rescind the report of State Commission for Women (SCW) on home stay attack. FAAW representatives Sabiha Bhoomigowda, Vidya Dinker, Parinitha Shetty, Gulabi Bilimale handed over the memorandum and a fact finding report on home stay attack incident to NCW member Shamina Shafiq. "We are happy to know that the NCW is investigating the home stay attack that took place on the July 28. Chairperson of the SCW C Manjula, who visited Mangalore, had prepared a report on the incident and presented it to the Government of Karnataka. We are extremely unhappy with the report of Manjula because we feel it is biased and not based on proper investigations," said FAAW member Sabiha. "The report was prepared without meeting all the victims of the attack and without taking into consideration their grievances. In addition, there has been a deliberate attempt in the report to slander both the victims as well as their parents. Despite the police denying it, the report has stated that a rave party was taking place at the home stay. The report is deliberately trying to lead one astray with regard to the facts of the incident by creating and highlighting certain false information about the event and glossing over what actually happened at the home stay on that day. Hence, we condemn this report and request you to prepare a new report on the basis of a proper investigation into the matter and with the intention of providing justice to the victims of the attack," she said and urged the NCW to order for a new report to be prepared based on a proper and just investigation of the incident. (Times of India 17/8/12) Mumbai violence: BJP demands action against molestors of female cops (8) Mumbai: Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative council Vinod Tawde on Monday urged the National Women's Commission to take suo motu action against molestors of women police constables during the August 11 violence in Mumbai. Tawde demanded that the commission intervene to know why women constables were posted at Azad Maidan while only men were supposed to attend the Raza Academy rally. "Similarly, why did police officials remain mere eyewitnesses to the molestation instead of taking action? Why is Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik silent on the issue," he asked. Replying to questions, Tawde rejected speculation about senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde getting close to the Congress, since the Congress wanted a mass leader from Marathwada to fill the vacuum created by

Vilasrao Deshmukh's death. "Why would Munde join the Congress? He is a senior leader who has the capacity to bring Sena, BJP and MNS together as well as claim the chief minister's post in 2014," he said. (DNA 20/8/12) 56% women face assault in Bihar (8) PATNA: About 50% women in Bihar are subjected to domestic violence at home and pregnant women are the worst sufferers, according to the State Commission for Women. The main reasons behind it include the desire for male child, resistance to female foeticide and denial of physical intimacy. A large number of males also beat up their wives during pregnancy. According to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) figures for last year, 56% women in the state between the age of 15 and 49 years are subjected to physical and sexual violence. Bihar ranked second in the country, behind Uttar Pradesh, in kidnapping cases, dowry deaths and dowry-related crimes against women in the year 2011. NCRB records show that women in Bihar tend to marry at an early age. Thirty-eight per cent of women get married between 15-19 years. Sources said less than one per cent domestic violence cases are reported to police. Domestic violence also includes domestic abuse, spousal abuse, family violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV), and can be broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviour by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family or friends. According to Chandramukhi Devi, member of the State Commission for Women, women should be made aware of legal provisions to protect themselves. She added that aggressive males should also be counselled. City SP, Patna, Jayant Kant, said, "Majority of women in Bihar still marry before reaching the legal eligible age of 18 years. In cases of domestic violence, we try to counsel the couples first, but if police find the level of violence has crossed the limit, action is taken." According to police records, around 150 cases of violence against women get registered with different police stations every month in Patna district. After the creation of Patna Mahila thana on June 3 this year, only five cases have been registered. The Mahila thana officials said, "Initially, many women came to the police station, but later they got hesitant and despite all odds, decided to stay with their husbands due to financial insecurity." (Times of India 20/8/12) Govt to study sexual harassment men face at workplace (8) NEW DELHI: Taking note of a TOI report highlighting the fact that the Bill for Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace was silent on similar treatment meted out to men, the minister for women and child development (WCD) plans to conduct a study on the issue. "I want to get a study conducted to find out what kind of harassment of males is prevalent and to what extent at workplaces, though till now only the harassment suffered by the women has been spoken about," WCD minister Krishna Tirath said on Monday. Tirath told reporters here that she had already discussed the issue with her ministry that there should be a study on this because there have been many suggestions that this law could have been gender neutral. Tirath was responding to a question on whether the ministry was looking into aspects related to the problems faced by men at their workplace. "There is no problem in getting a study conducted. Since it is the issue of harassment at workplace, we can get a study conducted," Tirath said. The minister said though her ministry worked primarily for the welfare of women and children, other aspects could also be looked at. "The bill for the protection of women is ready but this study is for the future," Tirath said. The WCD minister hoped Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill would be presented in Parliament and passed in the current session itself. (Times of India 21/8/12) Remove 'honour' from honour killing: NCW (8) NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women has recommended removal of the word 'honour' from honour killing while describing crimes when a person is killed to save a family's 'honour'. The NCW's recommendation came after an inquiry into the hurried cremation of a girl by her family in a Greater Noida village mid-June. The girl, studying in a Bulandshahr college, had eloped twice from her home in BhaipurBrahampur village, police said. On June 15, her family members cremated her. Police suspected it was a case of honour killing. The NCW team said neither an FIR nor a complaint was registered in the case. The team suggested criminal prosecution against lawyers even remotely connected with defending the accused. It also noted that such cases were increasing. In its recommendations, the inquiry committee, headed by NCW member Charu Wali Khanna, said, "The usage of the word (honour) has a tendency to rationalize and legitimize the motive of the crime by creating a false notion that the crime has been committed to save the 'honour' of the family. Thus implying society is bound by tradition to protect this

violation of tradition." The NCW suggested special provisions/ chapter in the Indian Penal Code to prevent such crimes. (Times of India 23/8/12) Azad Maidan violence: NCW wants action-take report.. (8) MUMBAI: The National Commission for Women has written to the city police commissioner asking for an action-taken report to be submitted within a fortnight regarding the case of molestation of policewomen at the August 11 Azad Maidan rally. The NCW letter (TOI has a copy) comes in the wake of a petition made to them by womens' groups from Mumbai. The letter, issued in exercise of powers vested with the NCW under Section 10 of the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, also asks the police commissioner to coordinate with the NGO, Citizens for Justice and Peace, for more independent information on the case. A copy of the letter has been marked to joint commissioner (crime) Himanshu Roy. On August 11, eight policewomen had been molested by rioters that they had been sent to rein in. The traumatized policewomen had questioned the decision to send them in. "Policemen must be allowed to ventilate their feelings; till then, they won't feel relieved," said Dr Sanjay Kumavat of Bombay Psychiatrist Society. Nitasha Natu | tnn (Times of India 24/8/12) NCW to probe molestation of police women at Azad Maidan rally (8) NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has set up an inquiry committee to look into the alleged molestation of on-duty women police personnel during the Azad Maidan rally in Mumbai on August 11 by protesters agitating against the recent violence in Assam. NCW Chairperson Mamta Sharma said: “We got reports about police women being harassed and manhandled by protestors at the Azad Maidan rally and we have now constituted a committee to look into the case. Reports have indicated that women police offices and other women present at the venue were harassed and molested during the protest. This is a serious issue and such behaviour with women, in this case on-duty police personnel deputed to contain the protestors, will not be tolerated. We will look into all aspects of the case and take inputs from all the authorities concerned, besides asking them to submit a detailed action-taken report on the incident. The message we want to send out to the general public is that such acts of harassment of women are viewed very seriously by the NCW.” Ms. Sharma will head the committee. NCW member Nirmala Samant has been appointed as member of the team. Ms. Sharma added: “The enquiry committee shall investigate into the case in accordance with the NCW procedure and submit its recommendations to the Commission for taking such action as deemed fit against those involved in the case. The committee shall inquire into the circumstances leading to incident and action taken by the authorities.” Meanwhile, the NCW has also written to the Mumbai Police Commissioner asking for an action-taken report regarding the allegation of molestation of policewomen during the rally. (The Hindu 26/8/12) Eve-teasers attack woman with acid (8) Kolkata: Not paying heed to eve-teasers proved costly for a 24-year-old woman of Pandua in Hooghly district, who is battling for her life after she was attacked with acid allegedly by two youths. On Saturday night, Saheba Khatun, a resident of Debragram of Pandua, was on her way to toilet — a few kilometres from her home — when two youths of her locality started teasing her. Saheba’s mother, who was accompanying her, said that when her daughter did not pay heed to them, they threw acid on her head. Saheba was admitted to Pandua hospital from where she was shifted to Chinsurah District Hospital as her condition was serious. Later a complaint was lodged with the police naming two youths — Rizwanur Rahman and Suhid Mondal — for the attack. Police have arrested both of them and they have been remanded in police custody for three days. According to the victim's mother, the two youths had been teasing her for a long time. “Whenever she went out of her home, they passed disparaging comment and even tried to touch her hand and feet,” said her mother. Police, however, said Rizwanur had given Rs 12,000 to his friend Suhid and told him to threw acid on her face as she was not bothered to befriend him. Superintendent on Police (Hooghly) Tanmoy Roy Chowdhury said they are investigating the matter. It may be mentioned that a few days back, one Uttam Doloi was severely beaten up in Howrah when he protested against a group of youths who were eve-teasing his sister. He was admitted to a hospital with critical injuries. A police complaint was lodged, but no one has been arrested so far. (Indian Express 27/8/12) New law to empower Haryana Women Commission (8)

CHANDIGARH: Haryana education minister, Geeta Bhukkal has stressed the need for making women socially and economically empowered. Bhukkal was addressing an interactive session on "Women Empowerment" organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Chandigarh on Wednesday. While expressing concern over the data presented in a seminar on "Women Political Leadership" held recently at Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, Bhukkal said that the political participation of women is less in India. In Lok Sabha, it is only 10.8 per cent whereas in Rajya Sabha it is 10.3 per cent. Appreciating the performance of ace-shuttler, Saina Nehwal's in recently concluded London Olympics, she said, "Our girls are bringing laurels not only to the state but for the whole country." She said that with a view to empower women commission, Haryana State Women Commission Bill-2012 has been passed in recently held session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha. This would provide legal status and power to State Women Commission. Bhukkal said that Haryana government is taking number of steps to ensure the women empowerment. The first Women University of the country had been set up in Khanpur Kalan, a rural area in Sonipat and a medical college for women was also being set up there. She said that the declining sex ratio was a issue of grave concern for which both Central and State Government are making efforts, but common people also have to ensure their participation in it. (Times of India 29/8/12) Narendra Modi comes under attack for comment on women (8) New Delhi: Dubbing Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's comment on women as 'childish', Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Thursday said he is not 'sensitive' towards women. "The Gujarat Chief Minister, who claims himself to be one of the best administrators in the world, is giving this kind of childish statement specially against women," Soni told reporters outside Parliament. Explaining why malnutrition level in the state was persistently high, Modi had said in an interview to Wall Street Journal that "Gujarat is a middle class state. The middle class is more beauty conscious than health conscious - that is a challenge. If a mother tells her daughter to have milk they have a fight. She will tell her mother 'I wont drink milk, I will get fat." Taking on Modi for the comment, Soni said, "There are serious charges against his ministers in his state. He is keeping himself busy in these kind of light matters.""He is not even sensitive towards women who support their families by sacrificing their food for the sake of their families in Gujarat and now he is saying that women are not eating because they are health conscious. What can be more light statement than this?" she asked and added "I think he is not fit to contest again in Gujarat." Slamming the statement, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath said Modi 'lacks wisdom'. "This is very wrong to say so. Every girl has a right to be health conscious. If anyone thinks it otherwise he lacks wisdom," Tirath said. Congress MP Girija Vyas was more upfront in her attack on Modi. Demanding withdrawal of the statement by him, Vyas said "We have serious objection to the statement of Modi and he should withdraw it. It is his duty to eliminate malnutrition in his state." "Modi is not only hiding the cases of malnutrition but also making mockery of girls. Girls are of course figure conscious what's wrong with it. Today girls are going ahead, it does not mean because of health consciousness they are malnourished," she said. Reacting to Modi's statement, NCP leader Tariq Anwar said, "I think he (Modi) has given this kind of statement to hide his government's failures in the health sector. It does not behove of a CM to speak like this." RJD leader Lalu Prasad said Modi should have resigned and apologised to people because his ministers were found guilty in 2002 riot case. "The main culprit is Modi in Gujarat. These are fascist forces who always keep talking like this. In BJP-ruled Bihar also atrocities against women are rising," he alleged. Coming to the defence of Modi, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, "The whole medical fraternity is discussing the presence of anaemia in not so poor sections of society.''''They are discussing various reasons but Congress has a phobia of Modi. That is why whenever it hears the name of Modi it criticises. I can only pity the Congress because wherever they go they are afraid of Modi that is why they criticise him even on non-political subject." (Asian Age 31/8/12) KSWDC earmarks Rs 8.35 cr for women’s empowerment (8) Mysore: The Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation (KSWDC) has spent Rs 12.69 crore for providing employment opportunities to 14,488 women during 2011-12, said KSWDC chairperson Sarojini Bharadwaj. For the present year, the corporation plans to spend Rs 8.35 crore in order to help 9,332 beneficiaries. Addressing a media conference at information department on Friday, she said Rs 2.77 crore has been set aside in order to provide training to 7,292 women in various fields including computers, skill development, food storage, beautician and dress designing. This year, 6080 women are being trained and Rs 3 crore has been alloted. Under the micro-finance scheme, each women’s self help

group would be provided loans to the tune of Rs one lakh at 6 per cent interest. Last year, loans to the tune of Rs 1.54 crore was released. The target for the current financial year, Rs 3 crore has been set aside and aim is to reach out to at least 4,500 groups. Mentioning the survey of former Devadasis taken up in the state during 1993-94 and 2007-08, she said 22,782 and 23,000 were identified respectively. Under the Devadasi rehabilitation scheme, Rs 3.25 crore was released and 788 former Devadasis were given loans. The funds have been increased to Rs 4 crore in the present year, she added. The corporation has allocated Rs 7 crore in order to provide monthly pension of Rs 400 each to Devadasis. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Scheme, 1250 houses at a cost of Rs 5 crore were constructed last year and the scheme has been extended at the same cost this year. KSWDC is providing loans to women roadside vendors in Mysore, Gadag and Shimoga on a pilot basis in order to improve financial conditions. The scheme would be extended to Bangalore and other districts. The corporation is conducting village stay programme in the districts to know more about the problems being faced by women. Until now 47 such village stays were organised. Bharadwaj said Rs 2 crore has been released for the welfare of sexual minorities. Women and child welfare department deputy director N R Vijay was present. (Deccan Herald 1/9/12) CM bats for education to check female feticide (8) PATNA: "The state government has always been trying to ensure women's literacy," said chief minister Nitish Kumar while presiding over a meeting with the Mission Manav Vikas (human development) officials on Friday. He said the Mission should be completed within next five years. He said according to the 2001 census, the male-female ratio in Bihar was 1000:919. The ratio has decreased in the 2011 census report at 1000:916. "The state government is concerned over the increasing difference in male-female ratio. None other than an educated girl can prevent female foeticide," said CM. He said the state government has taken up several projects to ensure women's empowerment in state. Ravikant, principal secretary, cabinet coordination, said, "A monitoring committee in this regard was constituted in September, 2011 and the first meeting was held in November, 2011." He added during the state-level meeting it was decided that the projects would be earmarked on priority basis. Vijoy Prakash, principal secretary, planning and development department, presented the department's detailed report drafted by the monitoring committee at the Mission Manav Vikas meeting.. The CM directed that all the monitoring committees would hold a state-level meeting after every three months. The departments concerned would make their projects and finalize priorities to discuss at such meetings so that the plans could be executed at the earliest. He also asked the departments to hold a secretary-level meeting once in every two months and an interdepartmental meeting every month. He said the monitoring committee should also be vigilant to check whether the targeted sections were getting the benefits. Prakash said, "The department has already set the indicators of important projects and the final report will be submitted to the chief minister so that the projects could be submitted at the earliest." He added that there were a few new indicators, like child mortality rate, population control and other health issues to be highlighted. He said the department was working on providing public toilets and fluoride and arsenic-free drinking water to every village. "Primary education, playgrounds and school dropout cases along with other issues will also be monitored strictly," he said. (Times of India 1/9/12) Sexual harassment may mean loss of business licence (8) New Delhi: An important bill that seeks to protect women, including domestic workers, from sexual harassment at workplace was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday, even as the House witnessed din and disruption over coal blocks allocation for the ninth day. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2010, was passed without discussion, as BJP members stood in the well, shouting slogans demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over coalgate. According to the bill, piloted by Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath, sexual harassment includes any unwelcome act or behaviour such as physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours or making sexually coloured remarks or showing pornography. The acts or behaviour — direct or by implication — will also include any other physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. Non-compliance with the provisions of the law will be punishable with a fine of up to Rs 50,000. Repeated violations may lead to higher penalties and cancellation of licence or registration to do business. The bill defines domestic worker as a woman employed to do household work for remuneration. A Parliamentary Standing Committee, which examined the bill, held the firm view that preventive aspects had to be strictly in line with the Supreme Court guidelines in the 1997 Vishaka case.

The judgment not only defines sexual harassment at workplace but also lays down guidelines for its prevention and disciplinary action. The bill makes it mandatory for all offices, hospitals, institutions and other workplaces to have an internal complaints redress mechanism. The Lok Sabha passed by voice vote, amid pandemonium, a bill to bifurcate the civil services cadre of Manipur and Tripura — The NorthEastern Areas (Reorganisation) Amendment Bill, 2011. At present, the two States have a joint cadre of the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Forest Service. Tripura raised the demand for bifurcation in 2004. A meeting in January 2009 of the Department of Personnel and Training, the Home Ministry and the Ministry of Environment and Forests — which are in charge of the allIndia services — recommended that the cadre be bifurcated. The Centre considered the proposal after consultations with all stakeholders. The other Bill passed by the Lok Sabha, without discussion, is to expand the National Highways Authority of India. At present, the NHAI consists of a Chairman, up to five full-time members and up to four part-time members. The National Highways Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2011, seeks to increase the strength to six full-time members and six part-time members, besides the Chairman. At least two of the part-time members should be non-government professionals with knowledge of, or experience in, financial management, transport planning or any other relevant discipline. (The Hindu 4/9/12) '2,000 girls from minorities in Pakistan were forcibly converted to Islam through rape, torture' Lahore: Nearly 2,000 women and girls from various minority sects were forcibly converted to Islam through rape, torture and kidnappings, and 161 people were charged with blasphemy in 2011, according to a report. The reports by the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) revealed that minorities made up to three to four percent of the country’s population, but remain sidelined in state policies. According to the Daily Times, in 2011, extremists killed Governor Salmaan Taseer and federal minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, as both advocated rights for minorities by calling for amendments in the country’s controversial blasphemy law. The report also revealed that there was rampant violence against children and showed that a total of 2,303 instances of sexual abuse were recorded from various parts of the country. In majority of the cases, people close to the child (parents or relatives) or officials who are supposed to give them protection are the abusers, the report said. For instance, policemen are involved in more than 60 percent of sexual abuse cases of street children. The number of acid attacks rose from 65 to 105 in 2011. A majority of the acid attacks involve women and girls between the ages of 15 and 25. The report by SPARC revealed that most of the children working as domestic workers in Pakistan are aged between 10-15 years, sometimes children as young as five are also employed. Pakistan ranks second in the global ranking with the highest number of out-of-school children with the figure estimated to be about 25 million, the report said. (Indian Express 5/9/12) AIDWA welcomes Bill on sexual harassment (8) NEW DELHI: The All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has welcomed the “long-overdue passage” of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2010, in the Lok Sabha, on Monday. AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman said: “It has taken 15 years for the formulation of a legislation to define sexual harassment at workplace and make legal provisions for its prevention and for expediting disciplinary action against offenders, as laid down by the Supreme Court under the Vishakha guidelines (1997).’’ A release issued by AIDWA noted that the Bill was comprehensive in its definition of sexual harassment, as well as in other areas it seeks to cover. Ms. Sundararaman added: “While the demand for inclusion of domestic workers has been accepted, there are some glaring lacunae and gaps in the Bill that are still to be addressed. The Bill leaves out women agricultural workers who form a large segment of the unorganised labour force. Also women working in fisheries, forests, or in construction work sites, roads, stations, trains, etc, must be brought under its purview. The women employees in the armed forces must also be covered under the Bill. In the unorganised sector, the restriction in the number of workers to less than ten should be done away with. The Bill needs to be amended so as to rectify these weaknesses and loopholes.’’ Stating that the Association strongly objects to the inclusion of the clause which allows for penal action against the complainant in the Bill, which will defeat its very purpose, Ms. Sundararaman said: “We had repeatedly asked for the removal of the “complaint with malicious intent” clause. This not only goes against the Vishakha guidelines, which explicitly state that the complainant should not be victimised in any way, but also completely undermines the victim’s ability to file complaints of sexual harassment.’’ (The Hindu 5/9/12)

