New marriage law and its possible effects on Indian men
Are we heading towards another feminist law like the 498A (Law against Dowry)
whose rampant misuse has led Supreme Court to declare it as 'legal
terrorism'? Sure enough women have been discriminated against, been
tortured and suffered from times immemorial but does that justify the
fact that some of the major laws in our country taking a highly feminist
turn? The misuse of harassment laws has increased by 20 percent
cited Times of India on 16th April 2013. One can only imagine what the
numbers will be after the High Court ruling that declares premarital
consensual sex equivalent to marriage.
When two people decide to be indulging in a physical relationship, it is
their duty to be sure of what it means to both of them. It's imperative
for them to be on the same page and know whether it's casual or an act
of committing to each other for all their lives. It's a personal matter
that should be handled well at that level without any melodrama and
court intervention.
With the new law, it seems that every relationship gone wrong and any
woman with frustration can go to the court and ask the man for the
compensation for all lifelong. Imagine happy marriages turning sour with
women and men from past relationships claim that they were married
first because of the physical act they shared. For women of low earning
capacities, cases of fraudulence to use such laws to their benefits to
seek compensation are not rare. It's sad that laws that are made for
women's safety are becoming threat to innocent men while the men who are
really guilty of heinous crimes like rape are still on the loose with
numbers increasing every day.
Talking about this one may get reminded of the recent case of Manoj Kumar's suicide
due to the harassment by his wife and mother-in-law and threats of
getting him jailed under a false 498A (dowry). After this event, Save Indian Family Foundation
set up to address grievances of such victims and within about 3 months,
more than 500 cases have been registered. Such pitiable is the state of
men with the laws regarding dowry and domestic violence.
This new declaration which regards premarital sex as marriage has a lot
more negative sides than the what the people are looking at right now
and the less talked about subject of harassment of men is one of them.
Noted Tamil writer Jayamohan called it is a conservative ruling, since
it has taken into consideration only the sufferings of women and not
men, especially at a time when premarital sex is very common among the
economically independent. "The judgment is right in the sense that the
object of all our laws is to protect the interest of the women," he
said.
This law diminishes the strong bond of marriage that is much celebrated
and respected in India to just a physical bond. It's detrimental for
India which after declaration of this law remains stuck between the
western influence that makes premarital sex no big deal and Indian laws
that bind you with the person with the threads of matrimony.
http://www.coolage.in/2013/06/22/new-marriage-law-and-its-possible-effects-on-indian-men/
Tuesday 25 June 2013
Half of Mumbai's suicide victims below age 30
Half of Mumbai's suicide victims below age 30
Suicides in Mumbai rose by an alarming 12% in 2012 after witnessing a
dip the previous year. A staggering 50% of those who took their lives in
the city were younger than 30 and among these more than half were women, reveals the latest data of the National Crime Records Bureau.
A total of 1,296 people killed themselves in the financial capital last year, placing it fourth in the list of Indian cities with the highest suicide incidence. Chennai led the death chart with 2,183 suicides, followed by Bangalore (1,989) and Delhi (1,397).
The national suicide rate (total suicides per lakh population) stood at 11.4 in 2012, a few points higher than Mumbai's 7 and a few points lower than Maharashtra's 14.
Generally, men accounted for more suicide deaths than women. The trend was true in Mumbai, where 59% of the suicide victims were men, and in Maharashtra, where 70% of the victims were males. Nationally too, the ratio of male to female suicide victims was 66.2 to 33.8. An exception to the trend was the age group of up to 14 years; in Mumbai, thrice the number of girls in this age bracket killed themselves than boys.
Dr Lakshmi Vijaykumar, who was responsible for the inclusion of suicide prevention in the National Mental Health Policy of India, said there is wide variation in suicide rates within the country. "The southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have a suicide rate of more than 15, while in the northern states of Punjab, UP, Bihar and Kashmir, the suicide rate is less than 3. This pattern has been stable for the last twenty years."
Vijaykumar added that smaller cities are worryingly catching up with metros in recording high suicide rates. "Also, the fact that 71% of suicides in India are by persons below the age of 44 imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden on our society."
Family problems were revealed in the NCRB data to be the single largest factor driving people to end their lives. The factor was given as the cause of 40% suicides-264 men and 262 women-in Mumbai and 26% suicides across the country. Major illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS, taken together constituted the second biggest suicide cause-causing 28% of the deaths-in Mumbai. They were followed by drug addiction (6.9%), failure in exam (4.5%) and love affairs (4.5%). Boys and girls alike took their lives over love affairs.
Emotional reasons like failed marriage, relationship and love affairs drove most of the 534 female suicides in Mumbai. By contrast, the causes of the 762 male suicides were economic, relating to poverty and employment.
