The various heinous forms of atrocities against women of Odisha have not changed as revealed by State Home Department data. The number of rape cases for the last ten years from 2006-2007 to 2015-2016 is 15,000 and it shows a consistent increase every year.
The figure of the last three years from 2013 to 2016 has crossed more than 2,000. It is noticed that the delay in investigation process resulted in persistent poor conviction rate as it is stated that in the year 2015 out of reported 2,286 rape cases, 2,248 are true and only in 1,481 cases, the accuse were charge sheeted. These cases are not just figures but about the suffering of women and the families they belong.
Our criminal justice administration system needs to be sensitive to such issues but there is no sign of improvement because of routine work and very limited proactive initiatives by the Government. There were also complaints by human rights groups against police and para-military forces deployed in interior parts, especially in tribal areas, where there are cases of harassment of women and sexual assault which go unreported and is a matter of concern.
It is a fact that numerous women victims are silently suffering because of fear and insecurity without scope of unrestricted access to judicial process; so it is expected that the Government should build the confidence among the people for execution of rule of law and it is not just presence of legislation but there must be attempt to use the law to protect the women and most vulnerable section of our society in the spirit of law.
The rape cases need serious analysis to understand the trends, socio –eco background of the victims and the whole process of justice delivery system along with limitation of victims to access justice. It is expected that the Home Department should come up with such kind of analysis that helps in making more realistic interventions.
The atrocities against women are not just limited to rape cases, but there are also thousands of cases of various forms of sexual violence, trafficking of women, domestic violence, honor killing, dowry death, child marriage, witch-hunting, migration of women, gender based discriminations in family and social life and many more very often reported in daily basis. The Women and Child Development Minister of Odisha in 2014 informed that 42 per cent of women of our State face physical violence. The State Government has set up women and child desk in every police station and anti-human trafficking units in some selected districts to check trafficking of women. But largely it is felt that there is non-availability of correct data of such cases as many of these cases are not being officially recorded. lack of data on atrocities against women and academic discussion on social issues pertaining to women has been limiting the scope of public concern on the poor state of affairs of women.
It is fact that in recent years the participation of upper class educated women in public sphere has increased but it has not contributed much in changing the social life of a vast section of women, especially the poor, illiterate and women of the marginalized sections and their unending suffering continues unabated.
It is observed that a major chunk of these atrocity victims belongs to poor marginalized sections and mostly from rural interior parts of the State. This section is facing all forms of indignity and deprivation in everyday life while struggling to survive without access to the State sponsored opportunities. The women migrant workers, minor forest produce collectors, agricultural and construction workers and domestic workers are most vulnerable to atrocities because of their social identity and economic status. The tribal and Dalit women in the State are consistently behind every aspect of human development. The girl child inmates in residential schools run by the State Government with support of the Centre are not safe and there have been cases of sexual harassment and even a few cases of pregnancy have been reported by the department Minister in the Assembly. Girl child education is very important to bring social change but their safety in educational institutions is equally important which has not been taken seriously by the Government in spite of repeated protest from many quarters.
The male domination and dominant ideas of male and caste superiority remain without much change. This situation depicts our overall social condition and status of women in our society.
Though it is said that the progress of our quality of social life can be realized with the status of dignity and liberty of women but this ideas for social reform are not getting translated into policy and programme of the Government and other social movements in the State.
It seems that the law enforcement agencies have not reached to the people to make them aware about constitutional values of dignity, human rights and scientific ideas to build a democratic and dignified society. Young women are brutally killed by own family members in order to save the caste pride of the family. It is reported that about 50 women were killed in sorcery suspicion during last five years.
These women belonged to tribal communities of backward regions where health service, education and social awareness have been neglected for a long time. There has been no attempt by the Government or other social movements against such anti-women practices prevalent in our social life that is derogatory to women dignity. It is demanded that along with awareness and enforcement of law, the Government should make available basic amenities such as housing, drinking water, toilet and electricity for every household where women can safely lead a dignified life.
In every Panchayat, there must be hospital for safe delivery, marriage registration office and free English medium schools compulsory for all boys and girls. The existing separate schools based on social segregation, private management, and religious orientation must be discouraged. The girl child must be allowed to play in the village playground and physical education must be compulsory for all. The Government should introduce human rights education and promote scientific temper and logical bent of mind among our children in schools and encouraged the children to question our countless anti-women discourses and practices prevalent in our social life and also alternatively propagate modern secular democratic values and respect for equal human dignity against gender and caste based discriminatory values in practice. As a step in democratization of opportunities and participation with gender balance, the women of all social groups must have a fair representation in police, judiciary, academics, media, CSOs and social movements in order to make our justice delivery process more women friendly. Our media and writings should focus social issues, especially the issues of women atrocities to bring larger awareness.
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