Women’s Commission seeks report on harassment of couple (8) KOLKATA: The West Bengal Commission for Women on Wednesday sought a report from the police on the arrest of Sagar Srivas and harassment of his wife Komal Srivas who was detained in Madhya Pradesh and brought here last month. Mr. Srivas was arrested on charges of kidnapping his wife on the basis of a police complaint lodged by the family of Ms. Srivas. After spending nearly a month in jail, Mr. Srivas was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday. “The Commission has written to the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate seeking details of Mr. Srivas’ arrest and his wife’s harassment,” Commission chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee told The Hindu . “In this case, two grown-up adults have married each other; the behaviour of police is violation of the Special Marriage Act, 1956, that says adults can enter into marriage irrespective of their religion or caste,” said Ms Mukherjee. She said the Commission feels that the police were acting at the behest of the family members of Ms. Srivas who were against the marriage. “When I presented the marriage certificate they threw it away,” Ms. Srivas said. She also alleged that the officers misbehaved with her and did not listen to their arguments that they were legally married. Ms. Srivas had approached the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on Monday seeking police protection. She said that she was being threatened by her family members. The couple had left Kolkata on July 21 without informing their parents. They married the next day. Mr Srivas was arrested on August 4 and has been in custody since then. Senior officers at the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate tried to justify the police action. “Though both are adults, the charges were very serious. The family members had lodged a complaint saying that the person had kidnapped the girl and was demanding Rs 5 lakh as ransom. The investigations are still going on,” said Nilu Sherpa Chakraborty, Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) of Bidhannagar Police. (The Hindu 6/9/12) 97% girls sexually harassed: Survey (8) MUMBAI: Almost every single girl of the 6,000 surveyed by students of a south Mumbai college claimed that she had been a victim of sexual harassment at some point in life. Worse still, three out of four girls chose not to react and did nothing about it. A survey by five female students of Mahalaxmi's Lala Lajpatrai College for their Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) course revealed these startling facts. The survey was conducted with the help of We the People Foundation, which was formed after Keenan Santos and Rueben Fernandes were killed while trying to save their female friends from eve-teasers. The information revealed in the survey spurred the girls-Rasika Ajgaonkar, Vridhi Sharma, Devanshi Vora, Sanchi Dixit and Akanksha Gujral-to kick off a campaign 'Ab main ek bajaoon' (Now, I will whistle) "It was meant to be just a class presentationn as we thought this topic would be good as it addresses the concern of every girl in the city. However, after the survey, people started coming to us for support. As part of the campaign, we are creating awareness among girls by circulating handbills with messages and a whistle among girls," said Sharma. The whistle is only to alert people and not to take law into their own hands, she said. The girls surveyed around 6,000 girls, mostly from city colleges. Girls as young as 15-year-olds, who have just joined colleges, were also surveyed. "During the survey, we found that girls do not even know the helpline where they can call when harassed. And even if they know, they believe that the cops will never come to help, which is not true. We tried calling the number and it did work," said another studentfrom the group.While 65% of the respondents said that they reacted by doing nothing when they were harassed, a mere 5% reported the case to the police. Most girls said they were harassed in trains, buses, on platforms, crowded streets/narrow lanes, in offices, schools, colleges and their residential premises. Trains and railway platforms were the most dangerous places as 58% girls claimed they were sexually harassed there. Around 53% girls claimed that they were scared of reacting.It was this survey by five girls from the Bachelors' in Mass Media (BMM) course from Lala Lajpatrai College in Mahalaxmi, that spurred them to kick off a campaign 'Ab main ek bajaun' (Now, I will whistle). The survey was conducted with the help of 'We the People Foundation', the foundation which was formed after Keenan Santos and Rueben Fernandes were killed while trying to save their female friends from eve teasers. Vridhi Sharma, one of the five students to work on the project said, "We thought it would be a good project to work on as it would address the concern of each and every girl in the city. It initially was meant only for our class presentation, however, when the awareness spread, people started coming to us for more support. As part of the campaign, we are just creating awareness among girls by circulating handbills with messages and a whistle." She added that the whistle is meant only to alert people and not to take law in their own hands. As part of their campaign, they surveyed around 6,000 girls, mostly from city colleges and got some startling facts. The girls covered in the survey were as young as 15-year-olds who have just joined

college. The survey was conducted by Rasika Ajgaonkar, Vridhi Sharma, Devanshi Vora, Sanchi Dixit and Akanksha Gujral. (Times of India 6/9/12) Cabinet approves compensation scheme (8) Kolkata: The state cabinet today approved the decision to provide compensation to women including rape victims, victims of acid attack, and trafficking. The Central government had suggested that all states frame such schemes in accordance with the provisions of the newly created Section 357A of the CrPC. The section deals with compensation schemes for victims of crime and their dependents. For death victims, the compensation range is Rs 2 lakh, while for loss of limb or part of a body and handicapped over 80 per cent, they will get compensation of Rs 50,000. Loss of any limb or part of the body resulting in handicap between 40 per cent to 80 per cent will get compensation of Rs 20,000. Loss of limb or part of the body resulting in handicap below 40 per cent will get compensation of Rs 10,000. Minor rape victims will get compensation of Rs 30,000 while an adult rape victim will get compensation of Rs 20,000. Loss or injury causing severe mental agony to women and child victims in case of human trafficking will be given Rs 10,000 while loss or injury to child victim will be given Rs 10,000. Senior officials at the Writer’s Buildings said “although the Centre has not fixed any deadline for framing the scheme, Bengal is the first to prepare the plan”. (Indian Express 7/9/12) Odisha: female cop claims Tytler instigated mob (8) Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Friday said it was sorry for the assault on a woman constable during its rally in Bhubaneswar as the name of AICC in-charge of Odisha Jagadish Tytler came up. Narrating her experience, the woman constable said, "About 30 to 40 youths attacked me, showered blows, kicked me from back as soon as Jagdish Tytler called on party workers to break the barricade." Defending Tytler, Congress Chief Whip Prasad Harichandan said that Tytler had asked the partymen to come forward for jail Bharo. "He did not instigate violence. "I do not think calling upon partymen to court arrest is any crime or instigation," the Congress Chief Whip said. "This is an unfortunate incident. We are sorry for the assault on the lady constable. Women police should not be deployed at the forefront. We demand action against senior police officers responsible for deployment of women at sensitive places," he said after party MLAs boycotted the assembly. Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress sought to give a different spin saying "All people present at the rally were not Congress activists. Some people, who are angry over the BJD government's misrule, may have assaulted the woman constable." Tytler, on the other hand, told a news channel that it was wrong to assault a woman. "There is a bid to defame us in public. The incident has proved that Naveen Patnaik is incapable of giving good governance." Admitting that the woman constable was manhandled at yesterday's rally, Harichandan said "One must thank Congress workers who saved her." Senior BJD MLA Pradip Maharathy demanded arrest of Tytler for attempting to create a '1984 Sikh riot like situation here'. "I can produce evidence of Tytler instigating people at the rally," he said. BJD women's wing president Pramila Mallick, who met the lady constable in hospital demanded Tytler's arrest for instigating the mob to attack women security personal. "We will stage a dharna tomorrow demanding arrest of the persons responsible for attack on the lady constable and other policemen," Mallick said. BJP Legislature Party Leader K V Singhdeo said: "If any leader who used provocative words which instigated the people, needs to be booked." Meanwhile, the Odisha Human Rights Commission issued notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar, to submit a report on the attack on the constable. A Congress delegation also met Governor M CBhandare demanding a judicial injury into the episode. (Hindustan Times 8/9/12) Women lawyers move Supreme Court to end harassment in courts (8) NEW DELHI: Sixty-three women lawyers have sought the Supreme Court's help to end the malady of sexual harassment prevalent in various courts across the country. "The applicants who have been closely aware of untoward incidents of sexual harassment seek justice from SC to remove this malady which has plagued the women in this profession," they said. "In order to subserve the ends of justice towards the women advocates who require protection from sexual harassment in court precincts, there is an urgent requirement that SC gives further directions in this regard, the petitioners said and also sought to be made parties in a case pending before the apex court and relating to alleged physical violence against a female advocate in Delhi high court. The petitioners said: "There is no forum in SC, or the courts below, for women to address the issue of sexual harassment experienced by them frequently at the hands of their colleagues and persons in whose contact they come in while discharging their duties as advocates."

As per the guidelines laid down in the 1997 Vishaka judgment, a committee headed by a woman and with a majority of women members be set up in the apex court, each HC and trial court so that such cases could be addressed and resolved, the petitioners said. "At present, there is no such forum and in the light of the case before the Supreme Court, such a committee is the need of the hour and should be immediately set up," they said. (Times of India 9/9/12) Relief to SC/ST women victims set to be doubled (8) Kolkata: After the cabinet approved the policy to compensate the women victims of rape and molestation, the state Backward Class Department has drawn up a separate scheme to double the amount of compensation to women victims belonging to SC/ST community. At present, SC/ST women victims get one time compensation of Rs 25,000 if they are raped or molested. The department now wants to increase the compensation amount to Rs 50,000. While half of the compensation amount is paid after medical examination, the rest will be handed over to the victims at the conclusion of the trial. Senior officials of the department said the money will be borne by the Centre and the state on a fifty-fifty basis. The state government has already sought about Rs 20 crore from the Centre for giving compensation to the SC/ST women victims. As per the new proposal, women who are being insulted, intimated and humiliated will get compensation of around Rs 25,000 from Rs 15,000. In addition to these, in murder case of an SC /ST women, a non-earning member of the family will get Rs 1 lakh and the compensation amount will be arranged within three months of date of murder. Also, the dependents of the deceased, if any, will get Rs 1,000 per month and government employment to one member of the family. The government will also fund the full educational cost of the children whose mothers are victims of murder or rape. Backward Class Minister Upen Biswas said the proposals are yet to be finalised. “On Monday, we convened a meeting and instructed the officials to update the figures of how many women have lodged complaints following atrocities against them,” Biswas said. (Indian Express 11/9/12) Sexual harassment bill is gender-biased' (8) HYDERABAD: 'Adam-teasing' may sound like a joke to many, but it is serious business for a men's rights organization in the city which has come forward in protest against the sexual harassment bill that protects women, stating that it is gender-biased. Representatives of Save Indian Family Foundation, on Monday, demanded that the bill, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on September 3, be made gender-neutral in order to safeguard the rights of male employees at workplaces across the country. "We have been getting complaints of harassment of men at offices in the city from the past few months; these cases are slowly increasing. When it comes to women's rights, there are thousands of activists and organizations who have been fighting for their cause. But the authorities have to understand that men can be victims of sexual harassment too," said Navneet Sahu, an activist with the organization, adding that the bill in its current form can be misused by women as professional rivalries and jealousies could be converted to complaints. Activists are worried that it may result in an anti-male bias at offices, disrupting the harmony of the workplaces. (Times of India 12/9/12) 73 % garment workforce are women (8) Bangalore: A sample survey conducted by Bangalore University states that nearly 80 per cent of those employed in garment factories in Bengaluru are migrants from districts and villages whose customary source of livelihood has been methodologically destroyed. The findings of the survey by the Allampalli Venkataram Chair on Labour Research of the university were released on Friday. The report states that 63.4 per cent of the workers surveyed belonged to backward classes and were from farming families. A majority of them are between 21 and 30 years old, and most of them are educated only till 10th standard or Pre University. Women make up a very high percentage of the workforce — 72.8 per cent. Most of the workers are from Bengaluru Urban, Rural, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumkur and Ramanagar. The survey, which collated data from 2,000 garment workers, states that 76.4 per cent of the migrant workers visit their villages often thus making this a “circulating” labour force. Most of the workers are on daily wages and their income does not allow them to acquire any permanent assets like a durable business, a land site, or any other dependable source of income. The report says the health of the garment workers is at risk. Since their income does not allow them to access health care in private hospitals, they are forced to access sub-standard medical treatment provided by government hospitals, making their health very precarious. However, most of the workers said that the companies they work for help them in case of medical emergency. Nearly 73 per cent of the people who were surveyed stated that they were under

increasing work pressure and had to work under constant pressure to meet hourly targets. (Asian Age 15/9/12) 3 women allegedly commit suicide following dowry harassment (8) New Delhi: Three young women allegedly took their own life in the capital due to harassment for dowry, police said. 27-year-old Mamta Sharma allegedly jumped to death from the fourth floor of Triveni Apartment in Vivek Vihar at around 11 am today. Mamata, a mother of two who married nine years ago, took the extreme step allegedly after a heated argument with her mother-in-law. Police rushed her to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her brought dead. Police said they were investigating allegations that she was being harassed by her in-laws and her husband Kishan, who denied the charges. Kishan was not at home when the incident took place. In another incident, 26-year-old Divya, a teacher in an MCD school, allegedly committed suicide at her Dwarka sector 6 flat on last evening. She was living with her husband, whom she married an year ago. Her family alleged she took the extreme step due to harassment by her husband who was demanding a car. An inquiry by Sub-Divisional Magistrate has been ordered. No suicide note has been recovered. In the third incident reported from Mansarovar Park, Neetu (28) was found dead in mysterious circumstances in her flat. The family has alleged dowry harassment and an SDM enquiry has been ordered. Police suspect it to be a case of suicide. (Hindustan Times 16/9/12) Harassed girl immolates self in UP (8) KANPUR: A 14-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh succumbed to burn injuries on Monday, two days after she set herself afire following continued harassment by a group of youths, police said. The police were yet to take action against the culprits, even as officials say they are on the lookout for those who harassed her. The girl was followed and harassed by one Rohit and his friends for some time. On Saturday, Rohit again intercepted her and proposed marriage to her. The girl returned home where she locked herself in a room and set herself on fire. She was later rushed to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries Monday, police said. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Kanpur Amitabh Yash, while confirming the incident, told IANS that the girl was a resident of Hanumant Nagar and was being hounded by some local boys. The family of the girl had named neighbour Rohit and his friends for harassing her and pushing her into taking such an extreme step. Earlier, police had last month arrested Rohit following complaints by the girl's family but he was out of lockup soon as the charges slapped on him were minor. After this, he had started threatening the girl, about which the police were informed. The grief-stricken family has not yet lodged any complaint with the police. "Once this happens, we will arrest the culprits and book them," said a police official. (Times of India 17/9/12) Not possible for women in Army combat: Govt in SC (8) New Delhi: The Centre has urged before the Supreme Court that it was not possible to grant permanent commission to women officers in Army’s combat and its support wings because of their close proximity with the enemy and attendant hazards of battle. While agreeing to implement the Delhi High Court direction to grant permanent commission to women officers in the Air Force, the Defence Ministry opposed the idea of extending this benefit to women in the Army combat and its support units, “either now or in the future”. “Combat role of women officers must be excluded not only for the present, but as a matter of policy for all times.... The basic role of an army is to fight the enemy whether internal or external and guard the territorial integrity of the nation. Women officers, therefore, cannot be employed in combat in the foreseeable future, because of its attendant hazards and trauma, including the possibility of being made prisoners of war,” stated the affidavit. It stressed that women cannot be granted permanent commission in the force because the bulk of the Army’s Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks hail from rural India who are not yet ready to accept a woman as their leader in combat situations. “The interface between the leader and the led must be without any reserve or preconceived notions especially in battle conditions where jawans repose full faith in decisions/orders of the leader who is their role model and are prepared to make the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty,” read the affidavit. (Indian Express 19/9/12) Gender-based sex selection: Stricter punishment (8) NEW DELHI: The Union Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry is considering stricter penal action against families opting for gender-based sex selection in an effort to arrest the falling sex ratio

across the country. It also seeks to now calculate the child sex ratio at birth replacing the existing national policy for calculating it from 0-6 years of age. The move comes following a sharp decline in the national sex ratio and recommendations by the National Advisory Council to net the gender disproportion. WCD secretary Prem Narain speaking to the media said: “There is serious concern about the skewed sex ratio that the country has been witnessing. The NAC recommendations seek to specifically address the issue of the low sex ratio at birth. The recommendations call for both strengthening and modifying existing interventions as well as for developing a comprehensive national policy for improving the sex ratio at birth. We feel that there is a need to look at how many children are being born and their gender to ensure that policies are formed to protect the girl child at birth itself.” He added: “The NAC recommendations have sought to strengthen the current legal regime to prevent misuse of medical technology for sex selection and plan legislative framework for the future (PC and PNDT Act and ART Bill). Evaluate conditional cash incentive and other schemes while planning schematic intervention for below poverty line as well as middle and high income families. Review gender-related laws and policies including dowry laws related to rape and recommend amendments or ways to strengthen implementation and develop a comprehensive national communication and advocacy strategy for behaviour change. NAC’s recommendation looking at improving sex ratio at birth also seeks to sensitise frontline health workers and other public officials to promote positive social attitude towards women.” The recommendations are to be soon considered in the Union Cabinet meeting which, according to Mr. Narain, will also look at the WCD’s submission to review and appropriately amend laws, schemes and policies that impact sex selection. (The Hindu 20/9/12) Women not allowed to enter Padmanabhaswamy temple vault for inventory (8) Thiruvananthapuram: The expert committee which is inventorying invaluable treasures in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabhasway Temple has decided not to allow women officials to enter the chambers following objections from temple authorities. The decision was taken at an urgent meeting of the committee after the temple authorities yesterday objected to a woman expert from the Archaeological Survey of India entering the chamber for the inventorying. Temple officials held that women are not permitted to enter the temple vaults as it was against the customs and traditions of the shrine. “After the meeting discussed the issue, we have decided not to permit women, even though they are inventory officials, into the temple vaults. Entry of women into the vaults is against the age-old customs of the temple,” temple Executive Officer V K Harikumar said. “One or two women are there among the experts who are designated to enter the vaults as part of the inventory. But we cannot allow them,” he said, adding, women employees of the temple do not work in the vicinity of vaults. He also said the expert committee would make substitute arrangements to fill the vacancy. (Indian Express 21/9/12) 'Women blamed when males are guilty' (8) CANDOLIM: Women are looked down upon in society and are blamed unfairly even if the male members are guilty of bringing shame and disrepute to their families, a speaker at a two-day workshop at Nerul panchayat said. The workshop sponsored by central board of social welfare on 'Rights of girl child and future implications of imbalanced sex ratio', was organized by the Goa state social welfare board to create awareness amongst villagers. Ashpak Shaikh, a resource person, speaking on 'Migration and effects on women's life' cited the example of a security guard from north India, who had tested positive for HIV. He said that he had tried to convince him not to have unprotected sex with his wife when he was about to leave for a two month break to his native place. But during that time, he was careless and passed on the infection to his wife, Shaikh said. In due course of time, it transpired that his wife also tested HIV positive. But the husband's family blamed the wife for passing on the infection to their kin and the society also accused her of being unfaithful to her husband, he added. "Nobody believed the woman," he said, adding that migration results in untold suffering to women. During the interactive sessions with participants, which largely included housewives, it was evident that level of awareness about issues among them was poor. Earlier, minister for social welfare Dilip Parulekar inaugurated the workshop. Parulekar urged women to ensure the progress and welfare of the girl-child through government schemes, especially for self-help groups. Various issues related to women were covered by other speakers, including Anita Karambelkar, who spoke on 'Social customs, rituals regarding the secondary status of women,' B N Kamble, secretary of Goa state social welfare board spoke on central social welfare board schemes. (Times of India 22/9/12)

