CAMPAIGN FOR A SOCIAL CHANGE LAUNCHED BY FACEBOOK ACTIVISTS

NOT ONLY LAWS BUT SOCIAL MINDSET IS ALSO TO BE CHANGED

The people from diverse field belonging to social media Facebook and different sections of the society today asserted the greater need of changing social mindset of the people beside demanding stringent amendments in laws,rules,acts concerning cases of rapes and other crimes in the Country at a Symposium held today at Constitution Club, New Delhi on the most debated subject of recent gang rape occured in New Delhi. Cross section of people intensively debated the issue " Only change in law is not enough-Change in the social attitude towards the women" and arrived at the conclusion that detriorating family values and deep decline in social morality is the root cause of such gruesome crimes which are further aggravated with weak laws and inaction and lethargic attitude of the policing system in the Country.The Symposium was organised by the Team Face to Face, a group of social site Facebook activists in association with the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). The symposium was chaired by Shri Narender Madan, Delhi State President of CAIT.

Prominent speakers including Dr.Deepak Raheja, well known Pshycologist, Satish Garg, National Organising Secretary of CAIT, V. K.Cherian, noted journalist, Eric Saranovitz, Dean, School of Convergence, Ms. Zuzanna Durska,a Polish diplomat, Ms. Manisha Verma, IAS, Ramesh Sharma,Director & Producer,Shabnam Khan, social activist and several other distinguished citizens participated in the symposium.

Before begining the symposium, the participants observed two minutes silence in the memory of departed soul of gang raped victim. While putting their hands on the burning flame of candles, the participants pledged themselves to be a part of "campaign for social change".

Initiating the discussion CAIT National Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal stressed the need of a deep study of the human pshycology, absence of moral education in the education curriculam and downgrading of family values. He also accused the state of present films and baseless serials being telecased on TV responsible for distortion in social fabric of the Country.

Shilpi Jain, a noted lawyer of Supreme Court stated that the recent cruelest incident of gang rape has generated a nationwide opinion that such an inhuman act needs the strongest punishment and strongly advocated the need of 'fast track justice". CAIT National Organising Secretary Shri Satish Garg strongly advocated the need of effective and proper enforcement of the law in letter & spirit. Questioning the present judicial process, he demanded that Camera recording and webcast of Court proceedings should be implemented to maintain higher level of transparency in the judicial system.

Rakhi Softa Sharma, a human behaviour trainer while participating in the deliberations said that before analyzing the brutal act, it is more important to know the root cause of such an act which has become a social and criminal evil in the Country. Quoting the figures he said that only in 26% cases all over the Country, the rapist is convicted whereas rest of 74% culprits abscond the punishment taking shelter of the loop holes in the laws and acts. Bindiya Bedi Charan, a senior official in a Embassy laid stress on greater westernization of the society courtesy, large amount of dirty publications and pornographic CD and DVD, obnoxious material on internet chatting sites and poor level of sexual education in the Country as some of the causes which provoke the male dominated society to act in such a brutal way.

Salony Harmeet, another participant, described the rape as more of a social problem rather than an administrative issue and questioned why the onus of proving rape lies on the victim, whereas Vedika Om said that community teaching is all the more necessary to educate people while other participants said that social environment of the house of citizens also need radical reforms. Eminent lawyer Mohan Shandilya while explaining the legal position stressed the need of much reforms in the judicial system and examination process in such cases.

The symposium after conclusive and exhaustive discussion resolved that an authentic study should be made by the Government to understand the changes in social behavior and as such a special task force should be constituted comprising of senior officials, representatives of different groups, psychiatrists and other concerned people and to make recommendation to the Government for remedial measures and changing the mindset of the society. It also resolved that major reforms in Police System is needed. The Police should be " a friend" of the public and must be realized of their responsibilities towards the people and a better environment should be given to police personnel in terms of working hours, sufficient pay scales and other relevant facilities in order to take care of their families. The Police Act, IPC and CRPC needs radical changes and all such loopholes should be blocked taking shelter of which the criminals more often abscond from the clutches of law.

The seminar also advocated a provision of filing E-FIR, Laws and Acts related to cases of rape should be more stringent, Establishment of Fast Track Courts Discouragement of Eve-Teasing, Strengthening of Beat policing, Increase police manpower, Filling up of vacant posts of Judicial Officers, Moral Education, Stop violent Pornography, and identification of Politics and Criminal Nexus.

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For more details, please contact CAIT Secretary General Mr. Praveen Khandelwal at 9891015165-9310199771