Hanging emerged to be the most employed method to end one's life, with 917 of the 1,296 victims in the city using it. In Maharashtra, 7,055 people killed themselves this way. Self-immolation was the second most common suicide method in Mumbai and consuming poison the third. Surprisingly, only one person committed suicide in the city by coming under the train, though the figure for the category was 128 in the state.
A total of 1,296 people killed themselves in the financial capital last year, placing it fourth in the list of Indian cities with the highest suicide incidence. Chennai led the death chart with 2,183 suicides, followed by Bangalore (1,989) and Delhi (1,397).
The national suicide rate (total suicides per lakh population) stood at 11.4 in 2012, a few points higher than Mumbai's 7 and a few points lower than Maharashtra's 14.
Generally, men accounted for more suicide deaths than women. The trend was true in Mumbai, where 59% of the suicide victims were men, and in Maharashtra, where 70% of the victims were males. Nationally too, the ratio of male to female suicide victims was 66.2 to 33.8. An exception to the trend was the age group of up to 14 years; in Mumbai, thrice the number of girls in this age bracket killed themselves than boys.
Dr Lakshmi Vijaykumar, who was responsible for the inclusion of suicide prevention in the National Mental Health Policy of India, said there is wide variation in suicide rates within the country. "The southern states of Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have a suicide rate of more than 15, while in the northern states of Punjab, UP, Bihar and Kashmir, the suicide rate is less than 3. This pattern has been stable for the last twenty years."
Vijaykumar added that smaller cities are worryingly catching up with metros in recording high suicide rates. "Also, the fact that 71% of suicides in India are by persons below the age of 44 imposes a huge social, emotional and economic burden on our society."
Family problems were revealed in the NCRB data to be the single largest factor driving people to end their lives. The factor was given as the cause of 40% suicides-264 men and 262 women-in Mumbai and 26% suicides across the country. Major illnesses, such as cancer and AIDS, taken together constituted the second biggest suicide cause-causing 28% of the deaths-in Mumbai. They were followed by drug addiction (6.9%), failure in exam (4.5%) and love affairs (4.5%). Boys and girls alike took their lives over love affairs.
Emotional reasons like failed marriage, relationship and love affairs drove most of the 534 female suicides in Mumbai. By contrast, the causes of the 762 male suicides were economic, relating to poverty and employment.
Hanging emerged to be the most employed method to end one's life, with 917 of the 1,296 victims in the city using it. In Maharashtra, 7,055 people killed themselves this way. Self-immolation was the second most common suicide method in Mumbai and consuming poison the third. Surprisingly, only one person committed suicide in the city by coming under the train, though the figure for the category was 128 in the state.
Dowry cases a money spinner, claims top cop
Dowry cases a money spinner, claims top cop
Is there a well-knit network to dupe those involved in dowry cases? Yes, says the deputy commissioner of police Dr Tarun Joshi.
Hyderabad: For some,
dowry cases are a god-sent opportunity to mint money. They go by the
high-sounding names of counselling or human rights, warn DCP Dr Tarun
Joshi
Is there a well-knit network to mulct
those involved in dowry cases? Yes, says Joshi. Not just that, many
masquerading as women mandals and human rights organisations are indeed
making hay while the sun shines.
The revelation came out at a workshop
the DCP conducted to highlight the disturbing issues involved in
dowry-related crime cases on Saturday. He said a lot of cases come from
the Old City areas and those who get caught are being trapped by
spurious mahila mandal committees or fake human rights activists. Since
dowry cases are strong and legal help essential, some unscrupulous take
advantage of the unwary people.
Joshi warned them. “I have issued orders
to all the police stations to collect details of these fake
organisations making profit from human misery. They charge exorbitant
rates from the victims and relatives.” He also said he had information
of a wife of a senior police officer too involved in this shady
business. He told people that free legal aid was available to the poor
women and those getting caught in this law, if they chose, should go for
reputed lawyers, not the suspected organisations with high-sounding
names. He welcomed aggrieved public to his office in Purani Haveli if
they feel confused or are getting cheated by shady characters.
The workshop was attended by a large
number of women. Dr Joshi expressed concern at the growing cases of
dowry-related crimes. He said community leaders should take initiative
to sort out differences between husband and wife that if left unchecked
leads to complications. It is true that many are unaware that both
giving and taking dowry is illegal. Besides, it is inhuman to force poor
parents to cough up cash.
A notable presence at the meeting was
Wakf board chairman Moulana Syed Ghulam Afzal and religious leaders.
They too advised parents to desist from giving dowry and demanding
dowry.
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