Don’t wear jeans if you want to stay in college (8) Lucknow: In an attempt to check growing incidents of eve-teasing, a college in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahar district, has directed its students to shun wearing jeans, and capris on the campus. J S PG college at Sikandarabad in the district has issued a strict warning to the students that their name will be struck off if they violate the directive. “The step has been taken in view of rising incidents of eve-teasing on the campus. The ban will help to prevent such incidents from taking place,” said the college principal Swapna Upresi. “It will also maintain a decorum on the campus.” The co-education college has 2,500 students, of which 1,500 are girls. She said a fine will be imposed on defaulters. “The first-time offenders will be slapped with a fine. Their parents will be called if they repeat the violation,” she said. The principal added that the name of the students will be struck off, if they still fail to follow the new dress code. Recently, ‘all women panchayat’ in the neighbouring Muzaffarnagar district decided to ‘voluntarily’ ban jeans and pledged not to grow nails. The panchayat, attended by a large number of college students, was “unanimous” the decision Another prestigious college in Varanasi had directed the girl students not to wear ‘provocative dresses’ as they ‘vitiate’ atmosphere on the campus. The co-education institute had even banned the use of cellphones by the students. The college administration had defined ‘provocative dress’ as “anything that is ultra fashionable, for instance, jeans or trousers having many pockets, something that looks bad.” The college authorities justified the decision by saying, “It is essential to enforce a dress code to check incidence of eve teasing.” (Deccan Herald 23/9/12) Beed female foeticide case: Court grants bail to woman doctor (8) Beed: A local court on Tuesday granted bail to Dr Saraswati Munde, who has been charge sheeted along with her husband Dr Sudam Munde and 15 others in a female foeticide case. District sessions court judge ST Mahajan granted her bail on a surety of Rs 3 lakh and certain conditions. The dourt has warned her not to pressurise any witnesses in the case and refrain from carrying out medical practice until the case is solved. The court has also asked her to remain present at police station every alternate day. Dr Munde was given bail on the ground that she has spent 105 days in jail and was no longer required in custody. Public prosecutor Ashok Kulkarni told PTI that they would appeal in the Bombay High Court against the bail. According to sources, she would, however, continue to remain in jail in connection with the illegal sex determination case of 2010. The doctor couple is currently lodged in Nashik district jail. The couple is accused of carrying out an abortion on sugarcane worker Vijaymala Patekar, who was in her second trimester, at their hospital in Parli in Beed district on May 18 this year, which resulted in her death. On May 19, the couple had secured bail from Parli court and went into hiding from May 23. The couple, absconding for over three weeks, had finally surrendered to the local police on June 17. Others, who have been charge sheeted in the case, include the doctor couple's son Venkatesh, Jalgaon-based Dr Rahul Kolhe, husband of the deceased woman Mahadev Patekar and members of the hospital staff. Maharashtra government has appointed Ujwal Nikam as special public prosecutor to represent the case. (DNA 25/9/12) Snoring ups BP risk in pregnant women (8) Women who begin snoring during pregnancy are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure and preeclampsia, a new research from the University of Michigan has revealed. The research showed pregnancy-onset snoring was strongly linked to gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, said lead author Louise O'Brien, Ph.D., associate professor in U-M's Sleep Disorders Center. "We found that frequent snoring was playing a role in high blood pressure problems, even after we had accounted for other known risk factors. And we already know that high blood pressure in pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, is associated with smaller babies, higher risks of pre-term birth or babies ending up in the ICU," said O'Brien. The study is believed to be the largest of its kind, with more than 1,700 participants. It is the first study to demonstrate that pregnancy-onset snoring confers significant risk to maternal cardiovascular health. Habitual snoring, the hallmark symptom of sleep-disordered breathing, was defined as snoring three to four nights a week. About 25 per cent of women started snoring frequently during pregnancy and this doubled the risk for high blood pressure compared to non-snoring women. O'Brien writes that these results suggest that up to 19 per cent of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy might be mitigated through treatment of any underlying sleep-disordered breathing. Pregnant women can be treated for sleep-disordered breathing using CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). It involves a machine, worn during sleep, which uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open. It is possible that use of CPAP may decrease high blood pressure in pregnant women, and O'Brien has such a study currently

underway to test this hypothesis. (Times of India 26/9/12) DCW seeks action against SHO (8) The Delhi Commission for Women met police commissioner Neeraj Kumar and sought an action against the SHO of south campus police station for allegedly helping a man who attempted to rape a mentally ill minor girl. A 10-member DCW delegation, led chairperson Barkha Singh, presented a memorandum registering their protest against the alleged “callous, complacent, negligent and high-handed attitude” of the station head officer, a DCW statement said. DCW members alleged that the SHO had released Hari Ram, alias Pehlwan of Ram, of JJ Camp in Nanakpura from the police station, who had allegedly sexually molested the 10-year-old girl hailing from a poor schedule caste family. Ms Singh termed the SHO’s decision as “arbitrary and uncalled for attitude of the police” for allowing the accused go from the police station on September 20 without producing him before the court. “If the custodians of law, on whom lies the sole responsibility to protect the dignity and modesty of the women, take the partial view of sensitive issues of sexual molestation of adolescent girls in favour of the accused then one can imagine what will be the fate of the women community, which is considered to be the most vulnerable section of our society,” she said. (Asian Age 26/9/12) In Haryana, Dalit woman gang-raped at gunpoint, then filmed (8) Jind, Haryana: In north Haryana, a Dalit woman has been gang-raped in her home at gunpoint. The attack in the Jind district was also filmed on a phone camera and the MMS was circulated in her village. The police said that two of the three alleged rapists have been arrested. Nearly 60 kilometres away, in the village of Dabra, Dalits have been demanding justice for a teen girl who was gang-raped by 12 men (eight of them from the upper castes), with an MMS publicising the grotesquerie. The teen's father killed himself after he found out about the assault on her. Seven of the alleged rapists have been arrested today. In the past one week only two had been arrested prompting media coverage and criticism of the local Congress government's inaction and its predilection for ignoring the rabid persecution of Dalit families by upper caste Jats. (NDTV 27/9/12) Maharashtra: Woman strangulated to death for giving birth to girl (8) Beed: A 27-year-old woman from Maharashtra's Beed district, infamous for high incidence of female foeticide, was allegedly strangulated to death by her in-laws for giving birth to a girl for the third time, police said on Monday. The incident took place last night around 11 pm in Malikpura area of Parli tehsil following a quarrel among them, they said. The victim, Shaikh Taslima, mother of two girls and a boy delivered the baby last month after which she was allegedly tortured by her husband Shaikh Navab and family, according to a police complaint filed by her brother Shaikh Shaukat. Also, Taslima, who was married for seven years, was being harassed for dowry for quite some time now, the complaint said. Last night, an altercation among the family members took an ugly turn and the woman was strangulated to death. Following this, a case has been registered against Shaikh Navab (husband), Shaikh Mukram (brother in law) and Anwar Bi Shaikh (mother in law) under section 302, 498 (A) and 34 of IPC, police said. Navab and his mother have been arrested, police said adding investigations are on. (Hindustan Times 1/10/12) Lack of sanitation causes diseases, sexual harassment, reveals survey (8) NEW DELHI: Residents of slums, poorly developed residential colonies in urban areas face ordeals ranging from diseases to sexual harassment because of little or no access to functioning and clean toilets, reveals a new study on sanitation in urban areas. The study, ‘Squatting Rights’, has revealed that a large slum population has no access to toilets, and lack of adequate sanitation forces over 50 million men, women and children to defecate in the open everyday. Focusing on the lack of sanitation in the urban scene, the study says urban slums face not only an acute shortage of accessible toilets but also of water. “While most localities in Indian cities receive between three to five hours of water per day, certain communities receive as little as 30 minutes of water supply per week,” the study says. Conducted by Dasra, a strategic philanthropy foundation in collaboration with Forbes Marshall, the study has put forth that 70 per cent of girls in Delhi slums experience “verbal harassment and grave physical assaults everyday”, while 24 per cent of girls drop out of school because of lack of safe access to toilets. Surveying the sanitation facilities in 15 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad, the study found the economically weaker sections being the worst sufferers of inadequate

sanitation in the form of, “ailing children, uneducated girls and unproductive people, making these populations even more vulnerable and costing India 6.4 per cent of its gross domestic product.” The survey also borrows from data collated by other agencies including UNICEF India, Water, Environment and Sanitation, UN Women and Jagori Survey Data, 2010, among others shows that in India, more than 1,600 children under five years of age die everyday because of diarrhoea caused by lack of sanitation, women who have to travel long distances to access public facilities are vulnerable to physical and sexual assault with more than 30 per cent of marginalised women violently assaulted every year. Making a case why philanthropists and governments must invest in sanitation facilities the report says: “Sanitation brings the single greatest return on investment of any development intervention – for every $1 spent on sanitation at least $9 is saved in health, education and economic development. Tackling the problem of inadequate sanitation not only requires building infrastructure but creating greater awareness of the issue, its magnitude and its real costs – not just to poor people, but to societies as a whole.” Deval Sanghvi, cofounder and partner, Dasra, said: “Urban sanitation cannot be provided by any one stakeholder, it calls for immediate attention from philanthropists, government as well as communities. While Dasra attempts to address this issue, strategic philanthropic funding will go a long way in improving urban sanitation in India.” (The Hindu 1/10/12) Law panel rejects demands to repeal anti-dowry law (8) New Delhi: The Law Commission has rejected demands to repeal an anti-dowry law but has recommended making the offence compoundable by allowing the wife to withdraw the complaint in case of a compromise with the permission of the court. In one of its last reports, the 19th Law Commission has said that the demands to repeal Section 498 A (dowry related harassment) of the IPC were unwarranted. But at the same time, it has recommended that the husband or his relatives should not be arrested immediately in case of complaints of harassment for dowry. Following complaints of its misuse, the Supreme Court had asked the Commission, till recently headed by Justice P V Reddi, to see whether the laws related to harassment of women for dowry required any amendment. In a recent consultation paper, the law panel had made a similar case for keeping Section 498 A and the recommendations on the same lines. The panel, whose term ended recently, has suggested amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure to introduce a 30-day "reconciliation" period before police can arrest the accused. "The need for caution in exercising the drastic power of arrest in the context of cases under section 498A IPC has been emphasised time and again by the courts and parliamentary committees," the report said. It said the police officer should ensure that the reconciliation process is started by the police officer as soon as a complaint of physical or mental torture for dowry is received. The Law Ministry is likely to send the report to the Home Ministry as it relates to IPC and CrPC. (Zee News 2/10/12) IAS officer arrested for alleged eve-teasing, molestation (8) LUCKNOW: Shashi Bhushan Lal Sushil, a 2001 batch IAS officer, was arrested on Monday on the charge of eve-teasing and molestation. He was suspended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Mr. Sushil, who is the Special Secretary in the Technical Education Department, was accused of making ndecent advances towards a girl passenger while travelling in Second AC coach of n New Delhi-Lucknow Mail. Mr. Sushil boarded the train in Ghaziabad on Sunday and the incident occurred at the Sandila railway station in Hardoi, about 80 km from Lucknow, early on Monday. A case was filed by the girl’s mother under Sections 400/12, 294, 354, 376, 511 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Government Railway Police (GRP) thana in the Charbagh railway station immediately after the train reached Lucknow at 7.00 a.m. on Monday. Inspector General (Law and Order) Badri Prasad Singh told reporters that the girl’s mother alleged in the FIR that Mr. Sushil kept staring at her daughter throughout the journey and when she returned from the toilet early in the morning she was told by her daughter that he had resorted to obscene actions while she was away. The two informed the train attendants and the Railway Protection Force personnel. Mr. Sushil was produced in a court, which remanded him in judicial custody. In the Mayawati regime, he was posted as District Magistrate of Bulandshahr and Ghaziabad and Mau, before his current posting.In a related development, GRP Inspector Anil Rai, who had lodged the case, was transferred to GRP Gorakhpur within hours of the filing of the FIR. Mr. Rai was supposedly shifted as he had tried to pacify the girl and her mother and was reportedly hesitant to register the crime under Sections 376,511 and 506, which are non-bailable sections of the IPC. Mr. Singh denied that the transfer was related to the case. (The Hindu 2/10/10)

'Crime against women on rise in Arunachal' (8) ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki has admitted that crime against women in the state is on the rise. He, however, said the state government has initiated measures to curb it. Responding to a question raised in the assembly during question hour by Trinamool Congress member Laeta Umbrey recently, Tuki informed that the government had already established anti-human trafficking units in three district headquarters namely Itanagar, Pasighat and Tezu, while three would be established soon at Daporijo, Seppa and Changlang. "The DIG (Crime) has been made the nodal officer of these units," he said. Quoting the statistics of the report prepared by the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW), the CM informed the house that altogether 190 cases of atrocities against women were reported in the state during 2010, while the numbers were 171 in 2011 and 121 till August, 2012. The cases reported in the state were those of rape, kidnapping, molestation, sexual harassment and domestic violence. Tuki informed that the state government has also constituted the state complaint committee and the departmental complaints committee headed by a senior female officer to monitor complaints of sexual harassment of working women. He said, the APSCW last month submitted a memorandum to him demanding appointment of child marriage prevention officer under the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006 in order to check cases of child marriage. The other demands of the memorandum include non-grant of bail in crime like rape and murder, security to victims and their families, recruitment of more police personnel and opening of separate women cell in every police station to handle cases relating to women and independent functioning of the judiciary. The chief minister also urged all members of the house to stand united in making Arunachal Pradesh a crime-free state. (Times of India 4/10/12) Depression highest among bank employees, women (8) Shocking as it may sound, it is bank employees, especially the ones in managerial positions, who most suffer from depression. This is followed by working women, revealed Dr Kuldip Sharma, former head of the department of psychiatry at Government Medical College, Patiala who was participating in the three day annual national conference on private psychiatry. Whether one blames it on the long working hours, or the targets that they have to meet, many managers employed with private banks and even those in public sector banks also suffer from depression due to increasing work-related stress. Another section of the society which also suffers from acute stress, leading to depression, are working women, especially those who are married. “Since they have dual responsibilities, they easily come under stress. In fact, women are five times more likely to suffer from depression than men in any profession,” he added. On an average, about 30-40 patients suffering from depression come for help, he added. Having a healthy lifestyle, coupled with exercising and doing yoga can help one cope with increasing stress in our day-today lives, he added. In such cases, counseling for the family and the employer of the patient is also needed. They are required to be sympathetic towards the patient. The special requirements of women are not considered at the workplace. Employers do not think it fit to allow them breaks during pregnancy or feeding after the delivery which leads to stress and depression among them, added the psychiatrist. (Indian Express 6/10/12) Concern over rising number of gang-rapes in Haryana (8) NEW DELHI: Terming the spate of gang-rapes reported in Haryana over the past month an “alarming situation”, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Sunday demanded that exemplary punishment be awarded to those who raped a teenaged girl in the State on Saturday. The victim -- a teenaged Dalit girl – immolated herself after being gang-raped in Jind district of Haryana. She was allegedly raped by two youths in Narwana sub-division of the district and the shocked girl later poured kerosene and set herself ablaze. Haryana has witnessed over 10 rapes in the past one month alone leading the National Commission for Women too to express its serious concern over the matter. Meanwhile, NCPCR chairperson Shanta Sinha said: “We will take cognisance of the incident and are demanding that the State Government take up the issue of security for women in a serious manner. The State has one of the worst sex ratios in the country and there is an urgent need for an emergency awareness drive to bring the State and civil society together to work for the protection of girls.” “We are very concerned over the spurt in incidents of rape of teenaged girls in Haryana and will seek an explanation from the State Government. Ten rapes in one month in one State is a shocking indication of the situation. There is an urgent need for a public awareness campaign in favour of the girl child. There should also be a fear amongst those who indulge in such activities. They should be punished so that the

girls are safe,” added Ms. Sinha. (The Hindu 8/10/12) High court seeks reply on deployment of women force in trains (8) LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on Monday sought reply of the Centre, state and Railways on a PIL demanding deployment of women force in the trains. It directed the respondents to file counter affidavit within two weeks and further directed the petitioner to submit rejoinder in one week. The matter will be heard thereafter. The order came from a bench of acting Chief Justice Amitava Lala and Justice Anil Kumar on the PIL filed by a local lawyer Moti Lal Yadav. The petitioner cited recent incident of molestation by an IAS in Lucknow Mail and said that women are not safe in trains and it is duty of government to provide them adequate security. (Times of India 9/10/12) Haryana horror: Rape tally now touches 17 (8) KAITHAL/KARNAL/YAMUNANAGAR: A day after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi visited the family of a minor dalit girl who killed herself after being raped in Haryana's Jind district, another 19-year-old dalit girl who is five months pregnant was abducted and gang-raped by two upper-caste youth in Kalayat town in Kaithal district. One more case of assault in May was reported late on Tuesday and, additionally, a 14year-old girl was allegedly raped in Yamunanagar late on Monday, taking the number of such cases to 17. The latest incident puts Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, whose government has been accused of failing to prevent growing atrocities against women, in a tight spot. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Wednesday demanded Hooda's immediate intervention to ensure prompt investigation, adequate rehabilitation and protection of the victims, their families and witnesses. The May 21 gang-rape, in Bijna in Karnal, was followed by suicide of the girl's father. Police said the case was registered five months after the crime and they arrested two youth on Wednesday. The girl who lodged the complaint said the accused had threatened her with death if she or her family approached the police. The Kaithal rape victim, in a complaint filed by her father on Tuesday, alleged she was abducted from the fields near her house and taken to a nearby village in a car on October 8. The complainant added she was raped the entire night and dumped near her house the next morning. Both the accused, Pawan and Rakesh, who belong to the same town, were arrested on Tuesday and sent to two-day police remand. "After the victim's father lodged a complaint, she gave her statement before a magistrate on October 9. A police team nabbed the accused near Kalayat," said Kaithal SP Kuldeep Yadav. The police have registered a case of rape and kidnapping and also charged the accused under various sections of the SC/ST Act. "The victim in her complaint also alleged the accused made castiest remarks against her," said Yadav. The victim had married six months ago and was living at her parents' house following a dispute with her husband. The rape comes a day after a 20-year-old maid was allegedly raped by her employer in Faridabad. In the Yamunanagar rape, police arrested a man, Gurmeet, a resident of Tapri village in Ambala district. As Yamunanagar district borders Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district with the victim raped being raped near the border, a dispute over territorial jurisdiction between the police departments of the two states delayed the registration of the case against the accused. (Times of India 11/10/12) Report challenges beliefs on sexual attacks in war (8) United Nations: A new report by Canadian researchers challenges the widespread belief that rape is increasingly being used as a "weapon of war.''The report released Wednesday by a research team from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, says there is no compelling evidence to support this belief or claims by senior U.N. officials, U.N. reports and others that sexual violence in wartime is increasing. There is also no compelling evidence that the extreme level of sexual violence in a small number of war-affected countries including Congo, Liberia and Sudan is shared in other conflict zones, the report said. But Sebastian Merz, associate director of the project that produced the 2012 Human Security Report report, told reporters at a news conference that there is evidence, which is largely overlooked, that the most common perpetrators of sexual violence in wartime are husbands, partners or other family members _ not combatants. While the majority of perpetrators in wartime sexual violence are men and the vast majority of victims are women and girls, he said recent studies have shown that both male victims and female perpetrators may be more numerous than is generally believed, which is almost never mentioned. The report said there is a minimal amount of data on wartime sexual violence despite the huge increase in international attention in the past two decades. As a result, it said, ``highly misleading assumptions about the scope and intensity of sexual violence in war-affected countries have

become widely accepted in the media, in the U.N. and other international agencies, and in the advocacy community.'' (Indian Express 11/10/12) Cabinet OKs tougher indecency legislation (8) NEW DELHI: Widening the ambit of the law against indecent portrayal of women, the Union Cabinet on Thursday made forwarding of pornographic multimedia messages from phones and internet liable for stiffer punishment. Amendments to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 were cleared, broadening the scope of the audio-visual media and material in electronic form. Once the changes are made, penalties will be enhanced to a maximum of three years of imprisonment and fine of between Rs 50,000 to Rs1 lakh for first conviction, and imprisonment of a minimum of two years and a maximum of seven years with a fine between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for a second conviction. The amendments also propose that police officers above the rank of inspectors will be authorized to carry out search and seizure, in addition to state and central government officers. In a statement, the women and child development ministry which had moved the bill, said, "These amendments seek to ensure that more effective protection is provided against indecent representation of women by covering newer forms of communication like internet, multimedia messaging beyond the print and audio-visual media. This would aid in addressing the problem of increased objectification of women, thereby ensuring dignity of women.'' The Act focuses on indecent representation of women and brings under its ambit references that are derogatory to the dignity of women. The law was enacted with the specific objective of prohibiting indecent representation of women through advertisement, publication, writing and painting or in any other manner. However, over the years, technological revolution resulted in the development of newer forms of communication such as internet and satellite-based communication, multimedia messaging, cable television etc. It, therefore, became imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form. (Times of India 12/10/12) Women seek equal footing on Girl Child Day (8) Jaipur: The first-ever International Day of the Girl Child declared by the United Nations was celebrated here on Thursday with a call for empowerment and equal treatment of girls to secure a bright future for them. There was a call to prevent child marriages so that girls have an assurance of well-being in education, health, socio-economic conditions and family relations. An event to mark the occasion was organised here by Plan India a child rights organisation and its partner NGOs, Urmul Seemant, Urmul Setu and Seva Mandir at the state Institute for Health and Family Welfare and was attended by about 100 girls from the project areas in the state. These girls have fought against odds for their rights. Some of them opposed their marriage at an early age, some of them fought for continuing their education and some raised their voices against discrimination in their homes and community. Athlete Krishna Punia said if the girls are physically strong, nobody would be able to harass or exploit them. She said girls should take up some physical activity and ask parents to change their mindset. Instead of thinking about expenditure on marriage, they should spend money on educating their daughters, she said. Punia shared her story about competeing in the Olympics after her coach and husband encouraged her to do so. The state women’s commission chairperson, Laad Kumari Jain, said every girl and woman must be respected and women labour must be connected with money. Jain strongly opposed a proposal made by the Law Commission of India for reducing the age of marriage for boys from 21 years to 18 years and said this would pave the way for child marriage and affect the society at large. She also flayed a recent statement of the former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala favouring the reduction of age of marriage of girls to 15 years to prevent rape. Rajasthan commission chairperson urged participants to speak up to prevent child marriages. (Deccan Herald 12/10/12) Ajay Singh slams MP govt over growing incidents of gangrape (8) Bhopal: Leader of opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Ajay Singh has expressed concern over the growing incidents of gangrape in the state and urged chief minister Shivaj Singh Chouhan to step to contain sexual assault on women. In a letter to Chouhan yesterday, Ajay said that front pages of newspapers, on a daily basis was full with such items. He said this truth can't be hidden behind advertisements and urged Chouhan to take steps for providing security to women. The Congress leader pointed out that five incidents of gang rape have taken place in the last 10 days across the state. "Women cannot be provided security only by running on paper schemes like 'Ladli Laxmi Yojana'," he said. He also

