To the long list of Nirbhayas of Odisha, another Nirbhaya has been added yesterday. After Bebina Behera, Sasmita Mallick and many more, yesterday another Nirbhaya from Mahakalpada Block, in Kendrapara district of Odisha passed away. She was raped and set ablaze. She suffered for a few days and died. Unfortunately, in her death she will not find justice. As in the case of other Nirbhayas in Odisha, once the victim is dead slowly the news gets relegated from the front page to the middle section to a small foot note to finally disappearing. For a few days agitations are there, some candle light marches but then something new comes up and a new issue is paraded. I am not trying to play politics against BJD by mentioning this but should not the Chief Minister of Odisha at least publicly condemn such act and ask his law and order to tighten up? A lady is molested in a running auto-rickshaw in broad daylight in Bhubaneswar. Another lady is raped in a running bus while coming to Cuttack. There are several instances of such atrocities streaming in on SC and ST ladies from across various districts in Odisha. Should not a White Paper be placed in the State Assembly to point out this growing menace in Odisha which has always been noted for its sober culture. What is going wrong? Is it because the perpetrators and would-be perpetrators feel that they can commit the act, get the girl killed and then get away scot-free? Unfortunately there is a feeling that it happens someplace else. When atrocities happen, it does not ask a specific address or follow a specific mode saying that the upper middle class, middle class and educated classes of Bhubaneswar are protected from such atrocities. Isnt it time that at least a question is asked strongly? Are we lulled into a false sense of calm or are we preferring to lull ourselves into this false sense of calm? Odisha as a land considered women as symbols of strength and power. Atrocities on women were quite less compared to other states. Then why this surge of atrocities against women? A girl studying in the 8th Class is raped and burnt and dies. Does it not shake the conscience of a society? Do we not feel nauseous? And if yes, then what are we doing? If you cannot go the the public platform to fight this cause, at least use the social media to do it. Yes, the issue of Pakistan killing Indian soldiers is important and strong message needs to be conveyed by the social media FB-ites and Twitteratti. In the same vein why not the people of Odisha send a strong message to the Odisha administration that such continuing atrocities with no check on them from the local administration and law and order machinery will no longer be tolerated. Isnt it time that we should start a public platform to atleast debate and put forth strong views to the Government in this regard. Views which cannot be wished away by any political party. Would you care to join it? It is not directed against a specific party or group but rather cuts across party line and is aimed at youth, experienced, jobbers and homemakers, intelligentsia and illiterate, but for all those who care for Odisha and the safety and security of its women.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:35:56 +0000
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