Opinion Raising the bars
The death of Delhi gangrape accused Ram Singh reflects negligence on the part of authorities.
Raising the bars
The death of Delhi gangrape accused Ram Singh reflects negligence on the part of authorities. It is a failure of the whole system. Jails are overcrowded primarily because trials of the accused are slow or have not even started. Moreover,the number of jails cannot keep pace with the increase in crime rates. This state of affairs is compounded by the insensitivity of the jail authorities and the police. We still have the phenomenon of VIP prisoners. The conditions in jails often result in incidents like Ram Singhs death. The reformatory approach to crime seems far away. An overhaul of the whole justice delivery system is the need of the hour. Infrastructural constraints need to be removed and the approach to the handling of prisoners must be changed. Tihar under Kiran Bedi was thought to be reformist,humane and disciplined. It should remain so.
Anchit Mathur,Delhi
Banking on women
THIS refers to Mandira Sarmas analogy between a womens only bank and our with regional rural banks so far (Banking on the womens bank?,IE,March 15). Women in need of credit are alienated by the banking system,even though they may be more dependable when it comes to loan repayment. Self-help groups formed by women in rural areas demonstrate the ability to marshal meagre resources and help their members. But when these women approach financial institutions for credit to start small businesses,they are shunned because of inherent biases. The need of the hour is not to set up another bank catering to a specific group but transformation of the systems approach to women. This can be achieved though gender sensitisation and promoting awareness among rural women.
Manish Sharma
Jamnagar
Stalking off
APROPOS SP opposes anti-rape Bill,says it is anti-women (IE,March 15). SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav would do well to confer with the women of his party before making such inane comments on the proposed law. Stalking and voyeurism are specific offences,committed with a view to target and humiliate. Laws against this already exist in other countries,and have had few repercussions on the employment of women. It should be noted that UP does not have an enviable record on womens rights and security.
Suren Abreu
Faith renewed
THE new pope,Jorge Mario Bergoglio,brings hope to Catholics all over the world( Outsider in the Vatican,IE,March15). The first Latin American to wear the mantle,he must guide Catholics at a time when the role of the church in peoples lives has diminished. Though traditional in outlook,the new pope brings with him a refreshing sense of discipline and simplicity to a Vatican battered by sex scandals,financial mismanagement and allegations of corruption.
Ganapathi Bhat
Akola
Share