drew Chouhan's attention to the figures given by the National Crime Bureau, in which Madhya Pradesh topped the list for atrocities on women in the country. "This figure alone shows how much sensitive the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh is towards women," Ajay said. (DNA 13.10.12) Hooda announces steps to curb crime against women (8) Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday announced various measures to check crime against women, especially rape, and ensure speedy trial of suspects. Hooda, who reviewed the steps being taken to check crime against women at a meeting with senior officials of the state government and police department here, announced to set up a statewide single-number helpline for women. He also announced to appoint a senior police officer of the level of additional director general of police to exclusively supervise these measures and ensure speedy trial of suspects involved in crime against women. He would report to the director general of police, who would forward the report to the home secretary every week. The additional director general of police would visit all districts personally to ensure effective monitoring of investigation and prosecutions in such cases. He would also ensure that the suspects involved in earlier cases of crime against women be prosecuted. The chief minister also announced that at the district level, the police would be empowered to avail of the services of special prosecutors so that those involved in crime against women get stringent punishment. He said a woman deputy superintendent of police or a woman inspector would be posted in every district to facilitate women in getting their complaints lodged. Hooda said the deputy commissioners had also been asked to stay on their toes and promptly redress people's grievances. "The state government has, through a written communication, urged the Punjab and Haryana high court to ensure speedy trial of cases against women, especially those concerning incidents of rape," Hooda added. (Hindustan Times 13/10/12) Bengaluru police mum on alleged gang-rape of law student (8) Bangalore: Bengalurue police on Monday maintained discreet silence on the alleged gang rape of a law student a day after the victim filed a complaint against unidentified suspects, as investigation was in progress. "The investigation is progressing incrementally. We are waiting for the medical report. No arrests were made, as suspects have not yet been identified," Joint Commissioner of Police (West) Pronab Mohanty said. Police on Sunday registered a case under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the suspects after the 21-year-old second year student of the National Law School of India University complained that she was sexually assaulted by a gang of eight members late Saturday in the adjacent Bangalore University's campus. "As it is a sensitive case involving honour and dignity of a young woman, we are cautious at the investigation stage, keeping in view the Supreme Court's observations in dealing with such cases," Mohanty observed. According to the complaint filed at the university's police station, the victim, who hails from Nepal, was with her boyfriend in a secluded area in the campus when the gang, in an inebriated state, encountered them and attempted to snatch their valuables. "When we resisted and attempted to flee from the spot, the gang encircled and threatened us. As my boyfriend had left his wallet in the car, which was parked nearby, one of the gang members accompanied him to collect it, while I was forcibly taken into a bush and sexually assaulted," the complainant said. Police, however, expressed reservation about the alleged incident, as the sequence of events narrated by the victim in the complaint and what she revealed during the interrogation were conflicting in the absence of evidence. "Preliminary investigation and examination revealed that the victim had no external injuries though she claimed that she was ambushed and raped in the wooded area by the gang members," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) S.N. Siddaramappa noted. As part of the probe, police also questioned the victim's boyfriend, a native of Uttar Pradesh and working in a multinational IT firm in this tech hub. (Asian Age 15/10/12) Five Women injured during protest against rapes in Rohtak (8) ROHTAK: Five activists of the All India Democratic Women Association, part of a protest against the rising cases of rapes in Haryana, were injured in when police clashed with the protesters in Rohtak on Monday. The protesters, led by CPM leader Brinda Karat, clashed with the cops after they were stopped near the mini-secretariat by the cops. The activists wanted to submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner but were not allowed. Apart from the five women who suffered minor injuries, some cops too were injured in the clash. Karat too was assaulted by the cops but did not suffer any injury. Karat alleged that the police attacked the peaceful march without any provocation. "The government failed to check the crime against women as 19 rape cases have been reported in around a month. The women

protesters want to wake up the authorities from the slumber to restore law and order in Haryana but we were assaulted," she said. Rohtak SP Vivek Sharma however stated that the protesters had the permission to hold a demonstration and not to carry out the protest march in the city. "When we tried to stop them, they assaulted the cops resulting in injuries to around 15 police personnel, including women cops. The police had to resort to lathicharge to control the situation." (Times of India 16/10/12) Dowry killing? 25-yr-old succumbs to burn injuries (8) New Delhi: A 25-year-old BTech graduate, who was burnt alive allegedly by her husband and in-laws at their Sarojini Nagar house in south Delhi over a week ago, succumbed to her burns at Safdarjung hospital on Sunday morning. The 13-month-old daughter of the victim, who also suffered burns in the incident, is still undergoing treatment at the hospital. She suffered 55 % burns and her condition is stated to be critical. The deceased was identified as Pravartika Gupta and the incident took place at a flat in the NDMC Apartments in Sarojini Nagar on October 6. After Pravartika's death, the Sarojini Nagar police, which had registered a case under section 498 A (harassment by husband or his relatives), added section 304 B (dowry death) in the case and arrested her mother-in-law Sushma. Pravartika's husband Ashutosh, a manager in an event management company in Gurgaon, and her father-in-law Ram Mohan Gupta, an assistant engineer with NDMC, are evading arrest, police said. Pravartika did her B.Tech from Aligarh Muslim University and she got married to Ashutosh two years ago. The section of dowry death, a senior police officer said, was added in the case after Pravartika's father Kshamveer, who is a doctor at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, alleged that her in-laws were torturing her mentally and physically over a dowry demand of Rs. 10 lakh. "Her father alleged that the accused family members had demanded Rs. 10 lakh as dowry from him. The harassment continued even as he paid Rs. 6 lakh in cash to Pravartika's in-laws. We have arrested the victim's mother-in-law, but her husband and father-in-law are still on large. Efforts are on to nab them at the earliest," the police said. One of Pravartika's neighbours said she was set on fire by her in-laws following a heated argument on October 6. "It was around 9.30 am that we saw smoke billowing out of a window of their house and later heard screams of a woman, hearing which some of us went to their house. We found a badly-burnt Pravartika lying on the floor. Her husband and daughter also had burns," said the neighbour adding the victims were immediately rushed to Safdarjung hospital. (Hindustan Times 16/10/12) Battle-ready, but women commandoes can’t find job (8) Manesar: The National Security Guard (NSG) has specially trained 25 women commandoes keeping in mind its women protectees but so far it has not deployed them. NSG director general Subhash Joshi has refused to spell out their exact role. The NSG provides security cover to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati and Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalaithaa besides 14 other male VIPs. “The original idea was to use women commandoes for the women protectees but their services have not been used with them. The NSG will soon decide how to use services of these women commandoes but the force doesn’t want use them for counter-terror operations for sure,” said a source. The demonstration of skills by these women commandoes during its 28 Raising Day function on Tuesday got applause from all quarters. Chief guest of the function and union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde lauded their demonstration. After the function, while replying to a question on the demand for revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Jammu and Kashmir, Shinde said the Centre would wait for some more time before taking any decision on the issue. “It’s not appropriate to keep military always on duty.” Shinde had recently visited the state. During the function, the NSG commandoes for demonstrated their antihijacking skills with newly acquired 1.5 kg unmanned aerial vehicle Netra. The force also felicitated family members of its martyrs. The family members of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, a 26/11 martyr of the NSG, were conspicuous by their absence. (Hindustan Times 16/10/12) HC directs for expeditious trial of crimes against women (8) Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sent a written communication to all District and Sessions Judges (DSJ) in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh to ensure expeditious disposal of trials relating to heinous crimes against women in their respective sessions division. These crimes fall under sections 376 (rape) and 304-B (harassment and murder of woman) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), an official spokesman said here today. The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court has also asked DSJs to send progress report of such cases by the 10th of every month. The Haryana government had earlier made a written request to the High Court for consideration of appropriate and effective directions for fast

tracking of all cases of such crimes against women that are under trial in various courts in the state. The state government had requested that if the High Court finds it appropriate then it could specially monitor cases of heinous crimes, with the objective of reducing delay in judgement. The Haryana Government has also sent a written communication to all deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and district attorneys in the state to constitute district-level committees for strict monitoring of such crimes, a spokesman said. This committee would meet at least once in 15 days and expedite each case while ensuring that there is no laxity. The committee would also review other aspects of the cases including legal aid to the victim, compensation and medical aid. (Zee News 18/10/12) SC directs all statutory bodies to implement Vishakha judgement (8) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed all statutory bodies including Bar Council of India to implement the 15-year-old Vishakha judgement. The judgement lays down guidelines to deal with sexual harassment complaints at work places. The Supreme Court's Vishakha Judgement of 1997 is a landmark in legal guidelines for cases of sexual harassment at the workplace.This judgement was delivered after Bhanwari Devi a development worker in a Rajasthan state run programme tried to take a stand against child marriage and was gang raped by members of the Gujjar community for her interference. In response to a petition by women's groups after this, the Supreme Court laid down that, "each incidence of sexual harassment of women at workplace results in violation of the fundamental rights gender equality and the right to life and liberty. (Times of India 19/10/12) Court orders States to check sexual exploitation of women at workplaces (8) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday made it mandatory for all the States, Union territories and the regulatory bodies to put in place a legal mechanism to implement the ‘guidelines in Vishaka case’ which require the employers at workplaces to observe them and ensure prevention of sexual harassment of women. A three-judge Bench of Justices R.M. Lodha, Anil R. Dave and Ranjan Gogoi said: “The implementation of the guidelines in Vishaka has to be not only in form but also substance and spirit so as to make available safe and secure environment to women at the workplace in every aspect and thereby enabling the working women to work with dignity, decency and due respect.” Pointing out that a legislation in this regard was yet to be put in place, the Bench said: “There is still no proper mechanism in place to address the complaints of sexual harassment of the women lawyers in Bar Associations, lady doctors and nurses in the medical clinics and nursing homes, women architects working in the offices of the engineers and architects and so on and so forth.” Writing the judgment in the petition filed by Medha Kotwal Lele seeking enforcement of Vishaka guidelines, Justice Lodha said: “While we have marched forward substantially in bringing gender parity in local self-governments, the representation of women in Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies is dismal as the women represent only 10-11 per cent of the total seats. India ranks 129 out of 147 countries in United Nations Gender Equality Index. This is lower than all South Asian countries except Afghanistan. Our Constitution framers believed in fairness and justice for women. They provided in the Constitution the States’ commitment of gender parity and gender equality and guarantee against sexual harassment to women.” The Bench said: “As the largest democracy in the world, we have to combat violence against women. We are of the considered view that the existing laws, if necessary, [should] be revised and appropriate new laws enacted by Parliament and the State Legislatures to protect women from any form of indecency, indignity and disrespect at all places [in their homes as well as outside], prevent all forms of violence — domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment at the workplace, etc; — and provide new initiatives for education and advancement of women and girls in all spheres of life. After all they have limitless potential. Lip service, hollow statements and inert and inadequate laws with sloppy enforcement are not enough for true and genuine uplift of our half most precious population – the women.” (The Hindu 20/10/12) Women in slums most vulnerable (8) They are forced to go to unsafe places at odd times, risking sexual harassment The lack of public toilets affects women the most, particularly those living in the city’s slums and jhuggi jhopri clusters. While the others have access to toilets at their home or workplace, women in slums are forced to defecate at railway tracks, drains and dark, dirty corners. As if the absence of safe and hygienic toilets itself wasn’t bad enough, this also leads to sexual harassment, molestation and even rape in the slums. “Unlike a man, a woman cannot be seen doing it in the open or in the vicinity of people known to her in the settlement. So she usually chooses the early morning hours or the night time to relieve herself. Most

cases of sexual harassment reported to us from the slums and jhuggi jhopris take place when these women are out to answer the call of nature,” says a Delhi Police inspector. He says while there is no official study to link lack of toilets to crime against women, it certainly is an important factor, at least in the urban setting. Poor women in rural settings happen to be more fortunate than those in urban slums, since they have the option of open spaces and agricultural fields. While the slum and JJ department of Delhi government claims it is doing all that is required, the fact remains that about 90 percent of slums in Delhi have no toilets and dismal sanitation facilities. “The government may claim anything but our slum does not have a single toilet. We defecate in the open on railway tracks,” says Gopal, a resident of Anna Nagar. When confronted with this, a slum department official says in slums — where there is a shortage of space and no piped water supply — the government does not allow building a permanent toilet complex, since it cannot be maintained and may ultimately prove to be a health hazard. “There is always a problem of maintaining a permanent toilet structure, so some slums have been provided with a movable community toilet complex (CTC),” says the official. According to him, the norm is one latrine seat for 30 jhuggis. So, if a single jhuggi has a minimum of five members, one latrine seat caters to 150 people. In the case of resettlement colonies, one CTC with 20 seats for men and 20 for women is considered enough for 500 households. Even the official agrees that this is too few toilets; and a possible cause of communicable diseases, especially for women who are more prone to infection. (Deccan Herald 21/10/12) Women's panel to probe why 213 girls quit in 2 months in Banasthali (8) JAIPUR: The Rajasthan State Women's Commission is all set to expand the scope of its investigation into the Banasthali unrest. It has sought the addresses of 213 girls, including 25 Banasthali school students, who left studies in mid of session-2012. "Our probe committee was surprised to find that 213 students enrolled in 2012 quit studies between August 1 and September 30 this year. It raises questions as to why they left at a time when admissions in all leading universities were over," said Lad Kumari Jain, chairman of State Women's Commission. The commission is not ruling out the possibility of students leaving due to harassment. The commission is holding discussions on ways to reach these girls as most of them were from far-flung areas. It is planning to prepare a questionnaire to be send to these students to find out the reasons for leaving Banasthali. "The students who left studies in July were not included in the list as there was a possibility that they had not liked the university," said Jain adding that this unusual movement requires a thorough probe. She accused the university administration of not disclosing the names and addresses of all these students. Even the one victim who testified for molestation before the probe panel had left for her native place in Bihar on October 5 and is yet to return. The victim left in the presence of a commission member and promised to return. Since then, the panel visited the campus thrice but they didn't find the victim on campus. When they asked, they found that she had expressed her unwillingness to continue her studies. Sources said that the panel is emphasizing on further probe as they had learnt of many cases which went unnoticed in the past. The probe committee members include Pawan Surana, Asha Kaushik, Rupa Tiwari and Mahendra Sharma. Twenty-five students testified before them during the inquiry. (Times of India 22/10/12) Women don't need mobile phones, says BSP MP (8) Muzaffarnagar: Bahujan Samaj Party MP Rajpal Saini said children, specially girls, should not be given mobile phones. "There is no need to give phones to women and children. It distracts them and is useless. Why do women need phones? My mother, wife and sister never had mobile phones. They survived without one," Saini said in a meeting in Muzaffarnagar. Saini later clarified that said he meant that students of certain age should not be given mobile phones. "What I am saying is that students should not be given mobile phones... It is the age to study, and mobile phones are a distraction," he said. In July, a village panchayat in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh had banned love marriage, barred women below 40 years of age from going out for shopping and girls from using mobile phones. (Indian Express 23/10/12) Ahmedabad crime round up: 6 accused in Viramgam gangrape & loot nabbed (8) Ahmedabad: Four days after four women were gangraped in Viramgam, six accused, all members of Vela Devipujak gang, were arrested on Tuesday. During investigation, they confessed to the Viramgam crime as well as 30 more such acts in last 1.5 years. Police sources suggest that more such cases may be revealed as they investigate further. On Thursday night, six-seven tribal families residing in a remote area in Hansalpur in Viramgam woke up to sudden chaos. These families are workers engaged in the

Narmada canal work and live in temporary settlements. A gang of seven men carrying weapons and torches attacked them as soon as they came out of the huts. They held the children captive, looted the workers of their savings (Rs30,000) and then raped four of the six women. Investigation revealed that the gang was active not only in the city but also in many areas across Gujarat. The police had deployed four teams across the state to search for the accused. Based on the gang’s modus operandi and a similar incident that had occurred in Sanand over a year back, cops were searching for the gang. RB Brahmbhatt, Ahmedabad range IG, and Gagandeep Gambhir, DSP, Ahmedabad district, and Local Crime Branch were hard at work to solve this case. FSL officers and dog squad were also involved in investigation. Police are probing further. Woman alleges harassment for dowry by husband, in-laws A 35-year-old woman has lodged a complaint against her in-laws and husband for allegedly torturing her for dowry immediately after marriage. Rita (name changed) has an MBA degree. She got married to Dhaval Mehta on November 29, 2011. According to Rita, her father M D Mehta, a retired government officer, gave valuables and ornaments worth Rs. 15 lakh as marriage gifts. In her complaint to Ghatlodia police, Rita claimed that her husband and in-laws, including father-in-law Jagdishchandra Mehta, motherin-law Sudha, and sister-in-law Manali, started asking for more money from her father just three days after her marriage. Her father, a resident of Vastrapur, gave Rs95,000 on December7, 2011, to Dhaval. Not satisfied, he approached him on second day and allegedly took Rs1 lakh from MD Mehta. Rita alleged in her complaint that her husband and in-laws threw her out of their home in Memnagar on the night of December 14, 2011, and refused to take her back. Finally, Rita approached Ghatlodia police on Monday to lodge a complaint against them. (DNA 24/10/12) HC expresses concern over suicides by women (8) MUMBAI: On the day Kandivli resident Kritika Patel jumped from a highrise with her two-year-old, the Bombay high court had expressed concern over the rise in suicide cases and attempts by women harassed by their in-laws. The court had taken judicial cognizance of the rising violence and crimes, including domestic cases, against women while hearing the state's appeal against acquittal in a dowry death case. Observing that it cannot act as a mute spectator, the HC in August 2011 had directed the state to evolve a machinery to ensure that women do not take the extreme step of committing suicide and that some kind of help is easily available to them. A division bench of Justices VM Kanade and PD Kode on October 22 sought to know whether the directions of the court are being complied with. Additional public prosecutor Pradeep Hingorani submitted that the women and child welfare department has detailed steps taken, including setting up of counselling centres, special cells in every district and toll-free helplines. He said there are several departments involved with the issue. "You have taken some steps. But what more can be done?" said Justice Kode. Intervener Tata Institute of Social Science's (TISS) advocate said helplines are working but there must be resource directories attached to them to guide women to professional organizations and facilities, including shelters and lawyers. "There has to be a government-civil society partnership," she added. The judges said only because of the court's efforts does the state takes cognizance of such issues. "It is necessary to change their mindset. They need to be goaded," said Justice Kanade. The judges said women who opt to take their lives need help. "Most women who face harassment at the hands of their in-laws tend to commit or attempt suicide. They need help from trained psychoanalysts," Justice Kanade added. The judges also said they come across a number of cases of dowry deaths and abetment to suicide and that while hearing appeals against acquittal, the court can't mechanically decide appeals, ignoring what is happening in society. They also expressed concern about children being kidnapped for ransom. "Not only women, even children are routinely being kidnapped for ransom. This is shocking," said Justice Kanade. An October 4 report by TISS professor Trupti Panchal said in order to curtail the problem of violence against women it is necessary to set up an autonomous registered society to constantly examine and handle the issue with priority. She added that helplines should act as a referral system depending on the needs of the woman seeking assistance and should be monitored and evaluated. The matter was adjourned. (Times of India 25/10/12) Issue of women empowerment takes front seat in Himachal assembly polls (8) Nurpur: As the political parties geared up for the upcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh, leaders have promised to work for the development and empowerment of the women folk in the rural areas. The leaders believed that giving women more voice in India's political arena would help end gender discrimination and crimes such as rape, child marriage and female foeticide. Expressing dismay as the

number of women losing the elections has increased, Congress leader Vidya Stokes said: "Actually, in Himachal I would say that we are very lucky. Women are very strong by themselves basically, the girls are very hardworking, women are very hardworking and the only problem is when we would talk about that Panchayati Raj system (local government systems), they are doing pretty well and even Zila Parishad (district council), they are doing well. But as far as parliament and assembly constituency, we are not doing very well." "Last time we had seven women and there were only three who won. Second time when I came I was the only single one, the rest of the ladies lost. So, there has to be some reason why women are not voting for women. This is my analysis, I may be wrong. But I think this is analysis because I have been observing for last five years that every time I have seen them going down and down," Stokes added. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalraj Mishra said that 50 percent reservation has been given to women in local bodies election and also promised to fund for the education and marriage of girls. "We have taken up the issue of women empowerment. We had also given 50 percent reservation to women in local bodies election. We have promised to give rupees 10,000 to the poor girls. We have also made arrangements to provide rupees 21,000 for the marriage of the girls. We have expressed concern over the education of the girls. We have also promised to provide the girls with free uniform, bag, and dictionary," said Mishra. The legislative assembly consists of 68 seats, and Bharatiya Janata Party won 42 in the previous election. The single-phase election in Himachal Pradesh will take place on November 4 while counting of votes is scheduled on December 20. (New Kerala 25/10/12) Indian women can live 10 years longer, if they quit smoking before 40 (8) NEW DELHI: Indian women can live 10 years longer, if they quit smoking before their 40th birthday. The largest-ever study on hazards of smoking and benefits of quitting for women has shown that female smokers lose at least 10 years of lifespan, but stopping before they turn 40 avoids more than 90% of the increased risk of dying caused by continuing to smoke. And, quitting before they turn 30 avoids over 97% of the risk. The research, published in the British medical journal The Lancet on Saturday, is based on results from the Million Women Study to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Sir Richard Doll, one of the first persons to identify the link between lung cancer and smoking. Author of the study professor Sir Richard Peto from the University of Oxford said, "If women smoke like men, they die like men - but, whether they are men or women, smokers who stop before reaching middle age will on average gain about an extra 10 years of life." Sir Peto collaborated closely with Indian medical researchers in 2008, and co-authored a landmark study showing that during the 2010s there would be a million deaths a year from smoking in India. He added, "Our new study shows that if Indian men or women stop smoking before age 40, and preferably well before 40, then they will gain about an extra 10 years of life expectancy - and, stopping earlier is even better." Smoking is eight times more prevalent among India men than women. But interestingly, an average Indian female smoker puffs away more cigarettes per day (7) than a male (6.1). One in every five female tobacco users in India uses the smokeless form, while one in 10 smokes cigarettes. Also, an average woman in India is taking up smoking as early as 17.5 years of age as against 18.8 years among men. Dr K Srinath Reddy, president of the Public Health Foundation of India, said while tobacco use among men has dipped from 51% to 48%, it has actually doubled among women from 10% to 20%."Women and girls are the new target of tobacco companies. Increase of tobacco use among women is alarming. The age of initiation is also dipping," Dr Reddy added. The latest study, which sampled 1.3 million British women between 1996 and 2001, found that two-thirds of all deaths of smokers in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are caused by smoking. Although the hazards of smoking until 40 years and then stopping are substantial, the risks of continuing are 10 times greater… (Times of India 27/10/12) Mobile phone as an instrument of women's empowerment (8) Next time round, should an image of Ma Durga hold in one of her hands a mobile phone as a symbol of power? What with the modern makeover given to much of puja imagery these days, such a hi-tech departure from tradition might not be deemed to be iconographically inappropriate. However, it might be considered politically and socially incorrect by the Bahujan Samaj Party's Rajya Sabha member, Rajpal Singh Saini. The former UP minister is quoted as having cautioned his audience against giving mobile phones "to children, especially girls". He went on rhetorically to ask "What are the girls missing without mobiles? Did our mothers, sistersa¦did they die without mobiles during their time?" Having been hauled up by the BSP leadership as well as by social groups for putting his foot in his mobile, Saini recanted his remarks which he said had been twisted by the media, and explained that he had meant only that young students shouldn't be encouraged to use such devices as these might tend to distract them from their

