It was last year that India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman had proposed the idea of setting up a dedicated task force to review the minimum age for marriage for women in India while presenting the Union Budget for 2020. Following this, PM Modi had also talked about increasing the minimum age of marriage for women from 18 to 21. Well now, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan just reiterated the same while inaugurating an awareness program for women’s safety in the state.
“I feel that the marriage age of daughters should be increased from 18 to 21 years. I want to make this a matter of debate, and the country and the state should reflect on this,” he said in his address. And as noble as that idea might be, the CM also had a brilliant *coughs* idea to ensure women’s safety in the state. What that might be you ask? He plans to introduce a new system for women who have moved out of their house for work. As per the plan, they will be able to register themselves at any local police station so that they can be tracked for safety.
Now, we have some questions here: why do women need to go get registered and remain under constant surveillance for them to feel safe in the country? Is it really their whereabouts that should be our concern here? Sorry to say, but I am guessing that this idea comes from the same archaic and absolutely obsolete line of thought where the victims are questioned for getting victimised. That said, we are pretty sure that there are a lot of actions that can be taken before it comes to tracking women as they go about their regular lives. And just in case the MP government is a bit lost in that department, here are some ideas that might help:
- Educate men and warn them about the repercussions of sexual harassment and violence.
- Don’t tell women that they are “unsafe.” Tell men that they are making it “unsafe” for women.
- Understand that rapes are caused by the rapists, not the victim.
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Have a strong surveillance team to ensure safe streets for women.
- Be vigilant enough to take cognizance of eve-teasers, road-side romeos, abusive partners, and men who are seen threatening women’s safety.
- Instead of women, register these men at the local police stations and keep a check on them.
- Set strong examples by taking strong against men who are a threat to women’s safety.
It’s really that simple!!!
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