India has got its independence and has passed 78 years of till independence. But what is the cost of independence? When our mothers, sisters and daughters are not safe in their own motherland.
With every election cycle, politicians talk on women's safety and national pride. But behind these brilliant speeches lies the terrific truth.
For millions of women in India, those born into marginalized castes, justice isn't a basic constitutional right. It's a fight for equality. The end number of schemes and programs wont work until the people in power stop protecting the abusers and silencing the victims!
Women's safety in India is pure hypocrisy. If one belongs to a marginalized community, the target on your back is twice as big. In so many rural areas, the powerful dominant-caste groups use sexual harassment and assault as powerful tools to control families and keep people "in their place".
"The violence itself is stomach turning, but what happens after is where the system completely rots out."
When a lower-caste woman gathers the courage to go to the police, she is not just fighting against her abuser she's fighting a huge wall of bias. Local police routinely refuse to file reports, evidence gets "lost," and the victim is blamed and intimidated until she drops the case.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), there are 151 sitting MPs and MLAs in India (16 MPs and 135 MLAs) who have declared cases related to crimes against women.
West Bengal is praised for its rich literary heritage, Andhra Pradesh represents a great blend of deep religious devotion, and Odisha is known for its spiritual legacy. The irony? The states with the highest number of sitting lawmakers declaring cases involving crimes against women are West Bengal (25), Andhra Pradesh (21), and Odisha (17).
By turning a woman's trauma into a dirty politics, corrupt leaders have very well succeeded to shift the spotlight away from the monsters who committed the crime.
Is this what hides behind India, the nation where women's are considered goddesses and worshipped?
We must join our hands and work together to combat this deeply concerning issue. To end this system of political corruption, we must demand structural solutions.
We need to stop relying solely on local police, who may face pressure from powerful political figures. Any criminal complaint against an elected official should be investigated by a truly independent and impartial agency outside local control. When it comes to sexual assault, investigations and prosecutions must proceed promptly, without unnecessary delays, political interference, or special protection.
True justice will never be found in the slogans of democracy unless the women of this nation no longer have to pay for their freedom with their safety.