studies. His subsequent clarifications notwithstanding, it would appear that the former minister shares the male chauvinist view regarding the supposedly female trait of talkativeness, summed up in the sexist definition of the three best methods of spreading information: telegraph, telephone and tell-a-woman. However, the emergence of the mobile phone as one of the pivots of the civil society revolution which has been sweeping the world from Tahrir Square in Cairo to the anti-corruption rallies in Delhi and other parts of India has turned the tables on such male bigotry. Several commentators have remarked that without mobile telephony applications such as Twitter and texting, social activism expressed in forms as diverse as the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement and the belated blossoming of the 'Arab Spring' in burqa-veiled Saudi Arabia would not have been possible. Indeed, from micro-financing schemes in Bangladesh to helping fishing communities in Sri Lanka and elsewhere to match the supply-and-demand equation of the day's catch and thereby avoid wastage, mobile phones have been instruments of empowerment, often being 'manned' by women for the common good. To give the BSP ex-minister the benefit of doubt by suggesting that mobile telephony be made an all-male preserve perhaps he was only attempting, in a gesture of old-fashioned chivalry, to protect the so-called 'gentler sex' from the perils of 'pesky messages' which are the downside of the technology. Unfortunately for Saini, he got the wrong number entirely, and the message he inadvertently sent out may end up adding even more mobile power to Durga's elbow. (Times of India 28/10/12) Rape victims have no shelter in Alappuzha (8) ALAPPUZHA: The district doesn't have a children's home for girls that can accommodate rape victims despite the increase in the number of rape cases. The district child welfare committee (DCWC) registered 12 rape cases this year. And five of these rape victims were unable to go back home as they had been sexually abused by the members of their families. "So initially we accommodated these girls in the social welfare department's mahila mandiram in Alappuzha. However, the inmates of the mahila mandiram, which is functioning in a rented ram-shackled house, themselves are living in appalling conditions. That house does not even have a compound wall. Around eight teenagers, including two Chennai natives, handed over by police to the mandiram, have run away in the last two years. It will therefore be not proper to accommodate rape victims, especially teenage girls, there. So we shifted those five girls to the government girls' home in Kakkanad. That too is now full and cannot accommodate any more girls," said a DCWC official. "DCWC member M K Abdul Samad said though the welfare committee had asked the government to set up a rescue home for girls in Alappuzha, the government had not taken any action. Apart from rape cases, the DCWC has also rescued many girls involved in child labour. If the government starts a home for girls, they can also be accommodated here," he said. "Alappuzha has been registering more rape cases than any other district in the state. On June 27, a sixth standard student was raped by her father, brother, uncle and their two friends in Mararikkulam area. "We could not send her back home, and so sent her to the girls' home in Kakkanad. Now her mother keeps approaching us saying she wants to see her daughter, but cannot go to Kakkanad as she does not know how to get there from her village," said Samad. (Times of India 2/11/12) Crime against women on rise, take stern action: Sule (8) Crime against women on rise, take stern action: Sule Mumbai: NCP MP Supriya Sule on Saturday asked Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil to take stern action against perpetrators of crime against women. "Strict action should be taken against the person who commits crime against women," said Sule, the sitting MP and convener of Rashtravadi Yuvati Congress. She was speaking to reporters after handing over a memorandum to Patil to expedite investigations into an attack on a college girl by a youth yesterday. Crime against women on rise, take stern action: Sule Sule said crime against women in the metropolis have risen in the recent past. "Because of which teenage girls cannot go around freely in the city," she added. Crime against women on rise, take stern action: Sule Patil told Sule that a search is on to trace the second accused in the case. Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, during the 50th conclave of her party in Aurangabad last week had asked Patil to take serious note of cases like sexual harassment, eve-teasing, dowry, female foeticide among others. (Zee News 3/11/12) 84 people deny witnessing abuse at women’s shelter (8) Mumbai: The Mumbai police crime branch, till Friday evening, recorded statements of 84 people, as part of their inquiry into allegations that inmates of a government-run women shelter home at Mankhurd were beaten up and raped repeatedly by anti-social elements. All the 84 people have said that no such incident

has happened in their presence. Sources in the crime branch said all of them said they hadn’t heard of any such thing happening prior to the claims by the victim in an interview to the media. The crime branch will submit a report to the state on Monday. “Those who gave statements have spoken about the mismanagement, inadequate facilities and overcrowding in the shelter home,” a source said. A team of unit 6 of the crime branch, under the supervision of Ambadas Pote, deputy commissioner of police (Detection) are conducting the inquiry. The inquiry was transferred to the crime branch following an order by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Monday. A news report on Monday quoted one of the inmates of Navjeevan Mahila Vastigruh at Mankhurd, who fled because of constant threats, saying that several of her fellow women were raped by armed men in the night. She said the staff and police posted at the centre did not help. Chavan has asked the crime branch to trace the said woman, the victims and the administrators of the rehabilitation centre, for questioning. The crime branch has identified the victim who has spoken to the media about the alleged incident but she is yet to be traced, sources said. (Hindustan Times 3/11/12) Woman burnt to death, husband & in-laws held (8) A twenty-year-old woman who was allegedly set on fire by her in-laws at her residence in Malad (East) on Thursday, succumbed to her injuries and died at Bhagwati Hospital on Saturday. The police have arrested the victim’s husband and in-laws and booked them for murder. The deceased Heena Shaikh was staying with her husband Altaf (25), father in-law Lal Mohammed (58) and mother in-law Rehmat Bibi (54) at Umera Park building in the Pathanwadi area of Malad (East). Police said Heena, who hails from from Jalna, was constantly harassed by her in-laws for dowry since her marriage to Altaf in 2011 . “This is a case of dowry death. The victim’s husband and in-laws kept asking for money since her marriage. Even on November 1 they were asking her for Rs 50,000. Angered at not getting the money, Heena’s father-inlaw doused her with kerosene, and her mother-in-law threw a lit match on her. Her husband Altaf did not help her, and instead closed the doors and windows of their residence,” said senior inspector Subhash Daphale of Kurar station. “Heena suffered almost 100 per cent burns, and was taken to Bhagwati Hospital, where she died today. Heena’s brother is the complainant in the case. We have arrested Altaf and his parents for murder. They were produced before a court, and have been remanded in police custody till November 7,” said Daphale. Pamela Bagde, a neighbour said, “Around 11 pm on Thursday, we noticed smoke coming out of the second floor of the apartment in the building. Initially, we thought it was a cylinder blast. However, when we went to the flat, Heena’s husband and in-laws were standing outside. Inside the flat, everything was dark and there was smoke everywhere. On opening the windows, I saw Heena lying on the floor. She was completely burnt, and her body had become stiff. Her husband and in-laws were clearly making no attempt to save her. ” (Indian Express 4/11/12) Pesticides giving women cancer, says Lok Adalat (8) Bangalore: A Bench of the Lok Adalat has observed that the use of banned pesticides has led to cervical and breast cancer among female agriculture labourers in six districts which fall under the Gulbarga revenue division. The Bench comprising Justice D V Shylendra Kumar of the High Court and A N Yellappa Reddy, a member of the Lok Adalat, in its sitting in Bangalore on Saturday, directed the departments of health and agriculture to conduct a survey among labourers and suggest remedial measures. It also asked health department officials to send blood samples of agriculture workers for lab analysis so that treatment can be provided. But while encouraging these progressive steps, the Bench added that ‘extended responsibility’ should be fixed on pesticide manufacturers, to force them to reduce the toxicity level of their products. Yellappa Reddy, speaking to Deccan Herald said they first learnt of the issue during a Lok Adalat session in Gulbarga. Several complaints had been received then, with regard to a large number of female labourers suffering from various forms of cancer. Miscarriages among women also showed a marked increase. In spite of this no scientific study has been conducted to discover the cause of health complications among labourers in Bellary, Koppal, Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir and Raichur districts which fall under the Gulbarga division. “The use of banned pesticides and endosulfan is rampant in these districts. Cotton and tur are grown in large quantum. An entomologist of Agriculture University of Gulbarga had made a power point presentation to the Adalat explaining the adverse effect of the pesticides in the Gulbarga division. We can’t ask the respective authorities to ban the pesticides at one go as farmers will find it difficult to manage. The agriculture department is spending Rs 500 crore to Rs 600 crore to give farmers subsidies to purchase pesticides and fertilizers. The usage has to be scaled down by switching over to bio-pesticides. We have told the government to pay attention in this matter,” Reddy

said. “The State Pollution Control Board has also been criticised for not monitoring air, water and soil quality in districts which show high levels of toxicity because of pesticides. “Directions have been issued to the Board to conduct the tests, and added that it is unfortunate that no one is monitoring the ill-effects of pesticides on humans,” Reddy added. The Lok Adalat has suggested to the Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner, the BWSSB and the Palike to remove existing hurdles, including hazardous industries, so that treated sewage water can be released from Nagawara and Nagasandra lakes to Thippagondanahalli reservoir. Yellappa Reddy said that no less than 100 million litres per day of treated sewage water could be released into the TG Halli reservoir. Palike Commissioner Rajneesh Goel, who appeared before the Bench, said the Palike will make Bangalore a better place in a few months by introducing a proper garbage disposal mechanism. However, he said, the problem can’t be solved overnight. The statement was made when the Bench pointed out that garbage has been clogging drains in the City, affecting the flow of rainwater to lakes. (Deccan Herald 5/11/12) 3 Haryana men rape 17-year-old (8) Kamal: A 17-year-old girl was gangraped by 13 suspects at a railway station near Karnal on Friday night. On Monday, GRP arrested 12 suspects, including a woman, for involvement in the crime. Railway officials said the prime suspect, Ravi, was spotted with the victim at Bajida Jatan station under suspicious circumstances. The victim and the suspects belong to Taraori town of the district. Karnal GRP police station house officer (SHO) Lalit Kumar said the only woman named in the complaint is married to Ravi’s older brother. The victim alleged that the wife of Ravi’s brother had forced her to elope with Ravi. Later, she was allegedly gangraped by 13 people at three different locations. Two suspects are still at large. (Hindustan Times 6/11/12) More women opt government hospitals for childbirth (8) KOZHIKODE: The number of pregnant women approaching government hospitals for childbirth has started showing an upward trend in the district after the launch of the Union Government funded Janani Sishu Surakasha Karyakram (JSSK) by the National Rural Health Mission, two months back. The government hospitals have enhanced their appeal by doling out free treatment and several incentives like transportation allowance and cash handouts under the scheme. The project has become a hit as the family members of women need not worry about treatment expenses and food during the hospital stay as its completely free for the mother and new-born. Under the scheme, the government has been rendering free and cashless treatment to women from both above poverty line and below poverty line categories opting for normal and caesarean childbirths, and free treatment for the new-born up to thirty days after birth. Further it also provides Rs 500 as transportation charge and another Rs 700 at the time of discharge. In contrast, one needs around Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 and additional amount for medicine for a three-day stay for normal delivery cases in private hospitals. Whereas the amount ranges from Rs 25,000 to Rs 79, 000 for a five-day stay and an additional amount to purchase medicines in the case of caesarean deliveries in the private hospitals. The union government introduced JSSK scheme to bring down the infant mortality and maternal mortality rate in the country. According to NRHM district project office, the present infant mortality rate is 13 per 1,000 in the state a year while it is 48 per 1,000 in the country. Maternal mortality ratio is 80 per one lakh in the state while it is 300 per lakh in the country. "There is an increase of 40 to 50% childbirth cases in rural hospitals after the launch of programme," NRHM district programme manager Dr A Baburaj said. "The highest increase in the district was registered in the Kuttiadi taluk hospital. It reported a total of 140 births in October when compared to just 42 in May. The Thamarassery taluk hospital had registered 91 childbirths in just 15 days in the month of September. The Institute of Maternal and Child Health too recorded an increase. It reported 1,114 cases in September which was 1,099 the previous month. Koyilandy taluk hospital reported 21 childbirth cases in September which was just 8 in May. Beach hospital has shown only a slight increase. It registered 83 cases in September which was 66 in May. The Vadakara district hospital has registered 13 childbirths in September which was 16 in May," he said. Kottaparamba Women and Child Hospital superintendent Dr A M Muhammed Alias Kunhavukutty said that the hospital had started getting 10 to 20 cases of childbirth after the launch of JSSK scheme which was just 5 to 10 before the implementation of the scheme. "The hospital however could admit only 199 cases in September due to renovation works. In October, the hospital registered 10 to 20 cases a day," said the superintendent. N K Sinila, PRO-cum-liaison officer with the Perambra taluk hospital said that more and more families have started opting for government hospitals after the awareness programme on JSSK. "The hospital which had registered below 20

childbirth cases in August had witnessed 42 cases in October," said Sinila. (Times of India 7/11/12) Mass production of bio-control agent empowers tribal women (8) “The productivity of spices, especially black pepper, has declined over the years due to various problems of which foot rot of black pepper is one. In the era of promotion of bio-safety and quality products, the farmers are resorting to eco friendly plant protection techniques,” says Dr A. Radhamma Pillai, Programme Coordinator, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ambalavayal, Wayanad, Kerala Agricultural University. Enhance opportunities Moreover Wayanad KVK wanted to enhance economic opportunities for tribals of the district by utilising their labour. For empowerment of farm women, rural transformation and employment are considered important. But the pace of diffusion of technologies was not commensurate with the pace of information generation, mainly due to the poor accessibility, lack of knowledge, and little motivation on the part of farm women. Inspite of this, Wayanad KVK adopted a sustainable livelihood approach by mobilising tribal women who had lost their livelihood by getting displaced from their agricultural land which was acquired for a major irrigation project. This provided a gender responsive learning environment in the laboratory for meaningful translation of lab to life, and hence helping rural productive transformation. In India, more than 70 per cent of the area under black pepper is confined to the Wayanad district in Kerala. One of the major factors attributed to the low productivity of pepper compared to the potential yield, is the high incidence of foot rot disease caused by a fungus called Phytopthora capsici. “It was during the late 90’s, that Wayanad KVK intervened in the crisis through campaigns and training sessions and later identified and isolated the biocontrol agent, called Trichoderma, from soil and started its production for the effective management of the fungal disease,” says Dr. Radhamma. As Trichoderma gained popularity, to meet the increased demand, scientists speculated about its mass production. “In an attempt to explore this as an exemplary opportunity for technological empowerment of tribal women, we had a discussion with the Tribal Development Department and the idea was highly appreciated by them. Following this, we conducted a technological feasibility and economical viability study, which proved promising. We then advertised in dailies about vocational training to be conducted solely for tribal women (youth). Also for identification of good training we were in constant touch with the Tribal Development Department. There was good response and our KVK received many applications,” she explains. A wealth rank analysis of the trainee applications was conducted and the economically weaker candidates were selected. “The analysis was conducted scientifically to assess the economic status of the candidates as we were of the view that economic empowerment will definitely help to improve the socio–economic conditions of the tribal women/ their family and thus improve their overall living standards,” says Radhamma. Thus a tribal group of 13 girls was targeted with an idea of generating self employment to the tribal youth of Nellarchal tribal colony. Thereafter, they were given training for six months’ in the production of biocontrol agents such as Trichoderma and Pseudomonas and were finally registered as a self help group (SHG) called 'Sabari'. During the training programme extension classes were organized an d social awareness and leadership training conducted that helpedhem gain self-confidence. The biocontrol agents are being mass multiplied and distributed through a revolving fund mode employing these trained SHGs under the direct technical supervision of KVK specialists as well as by utilizing the facilities at the Kendra office in Ambalavayal. The members of the SHG gained 35 per cent of the total benefit on an MoU basis with the Kendra. The SHG has been earning a monthly income of Rs. 5,000 which revolutionized the income pattern of their family. The vibrant tribal SHG could assure 55 tonnes production of both the bioagents from 2005-2010 which fetched an income of 38.50 lakhs and has received about 13.48 lakhs. Apprised of the success of this venture, the State Planning Board sanctioned Rs 36.39 lakhs for modernizing the existing bio control lab under the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) for large scale production of the two bio control agents. (The Hindu 7/11/12) WEF bats for female empowerment for growth (8) Gurgaon: A panel of experts in the session “Changing Mindsets: India’s Missing Women” on Thursday at the World Economic Forum on India, addressed the widespread phenomenon of devaluation and marginalization of women in Indian society. Though legislation giving women equal rights and opportunities exists, it has not remedied systematic female discrimination. The problem of enforcement is related to deep-seated cultural perceptions of women in Indian society and ongoing disempowerment of the agents of change, namely the women themselves. Only a multi-level campaign involving political, economic, cultural, civic, education and media stakeholders can have sufficient reach and impact to break

down commonly-held female stereotypes and provide women with the tools to assume an active role in shaping their own lives, panelists said. Krishna Tirath, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Women and Child Development of India, said that the government has passed acts on protecting women from domestic violence, dowry prohibition and workplace quotas. It has also launched the Sabla scheme that provides adolescent girls with health, nutrition, education and life skills. Still, the preference towards boys is a deep-rooted cultural norm which places India at 105th among 135 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2012. The panellists agreed that legislation must be coupled with female empowerment. Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children International, United Kingdom, and Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum on India, proposed implementing “a multi-level sustained campaign” to break down gender taboos and create an environment of change. This would have to take place on many fronts – government (state and local), business, civil society, cultural institutions, educational systems and the media. Several of the panellists illustrated the impact of multilateral mobilization which challenges “the conspiracy of silence” within the framework of their own specific projects. Mallika Sarabhai, Director, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, India, said that for legislation to work, citizens need to know that the police and other state authorities will respond to complaints about female abuse. Her ‘”Nirbhaya” Campaign in Kerala involves working with local government to make the state women-friendly through the implementation of a threepoint agenda: prevention, prosecution and protection. Anuradha Koirala, Founder, Maiti Nepal, Nepal, raises awareness of women and child trafficking while informing victims about how to protect themselves. She does this by going from village to village with a group of policemen, judges, media representatives and students, listening to the experiences of women and then spreading the message about trafficking law, how to report incidents and where to get medical assistance (for sexually-transmitted diseases). One of the problems is a lack of positive female role models in the rural environment. Chhavi Rajawat, Head Sarpanch of Soda, Village Council of Soda, embarked on a project to mobilize women to participate in the village council as elected officials. These projects call attention to things that facilitate the empowerment process. Rajawat emphasized the importance of family-planning to free women up and of training to develop female competence in different areas. Rajendra Singh Pawar, Chairman, NIIT Group, India, observed that technology, specifically mobile phones, improves female connectivity and has resulted in a decline in domestic violence rates. Sarabhai stressed that one can use media, for example TV shows, to create young role models who can then go out into the public to disseminate new ideas and values to men and women. The panellists concluded that India today is at a crossroads. It could become an economic superpower. However, growth will be derailed if 50% of the population continues to be marginalized, devalued and even denied the gift of life. (New Kerala 8/11/12) Crimes against women on the rise' (8) HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh has achieved another dubious distinction in crime against women. Addressing the gathering at a workshop on women-related issues at Jubilee Hall here on Thursday, director-general of police (DGP) V Dinesh Reddy said that going by the number of cases registered by the police, the state stood in the second position in crimes against women in the country. He said dowry and molestation-related offences were on the increase. The DGP said that the police were encouraging women victims of cyber crime to freely come forward and lodge complaints. "We assure women that their identity will be kept confidential and severe action will be taken against the offenders. Objectionable content on websites is being removed," he added. In view of high number of cyber crime cases, police are planning to open a new cyber forensic facility at Visakhapatnam soon. The DGP appealed to home minister Sabita Indra Reddy to pursue with the Union government the proposal for amendment of section 509 (Insult to the modesty of a woman) of the IPC. Keeping in view the acid attacks on women, a proposal has been sent to the Centre to make offences committed under section 509 IPC non-bailable and punishable with three years of imprisonment. (Times of India 9/11/12) Call for severe punishment under Dignity of Women Act (8) Thrissur: A meeting on the proposed Kerala Protection of Privacy and Dignity of Women Act has expressed concern over lack of gravity of punishments suggested in the draft Act for crimes against women. The Act seeks to prevent harassment, sexual assault or any act that violates the dignity and privacy of women within their homes, workplaces or public places, including cyber space. At the meeting, social activist Seena Rajagopal noted that “while the Information Technology Act 2000 slaps a maximum punishment of seven years of imprisonment and Rs.10 lakh for publishing or transmitting material

