Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Mar 4: The public hearing on crimes against women and children in Dakshina Kannada district at ZP office here on Wednesday March 4 brought a number of issues related to exploitation of women and children, problems in dealing with rape cases and also other issues like moral policing.

The meeting was chaired by M C Nanaiah, who heads the state-level committee that was formed to study and examine crimes against women and children. The committee has 31 members inlcuding 12 elected representatives. There are 15 women in the committee.

"The state government has constituted this committee to study and suggest amendments to law on crime against women and children. The committee will review the report and suggestions and formulate opinions regarding amendments. We will also examine all the
petitions received from complainants, the media and the organizations concerned," explained Nanaiah.

At the outset, Nanaiah condemned the statement by December 16 Delhi gang-rape convict in a BBC documentary wherein he had held the victim responsible for rape. Terming the convict as 'pervert' and 'mentally' retarded', Nanaiah said, "There are many such mentally retarded perverts in society. This shows the loophole in our system, even though our existing laws are very stringent.

"No government can completely prevent rapes from happening. We have a strong laws and NGOs are working to prevent such crimes," he added.

"We have received many letters with suggestions to amend the law and mete out third degree treatment like chemical castration to the culprit. However, this type of punishment cannot be given in a democratic country - here, the culprit can be punished only under the existing law," he said.

He also lamented that no government has undertaken any serious study or survey on sex workers, and said that approximately, there may be more than one crore sex workers in India.

He then asked the gathering to speak out on issues concerning crimes against women and children and give suggestions.

Activitst Kamala Gowda said that there were not enough facilities at the district hospital to deal with such cases. "When a child who was sexually exploited was taken to Wenlock, there was no basic facility like sample kit. Even the police delayed in filing chargesheet in the court."

She further said, "Many cases of sexual crimes are settled through compromise by middlemen. Hence the police should not delay and take serious action without wasting time."

Nanaiah repled, "Every victim of sexual crime suffers from mental trauma but only 30 percent of such cases are registered."

Advocate Asha Ravi stressed on responsibility of the media in such cases and said, "The victim hesitates to file complaint as she fears that her identity would be directly or indirectly revealed in the media. In one such case where a girl was exploited by her father, the victim was easy to identity as the accused person's photograph, name and address appeared in the media. The media should hence act with great responsibility."

Mary Pais raised the issue of moral policing and questioned, "Who has given them (moral police) the right to indulge in such acts? Why are they not being arrested why are instance of moral policing repeating?"

In response, Nanaiah said, "No one has given them the right to indulge in moral policing. In fact it is not a right at all. They think it is their social responsibility, but an offence is always an offence. Police have to take stringent action against them. No one can take law into their hands."

To an issue related to cyber crime, Nanaiah said, "Cyber crime is more rampant than traditional crime and it reaches beyond the boundaries of the nation. The main servers of social media are in the US and not in India, so it is difficult to deal with such crimes."

Rita Noronha spoke on domestic crimes and said, "Cases of domestic rape have increased. Such crimes are committed by people who are within the family, be it uncles or cousins. Also, having sex with one's wife without her consent should be considered rape.

"There should be gender sensitization programmes for high school children. They should be told about bad touch and good touch. The civil society should respond to this, and all stakeholders should take up the issue of gender sensitization," she added.

Jayanthi said that even in rural areas crimes including consumption of drugs are increasing, and there was a need to control such crimes.

Nanda Pais said, "Women have no safety. When a victim goes to complain to the police, she is not treated in the right manner. Awareness should be created even on gram panchayat levels also regarding sexual crimes."

M C Nanaiah then spoke on the issue of elopement by boys and girls who have attained the age of majority and said, "When boys and girls of a certain age elope and marry, the police department cannot interfere. Most of the time, kidnap cases are filed against the youth even though the girl may have eloped one her own will.

"Men have been demanding a commission for men's rights over misuse of Section 498 A (anti-dowry law), as they are abused and harassed," he added.

Social worker Vani demanded life imprisonment for all convicts of sexual crimes and said that sexual harassment happens in buses too.

Hilda Rayappan of Prajna Counselling Centre said, "Instances of sexual abuse are increasing as women are coming out to file cases. But at the same time, a girl also fears that if she complains, her family will not support or accept her.

"Complaint boxes should be placed in every firm and institution. Today people are more aware of how to act in such situations due to the efforts of NGOs," she added.
Anitha Kini said that fast track courts should be established to ensure quick justice in such crimes. Nanaiah replied that already 10 fast track courts have been set up in the state and that problem is not with the court, but with judges who delay in giving verdicts.

Jyothilaxmi, a social worker from Beltangady spoke on the issue of destitutes and said that government centres for destitutes should be set up in every taluk.

Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said that in Dakshina Kannada today, there are 1,021 females for every 1,000 males and this ratio was 1,060 females for every 1,000 males in 1980.

"The district has a very good human development index. The infant mortality rate is low and cases of child marriage are rare. The scale of exploitation is very low in DK. There is a women police station in the city," he said.

"We have had cases like attacks on home stay and pub, and repeated moral policing incidents were women were ill-treated. There is no urban-rural class divide in DK," he said, adding that cases of moral policing come under the purview of the police department and only the police commissioner can give an answer.

Leena Sampige, a member of the committee said there should be a study on why there has been a decrease in the male-female ratio since 1980.

Police commissioner S Murugan said, "Sexual crime cases are registered without delay. Strict order has been given to the police officers to investigate the cases seriously. In 2013, there were 18 rape cases, in 2014 there were 27 and so far in 2015, two rape cases have been registered. Sometimes, the delay in filing cases happens due to improper drafting of the complaint. However, if any police officer deliberately delays, then strict action will be taken."

Sub-committee chairperson Motamma stressed on the need to have people-friendly police and urged the DC and the SP to take special interest in dealing with sexual harassment in buses and give instructions to bus drivers."

SP Dr Sharanappa said that district-level meetings are being organized to deal with such crimes. On moral policing, he said, "It is not moral policing - it is an offence and in no way connected to policing. Whoever takes law into his hands will be booked and rowdy sheet will be opened, and he will be sent to jail in other districts."

He also said that two women staff are appointed in all police stations, and added that so far, there have been 10 convictions in rape cases in the district.

On harassment in buses, he said during RTA meetings bus owners are told to take care of passengers. He also demanded a range-level forensic experts team and laboratory.