The recent horrific incident, where a college girl was gang-raped for the second time in Haryana’s Rohtak district after three years for refusing to withdraw the court case is a chilling reminder of loathing and violence against women. The incidents of rape and attempted rapes have spiralled up the crime map like epidemic virus across the country with no exception to northeastern region where tribal men are known for cordial attitude towards women. Women and girls from this region have also fallen as easy targets even in the mainland states. A study reports that rape cases have drastically increased year by year. The Centre has considered a bill proposing tough penal provisions ranging from three years’ imprisonment to life term for a person who commits sexual harassment, sexual assault or penetrative sexual assault. It also seeks to include abuse of boys. Rape isn’t only about women. It also happens with children-boys and girls, and even elderly people. Rapists do not necessarily appear like criminals. They could be somebody’s boss, teacher, neighbor, boyfriend or girlfriend or relative or stranger. There is no denying the fact that a major chunk of victims are from lower socio-economic classes - particularly unemployed or unskilled workers. Rape or molestation is more common in weaker section of women than the educated and well-to-do. In more affluent areas, the risk of being raped is less. A data suggests that rich or educated men seldom rape, and that rapist and victim most often live in the same neighborhood. The study also shows that a way a person dresses or acts does not influence the rapist’s choice of victims. Rapists look for available and vulnerable targets. There have been lots of debates between groups of certain men and women over the dress code. While one school of thought advised a caution that revealing or provoking clothes could invite unwanted attention and sexual assault, another school of thought rubbishes the idea as ridiculous. The former thinks that staring at women with scantily dressed in streets in the name of fashion, is like a carrot on a stick before a donkey - ‘look but don’t touch.’ But the later thinks such dresses make them look and feel good and it is all in beholder’s eyes. Both men and women though biologically different want to live with freedom to do anything as they want but at the same time both must be ready to accept the responsibility of what they do. True, cause of rape cannot be justifiable on any ground, but one really needs to look between the thin lines of two opinions. The need of the hour is not guidelines or moral enforcement but concerted efforts of all stakeholders to root out the culture of rape from the society where all feel safe and live a life of dignity.