containing a sexually explicit act, the draft Dignity of Women (Protection) Act has given only three years imprisonment and a penalty of less than Rs.10,000 for crimes against women with or without using gadgets including mobile phone, video graphing, photographing, morphing or internet circulation.” The speakers also sought more clarity in the definition of terms such as ‘public space’, ‘privacy’ and ‘dignity’ in the proposed Act. The meeting urged the government to set up special courts for speedy trial of harassment cases against women. Delay in the disposal of cases forces the victims to relive the traumatic experience of abuse again and again, the speakers noted. The meeting also suggested the formation of a support mechanism for the victims and gender-friendly judicial procedures in such cases. It was the first time that the State government was throwing open a draft bill for wide discussion among the public. The recommendations will be handed over to the State’s Home Ministry. The meeting was organised by various organisations such as ARCHA (Association to Rejuvenate Children with Holistic Approach); MAYA (Media Action with Youth and Adolescents) and Gargi, a women’s organisation. (The Hindu 10/11/12) Number of women cops rise in Patna (8) Patna: With an aim to showcase the 'human face' of Bihar police, a large number of women constables have been put up at important roundabouts of the state capital to man traffic. Women police constables could be seen sweating it out at the traffic post at important intersections of Patna to ensure disciplined movement of vehicles. "We have put 35 women traffic constables on duty at important crossings to control movement of vehicles," senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amrit Raj said. The SSP said the purpose behind the step was to "showcase the human face of the state police". He said the number of women constables on traffic duty would be increased to 100 following the success of the experiment. "This is a good example of women empowerment," the SSP added. While placing women on traffic duty is encouraging, the assignment brings a lot of challenges for the fair sex which could be seen shouting at errant drivers. The job becomes all the more difficult considering the fact that number of vehicles has gone up many times in the capital over the years. According to statistics provided by the state transport department, there were more than 5 lakh small and big vehicles in Patna in 2011 which has a population of around 16.83 lakh. A traffic policewoman Rita Devi said, "Initially I had some hesitation standing on busy roads in male uniform but with time now I don't feel awkward". (Hindustan Times 12/11/12) Women platoon to check eve-teasing(8) GUWAHATI: First of its kind in India, the Assam police has deployed its first batch of women commando force, Virangana, to protect women’s dignity and rights in the state capital. The women commandos, trained in “silent drill” known only to US marines, in martial arts, bike riding and horse riding along with handling of lethal and non-lethal arms, was inducted into the Assam police formally by chief minister Tarun Gogoi here on Saturday. The women commandos, in black uniform and donning violet caps, have been trained to act swiftly against eve-teasers or anyone trying to harm a woman’s modesty. Apart from lethal small arms, the women commandos will carry a pouch containing non-lethal ammunition along with latest electronic devices used to immobilise a target. In an obvious attempt to specialise these commandos to protect women, the “viranganas” were also educated about legal rights of women. Inspector general of police (training and armed police) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who was the architect of women commando force, said, “Virangana is the lone such multi-tasking women commando unit in the country. These women commandoes went through rigorous training in Tamil Nadu.” Informing that “Viranganas” will rule the streets of capital city shortly, Mr Mahanta said, “There are 30 bikes for the team for the time being and they will be posted across Guwahati in different platoons.” The city police is also planning to set up a separate helpline number especially for women in distress, which will be connected to Viangana unit. Director General of Police J.N. Choudhury said that the woman commandos are likely to be deployed in vulnerable places of the city like bars, discos, pubs and clubs and would spread across the state over a period of time. The Assam police had started process of raising women commando force in May itself but G.S. Road incident of molestation of a girl by some miscreants accelerated the process, said one of the trainers who also stressed the need of keeping the commandos under frequent orientation training besides providing them necessary infrastructure to work effectively. (Asian Age 13/11/12) Who’s anti-women, Modi or the media? (8) We know what Narendra Modi said about Sunanda Tharoor. But we weren’t told about the rest of that speechNow that the pious outrage over Narendra Modi’s tasteless remark describing Sunanda Pushkar

as a “50-crore rupee girlfriend” of Shashi Tharoor has subsided, I hope we can examine the issue in perspective. I write this after viewing Modi’s entire speech on YouTube, delivered during the election campaign in Himachal Pradesh. It provides an illustrative example of how our media steadfastly avoids discussion on serious issues and picks up only sensational and titillating tidbits, especially with regard to women, even while pretending to be guardians of women’s rights and honour. The bulk of Modi’s speech dealt with burning issues such as price rise and Centre-state relations. He focused in particular on the impact of inflation on poor households and addressed specific issues concerning women among the masses. For example, when talking about the effect of the quantum leap in the price of gas cylinders, he expressed concern that the unrealistic quota of six gas cylinders per household per year would affect people in the hill regions more adversely since the cold weather increases the consumption of gas. He pointed out that it would force poorer households to revert to using firewood. That, in turn, would increase women’s drudgery, since they would have to spend hours cutting and gathering fuel wood from forests leading to further deforestation. He then described how the Central government had torpedoed the piped gas supply programme of the Gujarat government, claiming that the state had already provided cooking gas pipelines in 300 villages covering seven lakh households. His plan was to have covered 20 lakh households by this year. Piped gas costs half as much as cylindered gas. But the UPA government passed a law stipulating that only the Central government can supply piped gas. As per Modi’s claim, that project would have saved the Centre Rs 15,000 crore worth of cooking gas subsidy and spared three crore gas cylinders for use elsewhere, but it was sabotaged because the Congress felt threatened by the growing support for Modi among the women of Gujarat. He then declared that he had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to challenge this needless encroachment on the powers of the state government. Modi also talked of perennial power shortages and blackouts in the rest of the country while Gujarat had succeeded in providing uninterrupted electricity to every single village and household. Access to affordable and efficient forms of cooking is an issue of utmost importance for virtually every woman in India. It is a life and death issue for poor rural households where women have to spend hours walking miles on rough terrains scrounging for fuel wood, cutting thorny bushes and trees and carrying loads of firewood for cooking on smoky chulhas that further endanger their health. Deforestation is also a life and death issue for people who live in hilly regions, especially women, because with disappearing forests, fuel, water and fodder become scarce and landslides become a common occurrence. Absence and/ or shortages of electricity have kept our villages impoverished by crushing the emergence of small enterprises and industries in villages…. (Indian Express 15/11/12) Human Rights Watch calls on Colombia to toughen domestic violence laws (8) Washington: Colombia's laws on violence against women are not adequately protecting victims displaced by the armed conflict, the New York-based Human Rights Watch has said in a new 101-page report released this week. The report titled "Rights Out of Reach: Obstacles to Health, Justice, and Protection for Displaced Victims of Gender-Based Violence in Colombia," documents how recent improvements in Colombia's laws, policies, and programs on rape and domestic violence have not translated into more effective justice, healthcare, and protection for displaced women and girls. More than half of the country's roughly four million displaced are female. "For many displaced women and girls, the hardships of displacement are compounded by the trauma of rape and domestic violence," said Amanda Klasing, women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "And despite good laws and policies that have been enacted in recent years, they still face enormous difficulty in getting the medical attention they're entitled to. And, they rarely see their abusers brought to justice." Colombia has high reported rates of rape and domestic violence generally, and national surveys have found even higher rates among the displaced. A 2011 government sponsored survey found that almost 48 percent of displaced women reported suffering domestic violence, and more than 9 percent reported being raped by someone other than their partner. This compares to 37 percent of women in the general population who reported intimate partner violence, and 6 percent who reported rape by someone other than their partner, in a 2010 national survey. Official data on violence against women is limited, however, especially on sexual violence related to the conflict and displacement. Human Rights Watch has called on the Colombian Government to collect this data, to better adapt its laws and policies to protect displaced women and girls. Human Rights Watch interviewed 80 displaced women and girls, nearly all of whom were victims of rape or domestic violence, living in 4 major cities, along with more than 100 government officials, health care practitioners, rights advocates, service providers, and other civil society representatives who have worked extensively with victims of rape or domestic violence. One displaced woman interviewed by Human Rights Watch was raped five

times over the course of a decade; her sister was also raped, along with her sister's 5-year-oldVictims and advocates told Human Rights Watch that officials sometimes asked rape victims humiliating questions about past sexual history, what the victim was wearing, and what she did to provoke the attack. Colombia has one of the most advanced legal and policy frameworks in the region to address violence against women and girls. Colombia's criminal code, laws on the rights of the displaced, and Constitutional Court rulings also address rights and remedies for victims of violence against women. Colombia also has innovative protection measures for victims of gender-based violence and for human rights defenders. These programs offer essential, sometimes life-saving support. Yet displaced women leaders - as well as rights advocates and service providers - identified shortcomings in how these measures work specifically for displaced women. One important concern is that children are not in practice covered by protection measures assigned to them by the National Protection Unit, despite threats against them and despite a ministry of interior protocol allowing them to be covered. Human Rights Watch recommends that the Colombian Government take steps to close the gaps in laws and policies to help displaced women who are victims of sexual and domestic violence by:. Establishing an independent commission to conduct a rigorous review of current practices in institutions that directly provide care or services. Collecting accurate data regarding the scope of gender-based violence related to the conflict and displacement. Expanding, strengthening, and ensuring continuity of training programs for health and justice system employees .Carrying out public awareness campaigns to familiarize displaced women and girls with their rights and the services available to them . Passing pending legislation on access to justice for victims of sexual violence to facilitate successful prosecution of perpetrators of gender-based violence crimes. (New Kerala 15/11/12) ‘Laws on rape being abused’ (8) NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over the increasing number of false cases being registered by migrant domestic workers at the instance of their employers, a trial court has acquitted three persons, working at an NGO, of raping a woman after the victim turned hostile. Additional sessions judge Kamini Lau absolved charges of rape against Shiv Ram, Baldev Jaiswal and Baba Bamdev, all running an NGO for rehabilitation of migrant women, after the victim deposed before the court that she had falsely implicated them at the instance of the owner of a placement agency where she was employed. Directing the Delhi Police to initiate an inquiry against the person who "pressured" the woman to lodge a false complaint and bring them to book, the court said, "Incidents of gross misuse and abuse of the laws relating to rape and sexual abuse and exploitation of uneducated, ignorant and uninformed domestic workers by unscrupulous persons/ placement agencies etc. for their personal gains, is a matter of serious concern." The woman, a migrant from Jharkhand, had alleged that she was raped by the trio on June 2, last year. During the trial, the court however found out that on the date and time of the alleged incident, all the three accused were in the police station in connection with another case. Later, the victim also turned hostile and told the court that she had falsely implicated these men at the instance of her employer who had some enmity against the accused. (Times of India 16/11/12) Eve-teasers not to get driving licence, passport in Madhya Pradesh (8) GWALIOR: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that those indulging in eveteasing will not get driving licence, passport and other government facilities. The step is being taken to control eve-teasing in the state, Chouhan said during a function at the Gwalior trade fair here last evening. Those found involved in eve-teasing would not be given driving licence, passport and character certificate, he said. A database of eve-teasers and those indulging in similar offences would be prepared and appropriate action would be taken against them, he said. A toll free telephone number for registering complaints about eve-teasing and misbehaviour would also become operational soon, the Chief Minister said. (Times of India 20/11/12) One woman dies of abortion every 2 hours (8) NEW DELHI: India, where a woman dies of unsafe abortion every two hours, may soon allow abortion services in its 25,000 primary health centres, which are the first points of care for India's rural population. The health ministry is also looking to allow "mid-level service providers" like staff nurses and ayurveda, unani and siddha (AYUSH) doctors to conduct safe abortions — thanks to the lack of MBBS doctors in the country's rural areas, who are the only ones allowed to conduct an abortion.India has been quite vocal in expressing shock on Savita Halappanavar's death in Ireland. But India itself has a shamefully high

death rate due to unsafe abortions or lack of availability of abortion services. National Rural Health Mission chief Anuradha Gupta said abortion-related deaths contribute to 8% (approximately 4,600 deaths annually) of all maternal deaths in India. Experts say even as India protests to Ireland around Savita's death, it is actually among the 11 countries responsible for 65% of all maternal deaths globally resulting from unsafe abortions. "Savita's death is one among 358,000 maternal deaths annually (based on 2008 WHO data) around the globe. Since she died, more than 1,000 other women have also died every day, due to the combination of obstetric complications and inadequate, inappropriate or no treatment," an expert on abortion services said. India has been dragging its feet on a proposal to extend the cutoff time to legally terminate an unwanted pregnancy to 24 weeks since 2006. At present, according to the country's Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP), 1971, women can abort an unwanted pregnancy till 20 weeks. A committee was constituted to draft recommendations to The MTP Act in 2006. A number of meetings were held till 2010 to finalize the amendments with the primary focus of allowing nurses and AYUSH doctors to carry out abortions. "In India alone, 286 women died due to unsafe abortions or not have having access to abortion services in the past 22 days following Savita's death. The committee looking at amending the MTP Act hasn't met since 2010," an expert on maternal health said. Studies show that only one MTP trained provider is available for 2.24 lakh rural population…. (Times of India 20/11/12) ‘There are laws to protect animals, but none for men’ (8) Lucknow: On International Men’s Day on Monday, a group of men came out on the streets of Lucknow, demanding the formation of National Commission for Men and a Men’s Welfare Ministry. It is urgent, as the government is trying to introduce ‘irretrievable breakdown of marriage’ (IrBM) as a ground for divorce under the Marriage Law (Amendment Bill 2010) which could be easily exploited by many a woman, they said. “Numerous men have to face harassment every day due to misuse of laws, especially those passed for women empowerment,” said Brijesh Awasthi, member of the Army Against Dowry Misuse in India, which organised the rally. Sporting black ribbons across their mouths, they said a protest by a man at home is sufficient for him to become the victim of the misuse of laws. “We are not saying that crimes are not committed against women, but often, just by the mere allegation of a wife, a husband is put to jail,” said Awasthi, who sought a divorce from his wife in 1996 but the case is still in court. This is true for Alok Aggarwal, who says his wife ran away with a paramour. “In 2003 an FIR was lodged against me by my wife, alleging that I harassed her for dowry which included a car,” he says. He had to spend a week in jail, he says. “However, upon advice by people, she retracted her statements and we got back together. Two years later, the friction resurfaced and I filed for divorce, only to face an FIR again and spend another 15 days in jail,” he says. As if that was not enough, he returned from jail to find his house occupied by inlaws, he says, adding that he hasn’t been to that house in four years. (Indian Express 20/11/12) 300 incidents of vigilante attacks in 14 years: report (8) Mangalore: While incidents like the attack on a pub in 2009 and the ‘Homestay attack’ in July earlier this year may have hit national headlines, a report by nongovernmental organisations said there were up to 300 “communal-related attacks” in the district in the years preceding them. Compiling media reports, the fact-finding committee of the Forum Against Atrocities on Women constituted after the assault on college students in Padil on July 28, said between 1998 and the Padil attack, the media recorded 145 attacks pertained to boy-girl interactions, 44 for transportation of cattle and sale of beef, 45 attacks on churches, nine riot situations and 37 other assaults. Drawing from this, the report says: “The only conclusion one can draw is that the inaction of the State has emboldened vigilante elements in the State to continue to enforce their version of morality on the public.” Releasing the report on Sunday here, Hemalata Mahishi, senior advocate, said it would ask why and how Mangalore changed from being a city of peace to being one of communal violence. “We all watched the visuals of the assault on July 28, and we hanged our heads in shame. Who gave them the moral right to attack women? Where did they get the courage to do this? Is there political motivation for this?” she asked. Commenting about the police case against the perpetrators of the crime, she said: “The case looks strong, and need to take it to the logical end. The charge-sheet against them is a step in the right direction. However, we need to see how many eyewitnesses come forward, and how many girls, who have key evidences, will testify. How the case is handled will set a trend and be an example for similar actions in the future.” Ms. Mahishi lambasted the filing of cases against reporter Naveen Soorinje who filmed the incident. “They have made a key eyewitness an accused… It is through the efforts of media persons there that the incident became nationwide

news… Naveen’s case is strong,” she said. Similarly, Vardesh Hiregange, Director, Manipal Institute of Communication, stood by Mr. Soorinje, calling the cases against him “blatantly unjust”. “He fulfilled his role as a journalist. As the crackdown on Tehelka a decade ago shows, the government machinery can resort to complete harassment of those it finds a hindrance,” he said. Making a case for the hundreds of incidents of vigilante attacks to be looked through a larger, grimmer prism, Arvind Narrain of Alternative Law Forum, said these represented an assault on the preamble and the Constitution: the violence was against people who were well within the morality as given by the law; the violence destroyed the freedom to an intimate life; and against B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of a country where people interacted freely. (The Hindu 21/11/12) Slums prefer girl child, says survey (8) Mumbai: It’s a small change; one that heralds hope for the girl child. At least 13% more families from slums in Agripada and Byculla have said they would prefer a girl child over a boy. This was revealed in a survey released on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day, which was observed yesterday. The survey was carried out by students of the Rotaract Club of Lala Lajpatrai College, Haji Ali. Of 180 families who were asked whether they prefer a boy child or girl child, nearly 22% of the families said they’d prefer a girl child. The students said this could indicate awareness of the importance of the girl child has indeed gone up. The students have been on a mission to educate people about the highly skewed ratio and are educating people against female foeticide. Priyank Savla, 20, a third-year student who spearheaded the project, said that the survey speaks of a minor change in attitudes and perception of people vis-à-vis last year. “Although most of those who said they prefer a girl child were those who have a son, surely, people have realised the importance of having a girl child.” Priyank said the preference for a son among such families is to support the family. “Such families, in their desperation for a son, often indulge in female foeticide. We want to educate them that girls are on par with boys and capable of supporting a family,” said Priyank. He added that they will gradually conduct such surveys in other slum pockets across the city. “Presently, we’re just a team of 15 students who have been at work on this survey. We definitely need support for this operation to grow,” he said. (DNA 21/11/12) Haryana should take severe action against anybody caught abetting female foeticide (8) It is indeed good news that Haryana's child sex ratio is finally showing signs of inching up rather than continuing to spiral downwards. However, even at the current level it is shockingly low. A CSR of 846 implies that close to one in six female foetuses is getting aborted. Clearly, the time for celebration is a long way off. The state government must closely study in which districts the improvement is most marked and analyse what the reasons behind the improvement are. Those factors must then be replicated across the state. Meanwhile, action against anybody caught abetting female foeticide must be quick and severe. (Times of India 24/11/12) 17 pc Indian women victim of sexual harassment (8) As many as 17 per cent of working women in India have experienced sexual harassment at their workplace, according to a survey released Tuesday. The survey was conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow and Durgapur by Oxfam India and the Social and Rural Research Institute. "About 17 per cent of working women in India feel that they have experienced acts of sexual harassment at workplace, indicating a high incidence of sexual harassment among working women from both the organised and unorganised sectors," the survey found."Sixty six of the 400 respondents reported to have faced a cumulative of 121 incidents of sexual harassment. 102 out of 121 incidents were reported to be non-physical, whereas the remaining 19 incidents were physical in nature," the survey said. While 87 per cent of the general population and 93 per cent of working women respondents reported awareness of sexual harassment of women at work place, a majority of the victims did not resort to any formal action against the perpetrator. Maximum number of sexual harassment cases was reported among labourers (29 per cent), domestic helps (23 per cent) and small-scale manufacturing units (16 per cent). "Violence against women is a human rights violation, whether it is domestic violence within homes or sexual harassment at the workplace. We believe in the right of every woman to a violence free workplace," said Nisha Agrawal, chief executive officer, Oxfam India. Majority of respondents perceived women working in the unorganised sector to be more susceptible to sexual harassment due to lack of awareness of legislation. Interestingly, 26 per cent reported to be the sole earning member of their families, indicating that economic vulnerability further makes women more

vulnerable to harassment at the workplace. Some of the reasons for not taking any such action were "fear of losing job", "absence of any complaints mechanism at the workplace", "fear of getting stigmatized", and "not aware of redressal mechanism".The survey also found that the Supreme Court guidelines on sexual harassment were known to as many as 17 per cent of the respondents amongst the general population. It was found that awareness of the apex court guidelines was higher in metro cities - 24 percent as compared to other areas. "Although sexual harassment of women is a very sensitive issue, and off late has had a lot of prominence, most workplaces often fail to acknowledge sexual harassment as a concern. Overall, more than 80 percent of the respondents reported the need for a separate law for dealing with sexual harassment at work place," it added. (Times of India 28/11/12) Women rights group demand action in alleged Bangalore sexual harassment case (8) Bangalore: Women rights group staged protests in Bangalore on Thursday and demanded action against the chief administrative officer (CAO) of a prestigious management college after a lady doctor accused him of alleged sexual harassment. The lady medical officer of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, has alleged that the chief administrative officer had been harassing her since 2009. She had lodged a complaint against the accused in the Gender Sensitive Committee (GSC) of the college in 2011, but no action was taken on the complaint. Member of Women Rights' Group, Vimochana, Dona Fernandes said: "This is a complaint of sexual harassment by (against) the Chief Administrative Officer of IIM-B (Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore) of (by) a medical officer. The lady doctor that was working here as a medical officer, she was subject to sexual harassment after she joined over here. Despite the fact that she made a verbal complaint, the harassment did not stop but it increased. She thought it would go away but it just increased. It was daily harassment that she faced, both work related and sexual harassment. He made sexual comments, sexual remarks, all kind of gestures, ogling, staring at her and subjecting her to lot of mental torture and mental harassment." The Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill was passed by the lower house of parliament in September this year and aims to ensure a safe environment for women working in both the public and private sector. The bill still has to be passed by the upper house of parliament, a move that is expected in the coming months. Despite India's economic liberalisation which began more than two decades ago, bringing with it more progressive Western ideas of gender equality and women's empowerment, women continue to face a barrage of threats due to traditional patriarchal beliefs which see them as objects, women's rights activists say. Newspapers on a daily basis recount stories of women being pulled off the streets and gang-raped in moving cars and molestation of women on public transport. According to media reports, the lady medical officer was placed on probation for two years under the CAO and allegedly the CAO started making sexual advances towards her. "The demand is first that they have to give a copy of the enquiry report to the complainant, to the doctor; second, they have to action on the Gender Sensitivity Committee report to why they are dragging their feet over it; third the doctor should be reinstated and fourth we are asking for a judicial enquiry because there are other complaints of sexual harassment also, which have not come out in the open. So, there should be a judicial enquiry and if none of these demands are met, then we are going to take up this issue with the Human Resources Minister because this institute comes under the HR Ministry," said Fernandes. However, the college administration is not available for comment. (New Kerala 29/11/12) Post women cops at public places to stop eve-teasing, SC tells states (8) Mumbai: Expressing concern over the increasing cases of eve-teasing and misbehavior with women, the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that sexual harassment in any form is violation of the fundamental right to live with dignity while passing a slew of directions to curb the reprehensible torture of women. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit by the Tamil Nadu police department against a constable S Samuthiram, who had been dismissed from service for misbehaving with a couple, but acquitted in the criminal case due to inept arguments by the prosecutor. The Madras HC had directed that he be reinstated. The SC has, however, scrapped the HC’s direction regarding his reinstatement and held that acquittal of an employee by a criminal court has no impact on the disciplinary proceedings initiated by the department concerned. The court said Samuthiram was a member of a disciplined force and non-examination of two key witnesses before the criminal court “in our view, was a serious flaw in the conduct of the criminal case by the prosecution.” Describing eve-teasing as a “pernicious, horrid and disgusting practice”, the court said there are different categories of eve-teasing such as verbal, physical, psychological, sexual and harassment through some objects. The judges said that as an increasing number of girls and women

attend educational institutions and work in offices, it’s utmost important for society to protect their honour. Though Parliament is currently seized of the Protection of Woman against Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010, its provisions “are not sufficient to curb eve-teasing,” the top court observed. Thus, it has issued some guidelines. All state governments and union territories have been asked to depute plain-clothed female police officers in the precincts of bus-stands and stops, railway stations, cinemas, malls, parks, public service vehicles, places of worship, among others. The states and UTs have also been directed to install CCTV at strategic positions. The court also directed the persons in-charge of these places to take steps as they deem fit to prevent eve-teasing. When a complaint is made, the nearest police station orWomen’s Help Centre should be informed. Where eve-teasing is committed in a public service vehicle either by passengers or persons in-charge of the vehicle, the crew of such vehicle should drive to the nearest police station and inform the police. Failure to do so should lead to cancellation of the permit to ply. The SC has also asked all state governments and UTs to set up a Women’s Helpline within three months. (DNA 1/12/12) Supreme Court issues directions to curb sexual harassment of women in public transport (8) NEW DELHI: Laying down stringent procedures to curb and punish harassment of women in public transport, the Supreme Court has ordered that in the event of a complaint of a woman, the bus driver must immediately drive the vehicle to the nearest police station. If the driver fails to do so, authorities must cancel his permit to ply. This is part of a series of directions issued on Friday by the court that include installing CCTVs, setting up helplines and proactive steps by authorities to make public places safer, to curb the menace of women being harassed by offenders passing lewd comments and "singing, reciting or uttering" any obscene song or making sounds or gestures to insult their modesty. A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishan and Dipak Misra lamented that Tamil Nadu was the only state to have enacted a law against harassment of women but found it to be "toothless"."We notice there is no uniform law in this country to curb eve-teasing effectively in or within educational institutions, places of worship, bus stands, metro stations, railway stations, cinema theatres, parks, beaches, places of festival, public service vehicles or any other similar places," the bench said. There were many instances where young girls were harassed, which sometimes had led to serious psychological problems and even saw victims committing suicide, the bench said. It felt "eve-teasing generally occurs in public places which with little effort can be effectively curbed".Sexual harassment of women as a crime was difficult for the prosecution to prove in a court of law as complaints are often not filed and few witnesses come forward to depose given the snail-paced trial process, the bench said. Hence, it decided to issue a series of directions to curb the menace till legislatures decide to enact an effective law embodying a mechanism to deal with eve-teasers. Justice Radhakrishna, writing the judgment for the bench, said provisions of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010, still pending with Parliament, was not enough to curb sexual harassment. So, the bench decided to order states to take following urgent measures to curb sexual harassment. * All states and UTs are directed to depute plain-clothed female police officers in the precincts of bus-stands and stops, railway stations, metro stations, cinema theatres, shopping malls, parks, beaches, public service vehicles, places of worship to monitor and supervise incidents of sexual harassment. * States and UTs to install CCTV in strategic positions which itself would be a deterrent and if detected, the offender could be caught. * Persons in-charge of the educational institutions, places of worship, cinema theatres, railway stations, bus stands have to take steps as they deem fit to prevent sexual harassment, within their precincts and, on a complaint being made, they must pass on the information to the nearest police station or the women's help centre. * Where any incident of sexual harassment is committed in a public service vehicle either by the passengers or the persons in charge of the vehicle, the crew of such vehicle shall, on a complaint made by the aggrieved person, take such vehicle to the nearest police station and give information to the police. Failure to do so should lead to cancellation of the permit to ply. * States and UTs are directed to establish women's helpline in various cities and towns to curb sexual harassment within three months. * Suitable sign boards cautioning act of sexual harassment be exhibited in all public places including precincts of educational institutions, bus stands, railway stations, cinema theatres, parties, beaches, public service vehicles, places of worship etc. * Responsibility is also on the passersby and on noticing such incident; they should also report it to the nearest police station or to the helpline to save the victims from such crimes. * States and UTs would take adequate and effective measures by issuing suitable instructions to the authorities concerned including the District Collectors and the District Superintendent of Police in order to take effective and proper measures to curb such incidents of sexual harassment. (Times of India 2/12/12)

Bill in LS to make sexual assault a gender-neutral offence (8) New Delhi: Both men and women could soon be able to invoke the provisions of a criminal law in case of sexual assault, once a bill in this regard is passed by Parliament. The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, replacing the word 'rape' by the phrase 'sexual assault' and seeking to widen the scope of the offence, was introduced by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde in the Lok Sabha today. The amendment bill expands the definition so that cases of sexual assault where victims were male would fall under the same law along with cases where victims were women. At present, the offence is defined under section 375 of the Indian Penal Code as per which a man is said to commit 'rape' in case he has sexual intercourse with a woman against her will. The bill also carries provisions which makes carrying out of acid attacks a separate offence punishable by a maximum of ten years' in jail. Attempt to do so could send the accused to jail for 5-7 years. Under the bill, an offender can be jailed for life in cases of sexual assault, irrespective of the victim's gender. The term 'sexual assault' has also been widened to include forced unnatural sex. The bill lays down strict provisions under which persons below 18 making a complaint will not have to face the accused in court or police stations. It has raised the age of consent from 16 to 18 years. (Deccan Herald 4/12/12) Punjab cop shot dead by eve-teasers in public view while trying to save daughter (8) AMRITSAR: A policeman was murdered in full public view after he opposed to some men on Wednesday, allegedly including an Akali Dal activist, who were harassing his daughter. Assistant sub-inspector Ravinderpal Singh was shot dead from point blank range in Chehertha locality here following an argument with the assailants, who later managed to escape from the spot in a car, police commissioner Ram Singh said. The key accused has been identified as Shiromani Akali Dal district urban secretary Ranbir Singh Rana, Singh said, adding that a police team has been dispatched to arrest the accused. Ravinderpal was rushed to the hospital with heavy bleeding where he was declared brought dead, he said. He had reached the spot after being informed by his daughter, a bank employee, who had earlier also complained that she was chased and harassed by these youths, he said. According to Singh, she had told her father that the group of youth would regularly intercept her while on her way to office and pass lewd comments. (Times of India 5/12/12) Eve-teasing a non-bailable offence in Maharashtra? (8) Mumbai: Concerned over the spate of eve-teasing cases in the state, the Maharashtra government is considering a proposal to make it a non-bailable offence. Minister for Women and Child Welfare Varsha Gaikwad told a news agency that she will discuss the issue with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and set up a committee comprising social workers and women legislators to examine a draft bill called the Maharashtra Prohibition of Eveteasing and Harassment of Women Act, prepared by the Help Mumbai Foundation. A delegation from the NGO met Gaikwad and submitted a memorandum along with the proposed bill, demanding that it be tabled in the legislature so that a law with sufficient teeth is enacted to protect women from eve teasing and sexual harassment. According to the NGO, 80 percent of women do not register a complaint due to family pressure and fear of being targeted or stigmatised. The Help Mumbai Foundation's director Sana Sayed said that Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, which are presently bailable offences, should be cognisable and non-bailable ones. Offenders should be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend up to three years and a fine of not less than Rs 20,000. Death or suicide of a woman due to harassment should be penalised with imprisonment of a term which may extend to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000, she said. Recently, Santosh Vichivara (19) was killed by five eve-teasers in neighbouring Dombivli for protesting against eve-teasing. He was assaulted and stabbed outside the gate his housing complex. (Zee News 8/12/12) HC pulls up forces for 'disrespecting' women (8) New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has called for the strictest action against armed forces personnel who misbehave with women while in uniform, including removal from service. The court made the observation while upholding the dismissal of a central industrial security force personnel, Deepak Kumar, who had passed lewd comments against a married women while in uniform. "The slightest deviant behaviour by men in uniform directed against the female sex cannot be countenanced. The government is called upon

to take the toughest action against such personnel", ruled a bench of justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice Manmohan Singh. "No leniency can be shown to a force personnel, who in dress indulges in eve teasing. Only four days back the Supreme Court has issued directions to secure the safety of women in public places and who else would do so other than those who don the khaki uniform", noted the bench. "The national emblem is worn on the dress by the men in khaki and they must realise the honour bestowed on them of being the only ones permitted by law to don the national emblem on their dress", the judges said dismissing Kumar's appeal against his dismissal. The court said, "the testimony of the three prosecution witnesses who had confronted Kumar when the husband of the women…were baying for Kumar's blood and the fact that Kumar was hiding inside amply proves that he had confessed to have indulged in eve teasing." The Supreme Court had on November 30 issued a long list of dos and don'ts to states and union territories to tackle sexual harassment of women in public places. Terming it a violation of women's fundamental right to live with dignity, the SC asked states and union territories to deploy women cops in plainclothes and install CCTV cameras at public places. The high court was shocked by the fact that security personnel themselves were indulging in eve teasing and a higher number of cases of personnel sacked for misbehaving with women were coming before it. In August, the same bench had upheld the dismissal of two personnel involved in such serious indiscipline in separate cases. In one of those cases, a BSF jawan Sumed Singh had tried to molest a woman by breaking into her house adjacent to his barrack in a drunken state. (Hindustan Times 9/12/12) India can learn from us on women empowerment: Bangladesh MPs (8) New Delhi: India could learn from Bangladesh in the way it is tackling crimes against women, including acid attacks, as well as making strides in women's empowerment, say women parliamentarians from the smaller neighbouring country. "Yes, India can learn a lot from Bangladesh in the field of women's empowerment. We have more girls in schools than boys, we have successfully tackled acid attacks by bringing in two tough laws and our crack-down on 'eve-teasing' has proved a strong deterrent," Tarana Halim, an MP of the ruling Awami League, told IANS. Female foeticide is something that does not take place in Bangladesh, according to Halim, a lawyer by profession and a former television star. "There is no such preference for a son in Bangladesh." An MP of the ruling Awami League claimed that female foeticide does not take place in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, which has been ruled alternatively by two women prime ministers for the past two decades, has a sex ratio that is equally balanced. Of its over 152 million population, males constitute 76.3 million and females 76.1 million. India, a country of 1.2 billion, on the other hand, has a skewed sex ratio of 940 females per 1,000 males - due to the preference for a boy child in some parts of India, especially northern India. "There are more girls than boys in many schools across Bangladesh. In many schools, the ratio is 200 girls to 150 boys. The government provides free education to girls, irrespective of economic background, right up to Class 12," says Rumana Mahmood, an MP of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The government also provides free books for both boys and girls up to Class 9 - irrespective of economic class, Mahmood, the MP from Sirajganj, told IANS, adding her party chief and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia "has done a lot for women's education".The two were part of a Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation that visited New Delhi recently. Bangladesh has two stringent laws to tackle acid attacks on women, which has helped bring down the number of such cases. "In 2002, the Bangladesh government passed two laws - against acid throwing and against possession and sale of acid, which has brought down the acid attack cases," said Halim. Data by Acid Survivors Foundation Bangladesh says there were 3,000 reported acid attack victims in the country from 1999 to 2010. While there are no proper statistics for India, according to Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School, a search of Indian newspapers found 153 reported cases from 2002 to 2010. The study says the Bangladesh laws have brought down the number of reported acid attacks by 15 per cent to 20 per cent a year. The study says in contrast, acid attacks are on the rise in India, where no such laws exist. The Indian cabinet in July 2012 cleared a proposal under which acid attack cases would be brought under a separate act punishable with a maximum ten years of imprisonment. Sexual harassment of women is another rampant problem that Bangladesh has "handled well", said the women parliamentarians. "Whenever a case of 'eve-teasing' takes place, the girl raises alarm and the women around her collectively raise protest. A mobile court hands down punishment orders at the spot," said Halim. On December 1, the Indian Supreme Court took a strong view of the problem and said it has "become a pernicious, horrid and disgusting practice...". It directed states to depute plainclothes women officers at public places to check the crime. Women are well represented in politics in Bangladesh with 50 seats reserved for them in the 350-seat Parliament, besides 17 elected

seats too, said Halim. That works to around 20 percent of the total seats. In the 15th Lok Sabha, women constitute 11 per cent, while a bill to reserve 33 per cent seats for women in parliament and state assemblies is hanging fire due to objections from some parties. Both the Bangladeshi MPs said with pride that women voters comprise "over 50 per cent" of the electorate in their country. "The government is woman-friendly and (Prime Minister) Sheikh Hasina is determined about women empowerment... Whenever we come forward with any women-friendly proposal, she tells us 'Just go ahead and do it'," said Halim. (CNN IBN 10/12/12) 9,433 cases of domestic violence against women in 2011 (8) Bhubaneswar: Women and Child Development Department (W&CD) secretary Arti Ahuja on Monday laid emphasis on coordinated multi-stakeholder efforts at various levels like State, district, block and gram panchayats to generate awareness about the issue of domestic violence, the legal provisions and the support systems that are available for women to fight against domestic violence. She was speaking at a one-day State-level consultation on ‘Convergence Issues related to Domestic Violence and a Stocktaking of the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence (PWDV) Act Implementation in Odisha.’ The consultation was jointly organised by the Oxfam India and the Friends’ Association for Rural Reconstruction (FARR). In Odisha, a total of 9,433 cases were registered in the year 2011 as crimes against women as per the National Crime Records Bureau data and accounting for 4.1 per cent of allIndia share. Approximately, 43 per cent of the cases have been accounted for as dowry deaths, cruelty by husbands, sexual harassment and dowry tortures. A comparative incidence of crimes against women during 2005 to 2010 has shown a rate of increase by 36 per cent, said Pramila Swain of the FAAR. Stating that violence against women needs urgent attention from both Government and private sectors, Regional Manager of Oxfam India, Hyderabad, Shaik Anwar said it is pertinent to spread awareness on the issue of domestic violence in the society. He also said it is very important for the NGOs to ensure that the PWDV Act is implemented with all its provisions to support women facing domestic violence. Many women form different parts of the State attended the consultation. (Pioneer 11/12/12) Jharkhand set to announce Women’s Policy in March 2013 (8) Ranchi: Gloomy days for Jharkhand women may soon end. The State Women and Child development department has finally decided to announce The State Women Policy on March 8, 2013. As per the information received to The Pioneer, this decision was taken at a State Ministerial level meeting on December 7. Talking to The Pioneer, member of the Jharkhand State Commission for Women Vasvi Kido said, “The drafted copy of Women Policy after consultation with the other government headed women organisations and referring to women policies functioning in 17 states of India was given to State Women and Child development minister Bimala Pradhan in public domain on November 11 in 2010. It was supposed to be announced on March 8, 2012.” Dr Maya Prasad, senior member of National Alliance for Women’s Organisation, expressed her pain in government’s incapability to implement this policy. “Our government lacks knowledge on women sensitisation,” said Maya. She further added, “Until, Women Policy is not established, the state will face hurdles in generating fund for women empowerment and development in all the sectors.” According to Women Commission Act the role of state women commission is to grab the attention of the Court towards women issues but in most of the cases it is dysfunctional since Women Policy has not yet been implemented. State Women Commission is limited in taking serious action over a women violence case. At its own level, all it can do is counsel the victim and the culprits and if required forward the matter to the court. Mayor Rama Khalkho had also pressurized the government to implement this policy at the earliest. Chattisgarh which was carved from Madhya Pradesh had implemented this policy but Jharkhand is still incapable to establish it irrespective of the fact that it ranks among the top position in Human Trafficking and is suffering with increasing number of Domestic Violence Cases. (Pioneer 11/12/12) Women's body seeks honour killing report (8) KOLKATA: Five days after a young woman was beheaded by her brother in Nadial in south-west Kolkata for an alleged extra-marital affair, the state women's commission has decided to take suo motu cognisance of the honour killing and asked the police to submit a report within a fortnight. On Friday, Mehtab Alam (29) had dragged his sister Nilofer Biwi (22) to a public street and hacked her head off with a butcher's knife. Alam had then walked with the head to the Nadial police station and surrendered. According to his statement, he had chopped off Nilofer's head because she had run off with her lover

Firoz, sullying the family's honour and reputation in the locality. Nilofar was married for eight years and had two children. "Honour killing is a heinous crime and we have never come across such a barbaric case in the state in the past. Such an incident is unimaginable and unacceptable. It is not a matter of just one person but the society at large," said West Bengal commission for women chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee. The commission has written to the deputy commissioner of police on Monday, demanding a detailed report on the probe of the case. The horrific nature of the incident apart, what shocked everyone is that no one intervened when Alam beheaded Nilofer on Abdul Khalil Road or tried to apprehend him when he walked with the decapitated head. Alam, too, did not show any remorse after the murder. Worse still, his family or neighbours supported his act and claimed they were proud of him. They felt the act of beheading Nilofer had brought dignity back to the family. "The family justifies the killing in the name of pride and honour. But a person's life is above all that," added Mukherjee. "Once we get the investigation report, we will convene a meeting with the concerned authorities and take strong and necessary steps to avoid recurrence of such incidents," said Mukherjee. The commission will also visit Saboo, Firoz's sisterin-law, who was severely hurt while trying to save Nilofar, and provide medical assistance. In the police custody, too, Mehtab Alam showed no regret. When presented before the Alipore court on Saturday, he waved at relatives and walked with obvious pride. (Times of India 12/5/12) Social degeneration behind rise in crime against women: Badal (8) Begowal (Kapurthala): In an apparent bid to downplay recent criminal acts by political leaders, Punjab chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patron Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday blamed "degeneration of society" for increase in crime against women in Punjab, and stressed that "such incidents occur in every civilised society".Badal was replying to media queries on reports of eve-teasing leading to violence. He was speaking at the residence of the SAD's Bholath MLA Bibi Jagir Kaur, who is on bail after partly serving a jail sentence for forcible abortion of her daughter who died later. While an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), who was resisting harassment of his daughter, was shot dead by the SAD's since-ousted district unit general secretary Ranjit Singh Rana in Amritsar last week, a group of miscreants attacked a TV news reporter in Jalandhar on Monday after he tried to save a girl from molestation. Not ready to take responsibility for alleged police inaction in these cases, Badal told reporters: "Every time such a crime against women occurs in the state, I get hurt personally. But, you can't judge the situation on the basis of two or three such incidents in isolation." He said the government's responsibility was to arrest the culprits, "and we have done that within 24 hours".Referring to the August shooting incident in Wisconsin, Badal remarked, "Even in the US, Sikhs were killed in firing inside a gurdwara." The veteran leader also underlined that while "several states in the country are witnessing bad state of law and order, Punjab is considered the only state where communal harmony is intact, due to government's efforts".Going further, Badal opined that there was a need to "improve" society as well, adding that the state would consider amending the law to enhance punishment for crimes against women. On the alleged patronisation of criminal elements in the SAD, a visibly irritated Badal said that neither he nor his son and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the president of the party, was aware of the antecedents of the Amritsar ASI murder accused Rana: "Such appointments are usually made at the district level." He stressed that that the SAD-BJP government was following "a policy of zero tolerance" against crime and criminals. (Hindustan Times 12/12/12) 60,000 women attend day 1 of Annual Sunni Muslim meet (8) Mumbai: Muslim girls should use mobile phones only to stay in touch when they are outside and not at home, said a Sunni leader at the 22nd Annual International Sunni Ijtema (Conference) organised by Sunni Dawat-e-Islami, an international organisation, at Azad Maidan, on Friday. Issues related to women in the community were brought up on the first day, reserved only for women, of the three-day conference. The annual convention is known to be one of the biggest gatherings of Sunni Muslims in the country. "The conference is a community-building exercise and a platform to educate the community about the basics of Islam," said Mohammad Rizwan Khan, a member of the organisation. Chief Sunni jurist Mufti Nizamuddin Misbahi answered several queries put up by a congregation of more than 60,000 women that ranged from whether a woman can resort to abortion to whether girls should use mobile phones. "Mobile phones should be used only when necessary to stay in touch with one's family when the girl is outside, but it could be misused if it is used at home because it is not necessary," the mufti said. On the issue of abortion, he said that it should be the last option only if complications arise, and after 12 weeks, it would equate to killing a human being. The mufti also asked women not to restrict their movements and chores

due to myths about the eclipse. (Hindustan Times 15/12/12) Plea NGO files petition in HC to curb eve-teasing, harassment (8) MUMBAI: A Mumbai NGO, Help Mumbai Foundation, has filed a writ petition in the Bombay high court to prod the state government and the railways to undertake measures to curb eve-teasing, sexual harassment and make the city safe for women. The plea seeks that the strength of women in the police force, both in the state and railway forces, be increased by 25%. Currently, there are only 105 women constables in the Railway Police Force (RPF) on Western Railway (WR) and 126 on Central Railway (CR). This is less than the 10% mandated by a standing order of the Railway Board. The petitioners have pointed out that 20 lakh women commute by train every day in Mumbai and the number of women police personnel is too few to instil confidence in commuters. However, there are no women personnel in patrolling squads and male constables are usually deployed in women's compartments at night. The NGO has pointed out that the first direction given by the Supreme Court in its November 2012 judgment is that all state governments and Union territories must depute plain-clothes female police officers in the precincts of bus stands, shops, railway stations, cinema theatres, shopping malls, parks, beaches, public service vehicles and places of worship to monitor incidents of eve-teasing. "Mumbai police constabulary, RPF and Government Railway Police do not have sufficient women constables to be posted in all these places named by the Supreme Court in its judgment," said Sana Sayed, director, Help Mumbai Foundation. "Therefore the police and law enforcement agencies need to recruit sufficient number of female constables and officers so that they can be posted at various points that the judgment mentioned," she added. The petition, which is yet to be admitted by the HC, has also sought directions to be given to the various administrative divisions to ensure better co-ordination between the forces. It also seeks a mechanism for regular monitoring of public spaces. It urges the court to direct the state government to implement the Justice Chandrashekar Dharmadhikari committee report. The committee was set up in 2010 with the mandate to recommend measures to prevent atrocities on women, including amending various sections of the IPC relating to crimes against women. Early this month, the committee submitted an interim report to the government. "We want sections 354, 506 and 509 to be made non-bailable. This has already been done by the AP and Orissa governments," said Sayed. (Times of India 16/12/12) Andhra's claims on women empowerment questioned (8) HYDERABAD: Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh took an indirect dig at the State Government for not making available individual sanitary latrines or, at least, community toilets in spite of its tall claims on women empowerment. Mr. Jairam recalled his experience in Anantapur district recently where he accompanied Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to interact with self help groups. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy made several claims on women empowerment including provision of basic amenities to them. “But when asked for their views, seven out of 10 women in the gathering said they had no toilets and so they defecate in the open. This is the state of affairs in spite of the fact that a majority of these women are enrolled in the self help groups for over five years,” he said. Mr. Jairam Ramesh was addressing the participants at the valedictory of a national conference on community based approaches for inclusive growth here on Saturday. The Minister announced the Centre’s decision to extend loans at seven per cent interest to SHGs from April 1 next year bringing them on a par with the farmers. The interest rate would be further reduced to 4 per cent in 150 districts selected on the basis of parameters like Dalit and population of tribal people and incidence of naxalites. In addition, the Centre’s decision to implement direct benefit transfer scheme would come in handy for the SHG women who could act as franchisees in reaching out the amounts to targeted beneficiaries. “This is not a scheme where money is deposited in the accounts. It involves cash transfer and SHG women can utilise their network as banking correspondents for effective delivery of cash at the door steps, of course, charging some commission from the Government,” he said. The State had registered 1,500 SHG women as franchisees to operate post office accounts and the model could be replicated in the banks too in the coming days. The Minister explained that the salient feature of the national rural livelihood mission project was to reach out to the grass roots for which the elected local bodies and the SHG groups formed two main pillars. The women, on their part, should make sure they did not confine themselves to financial issues and looked beyond to address social aspects like women trafficking, sanitation and manual scavenging still prevalent in some parts, he added. (The Hindu 16/12/12) Delhi tops rape tally among metros, states (8)

NEW DELHI: If you have lived in different cities, you don't need statistics to tell you which is the most unsafe city for women in India. A look at the National Crime Records Bureau data confirms the worst fears about Delhi: 572 women were raped in the city last year as compared to 239 in Mumbai. To put it another way, despite having nearly two million more people than Delhi, Mumbai reported less than half the number of rape cases. Other metropolitan cities reported even fewer instances: 47 in Kolkata, 76 in Chennai, and 96 in Bangalore. Higher instances of crime against women in Delhi are often attributed to the influence of its neighbours. And yet, even among its neighbours, Delhi emerges as the worst. While Delhi had seven rape victims among one lakh females in 2011, Haryana had six, Rajasthan five, and Uttar Pradesh two. Among cities, taking into account the difference in population to arrive at the incidence of rape, the results remain as startling: for every one lakh women and girls, as compared to seven rape victims in Delhi, there were three in Mumbai and two in Bangalore and Chennai. Kolkata was the safest among the metropolitan cities with two rape victims for every three lakh women in 2011. These trends have remained unchanged over the last five years. Delhi has consistently held the top spot in the rape tally. (Times of India 18/12/12) Public spaces are becoming barbaric (8) Women activists are horrified at the brutal gangrape of the 23-year-old para-medical student in a white line bus in New Delhi on Sunday night. Prof. Lata Singh, a historian teaching at Maitree College, warns against the increasing masculinsation of all public spaces in the country. “It’s barbaric. We are moving towards greater brutalisation, especially since only a decade ago parents would tell their daughters to use public transport at night since it was considered safer,” said Prof. Singh. Brinda Karat, CPI(M) member politburo said, “It is the most horrendous thing that could happen in the capital city. What is most alarming is that there was no help available. The police are supposed to provide mobile security to women but in this case, not only was she raped in a bus but she and her friend were both thrown out of the bus.” Activist Sujata Madhok believes that greater focus needs to be given to women-related crimes. “We need fast-track punishment to deal with cases of rape. In Rajasthan, when a tourist was raped some time earlier, a fast- track trial ensured the rapist was convicted within a period of one month,” she said. “As far as Delhi is concerned, the key question to be asked is what kind of capital city are we living in if they cannot ensure the safety of citizens,” said Ms Madhok. NGOs believe there is a deliberate effort being made to push women back into the “four walls of their homes” especially since incidents like this are going to make parents fearful. (Asian Age 18/12/12) Muslim women demand ban on triple talaq (8) Mumbai: The Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) Monday demanded a ban on verbal talaq and stern action against clerics who advocate the practice. The annual BMMA convention attended by women from 12 states who had been affected by the so-called triple talaq unanimously resolved to ask for the codification of Muslim personal law. “We demand that the state take steps to ban triple talaq. We would also want the government to take legal action against any qazi who is found to promote triple talaq,” BMMA founder member Zakia Soman said. BMMA demanded an end to the unilateral pronouncement of talaq and the mandatory presence of an arbitrator for all divorce proceedings. The organisation’s proposed Talaq-e-Ahsaan does away with verbal talaq, and lays down that any rule or interpretation of Muslim law pre-dating the commencement of the the new law would cease to have effect. Participants at the conclave shared their personal experiences as they discussed the way forward for the women of the community. Many of those who attended had been given talaq for frivolous reasons that included, in one case, an allegation that the woman’s eyesight was weak. Andolan members also demanded that the clergy stop delivering fatwas on talaq. “They should refrain from issuing fatwas... The Madhya Pradesh High Court had asked the Masjid committee to refrain from delivering verdicts in talaq cases or issue fatwas related to marriage and divorce,” BMMA national council member Safia Akhtar said. (Indian Express 18/12/12) Delhi gangrape shakes Parliament (8) New Delhi: Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Tuesday announced a special task force headed by the union home secretary to look into the safety of women in Delhi, and to take steps to make the capital safer for them as MPs came together in Parliament to express their indignation over the gangrape of a 23-year-old woman on Sunday night. Several MPs demanded the death penalty for those committing such crimes. Shinde said the gangrape case would be heard by a fast-track court, and promised an

inquiry and strict action if any lapses by police were found. Late on Tuesday evening, Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Safdarjung hospital and met doctors on duty in the anaesthesia and surgery departments to get an update on the victim’s condition. She spent about 15 minutes in the hospital, and spoke to members of the victim’s family. Sonia also wrote to Shinde and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, urging them to take all possible steps to prevent the recurrence of such an incident. Earlier in the day, the discussion in Rajya Sabha saw an emotional outburst by actor-politician Jaya Bachchan who said she was “terribly disturbed” over the incident, and felt “ashamed” sitting in the House as she was “helpless” for “not being able to do anything”. Bachchan, who broke down while speaking, said the “act of sexual assault should be treated on par with attempt to murder” and demanded that “section 307 of the IPC should be amended to include rape under its purview”. She also grilled Shinde, asking if he had made any “announcement saying that you are really sorry that something so shameful has happened in our country and you will take very strict action?” “I am very worried about the parents of this girl. Everybody will forget what is going to happen to her, but she will remember for the rest of her life. It will be a scar,” she said in a choked voice. The issue was discussed in both Houses with members cutting across party lines expressing serious concern about repeated rape cases in Delhi. Setting the tone, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj made a strong pitch for capital punishment for such crimes while Congress’ Girija Vyas said death penalty could lead to the murder of a rape victim. Speaker Meira Kumar articulated the outrage of the entire House over the “spine-chilling” incident and asked the government to take strong action in the matter. In both Houses, women members took the lead in expressing outrage and demanding action. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice and question hour could not take place because the entire opposition wanted to discuss the issue of safety of women in the capital. Like Swaraj, many members in the Rajya Sabha including the BJP’s Najma Heptullah, AIADMK’s V Maitreyan and DMK’s Vasanthi Stanley demanded death penalty for rapists. “Death penalty is the only punishment we should give,” Heptullah said. BJP’s Ram Jethmalani created a flutter as he called the Delhi police commissioner the “most notorious criminal” in the city and called for his removal. “The crime situation in Delhi will not improve, unless you don’t remove the most notorious criminal of the city, and that is the present police commissioner in Delhi,” he said. The discussion took political overtones on many occasions. BJP’s Venkaiah Naidu slammed the government and said that such “shameful” things are happening “under the nose” of the government, when Parliament is in session. Congress’ Renuka Choudhary, who got into a spat with BJP MPs as she was interrupted, said, “I am not here to defend the government.. We will not allow this incident to become a statistic.” Calling it a terrible atrocity, she appealed to all women MPs to meet the home minister and the Delhi chief minister to chalk out a plan. BSP chief Mayawati called for strict action against the accused saying “just catching them will not help”. JD (U)’s Shivanand Tiwari linked these incidents to consumer culture and commodification of women in advertisements and films, and said that “item dances” are happening in movies. Bachchan objected to this, as she said, “How can you say that this kind of incidents are happening due to item songs”. Replying to the discussion, Shinde said the government proposes to have the case “tried by a fast-track court, with a request for day-to-day hearing, so that the trial does not linger”. Besides, a special task force will be constituted to look into the safety of women in Delhi, taking into consideration suggestions made by members, he added. (Indian Express 19/12/12)

Delhi tops in rape cases among metros (8) New Delhi: The national capital has topped in registration of rape cases among six metros in the country with over 450 such incidents reported last year alone. A total of 453 rape cases were registered in Delhi followed by 221 in Mumbai, 97 in Bengaluru, 76 in Chennai, 59 in Hyderabad and 46 in Kolkata in 2011, according to a Home Ministry data. As many as 414 and 404 cases of rape were registered in Delhi during 2010 and 2009 respectively. In 2010, Mumbai Police registered 194 rape cases, Bengaluru Police 65, Chennai and Hyderabad Police 47 each while 32 cases were registered in Kolkata, the data said. During 2009, 182 rape cases were registered in Mumbai, 65 in Bengaluru, 47 in Hyderabad, 42 in Kolkata and 39 in Chennai, it said. Delhi has also earned a dubious distinction in terms of molestation cases as over 556 such incidents, the highest in six metro cities, were reported last year. The national capital registered 550 and 491 cases in 2010 and 2009 respectively, the Home Ministry data said. Mumbai is not far behind as 553 cases of molestation under the Indian Penal Code were registered by the police last year as against 475 in 2010 and 400 in 2009. Kolkata Police registered 254 cases of molestation in 2011, 226 in 2010 and 201 in 2009. A total of 250 molestation cases were registered in Bengaluru, 157 in

Hyderabad and 73 in Chennai last year. However, Mumbai reported a highest number of 162 cases of sexual harassment followed by 149 in Delhi, 144 in Kolkata, 121 in Chennai, 93 in Hyderabad and 40 in Bengaluru last year. According to the Home Ministry data, Delhi registered 47,212 cognizable crimes under IPC including murder, dowry deaths, arson, burglary and kidnapping in 2011 followed by 32,647 cases in Mumbai and 30,283 in Bengaluru. Delhi Police registered 115 cases of dowry deaths last year, 112 in 2010 and 104 in 2009, the data said. (Zee News 23/12/12) Justice Verma panel gets down to work, seeks public comments (8) New Delhi: The three-member committee of jurists, constituted to give recommendations on amending laws to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in sexual assault cases, began its work on Monday by issuing notice seeking public comments on the issue by January 5. The committee headed by former Chief Justice of India J S Verma sought comments from the public in general, particularly eminent jurists, legal professionals, NGOs, women’s groups and civil society members on reviewing the existing laws in a bid to provide quicker justice and stringent punishment in cases of aggravated sexual assault, an official statement said. The comments can be mailed to [email protected] or through FAX at 01123092675. The committee, which was constituted after public protests erupted over the Delhi gang rape case, will look into possible amendments to the criminal law for faster trial and proper punishment for criminals accused of committing sexual assault of extreme nature against women. The other members of the committee, constituted by the government, are Justice (retd) Leila Seth, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Gopal Subramanian, former solicitor general of India. The panel has been given 30 days to report to the government. (Deccan Herald 24/12/12) Widow raped, male colleague beaten in Gujarat (8) Unjha: A 37-year-old widow was raped Tuesday night by two unidentified people even as her male colleague was stripped and beaten mercilessly, police said. An Unjha police official said the woman and the man were talking to each other sitting in a vehicle when the two men arrived on their two-wheeler and threatened the woman’s colleague with a knife. The duo then stripped the man and beat him, police said, adding one of the two assaulters then tied the woman’s hands and legs with her sari before both of them took turns to rape her. Incident took place between 9 pm and 11 pm last night, the police said. According to police, people heard the cries of the woman in the morning and informed them. “We took her to the police station and she stated in her complaint that the rapists were aged between 25 and 30 years," they said. The woman's male colleague was brought in an unconscious condition to the police station and both were later admitted to Mehsana Civil Hospital, the police said. Mehsana LCB inspector HP Dave is investigating the case. (DNA 27/12/12) 12-year-old girl gang-raped in Bihar (8) Patna: A 12-year-old girl was gang-raped by three youths in a village here, police said Thursday. The crime took place two days ago and an FIR was lodged after intervention by senior officials. The minor was gang-raped when she was going to her grand parents' house in Choti Kewai village from her native village Sigriyavan at a distance of about two km. "Initially the police refused to lodge a first information report (FIR) when we informed about the incident. The police officials told us that it was a case of eveteasing, not a gang-rape," the maternal uncle of the victim said. "We then complained to senior police officials. After that, a case was registered (Wednesday)," he said. "A case has been registered against three accused - Guddu Yadav, Arjun Yadav and Annu Kumar. They are residents of Choti Kewai village," Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sunita Kumari told IANS. The police raided several places to arrest the accused who are absconding. (DNA 27/12/12) Law to deal with Delhi gang-rape accused expeditiously: PM (8) New Delhi: A day after unveiling measures to review laws dealing with sexual assault, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the law will deal with the culprits in the gangrape case in the capital expeditiously. Singh, addressing the 57th meeting of the National Development Council (NDC), asked all chief ministers to pay special attention to the critical area of security of women. On the brutal gangrape of a paramedical student here on December 16, he said, "In this particular case, the culprits have been apprehended, and the law will deal with them expeditiously. "Let me state categorically that the issue of safety and security of women is of the highest concern to the government. A Commission of Inquiry is being set up to look into precisely these issues in the capital," the Prime Minister said. He said there can

be no meaningful development without the active participation of half the population and this participation simply cannot take place if their security is not assured. "I urge all Chief Ministers to pay special attention to this critical area in their states," Singh said. (DNA 27/12/12) Men raise their voice against sexual harassment (8) CHANDIGARH: Protests to condemn the Delhi gang rape are continuing in the city. It's not only women who are raising their voice against such incidents but men too. The last couple of days have seen demonstrations in the city and nearby areas, where men in good numbers were seen raising their voice against sexual harassment of women. On Wednesday, men gathered at Sector 17, where they protested the rape of the 23 year old student in Delhi and also organized a signature campaign, where men\boys took a pledge that they would not allow sexual harassment to take place. On Monday, a protest was staged in Sector 5, Panchkula, which saw a large number of men protesting along side women. " Youngsters these days don't hesitate to do anything brutal. Even educated boys tease girls. Boys should be taught how to behave and respect women and not browbeat them," said Ashwani Sharma, a bank employee, who had joined in the protest at Sector 17. Sharing similar sentiments, Arjun Sharma, a class VIII student of Bhavan Vidyalaya said, "Though I am not a grown-up, I know how to treat girls," while adding, "I always pick and drop my sister from wherever she wants." Rohit Puri, another student at Sector 17 said, "Boys who don't have a good background indulge in such activities. But they have no right to spoil somebody's life".Lavanya Sabarwal, a B.Tech student said, "I will not be at peace until the butchers involved in the Delhi rape case are given the death penalty." Pankaj Rajput, a government employee said, "Men have lost their humanity. They have no respect for women" while adding, "After the horrific Delhi rape incident, I have become more cautious regarding my mother and sister. Women must also learn to save themselves from rapists. Every school should have an extra period for teaching them self-defence." Harman Bains, a BCom graduate, who had been a part of the recent protest in Panchkula said," Arrest warrants should be taken out against offenders immediately even in eve-teasing cases and they should be put behind the bars for two-four days so that they realize their mistake." (Times of India 27/12/12) Vijayawada recorded one rape case per month in the last 11 months (8) VIJAYAWADA: Labelled as the 'global city of the future', Vijayawada seems to be hardly safe for women if one goes by crime statistics. Notwithstanding the tall promises of the police to make the city safer, crimes against women have increased in the last two years. While 1,083 cases were booked in connection with violence against women in 2010, the number has gone up to 1,860 during the current year, a near 70% increase. The city reported almost one rape case per month in the last 11 months. While there were seven rape cases in 2011, as many as 11 rape cases have been registered in the current year so far. Cases of cheating and dumping the girls by their boyfriends too have gone up. Against 29 cases reported in the previous year, police received complaints from about 35 victims during the current year. "We are taking all possible measures to instill confidence among women and girls to tackle certain situations. In fact, we launched a special drive to send clear message to the perpetuators of such violence against women. Unfortunately, the over-all crime rate against women has slightly gone up during the current year," admitted city police commissioner N Madhusudan Reddy. While 1,704 cases pertaining to violence against women were registered in 2011, the number has jumped to 1,860 cases. The city police commissioner said more measures would be taken to prevent violence against women. There were 15 dowry death cases last year but the number went up to 16 so far during the current year. The city police commissioner said rowdy sheets were opened against 87 people and suspect sheets against 361 people, who were involved in eve-teasing, creating disturbance to normal life and terrorising locals in residential colonies. He said that special teams formed to check eve-teasing keep surveillance near women's colleges, bus stops and busy centres. "Our sustained follow-up activities led to the conviction of the accused in 15 cases of dowry harassment last year," the CP said. Of the 374 cases registered under 398 (a), both parties went for a compromise in 252 cases and court convicted the accused in 15 cases. "Registration of cases should not be seen as rise in violence against women. In certain cases, women come forward to complain only when they have faith in the police. In fact, booking of cases will give police a chance to take action against the culprits," said a senior police official. In chainsnatching cases, the city police recovered property worth nearly Rs 14.5 lakh against Rs 12.91 lakh last year. However, cases of chain-snatching have gone up in the current year to touch 121 against 99 last year. While property worth Rs 20.63 lakh was stolen in such cases last year, valuables worth Rs 32.14 lakh were lost in chain snatching cases in the current year. (Times of India 31/12/12)