Asha Hooda seeks cooperation to check crime against women

by Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, OCT 17

Vice-President, Haryana Council for Child Welfare, Mrs. Asha Hooda today sought the cooperation of the people, especially the Non Government Organisations (NGOs) to check crime against women and stressed to need to change the mind set of the people for women.  

          While speaking at a seminar on ‘ Kanya Bhrun Hatya and Mahila Utpidan’ organized by Chandigarh Press Club here today, Mrs Hooda also exhorted the women to come forward and make their significant contribution in checking the menace of crime against women. She said that   social problems could not be resolved by merely enacting laws. She also urged the parents to inculcate moral values in their children so that they   contribute in building a strong society.

          Mrs. Asha Hooda said that crime against women is not confined to a particular State , but it is a nation-wide problem and can be resolved through collective efforts. She said that data collection of crime is not a solution to this problem.  She said that we could not stop crime against women in the society until we change the mindset of people and for this, the women themselves would have to come forward. She said that the parents should ensure healthy upbringing of their children and teach the boys how to behave with the girls. Quoting a proverb, Mrs. Hooda said that ‘it takes a complete village to raise a child’.

          Mrs. Hooda said that the law comes into existence only after the crime has been  committed.  Therefore, we have to ensure that there is no crime in the society. She also stressed the need for effective implementation of law. Mrs. Hooda said that mere giving birth to a child was not sufficient and the parents should make them   strong so that they could resist any crime against themselves. She also suggested that NGOs should train the girls in techniques like martial arts for self defense.

          Mrs. Hooda said that Central Government has enacted various Acts to check the atrocities committed against women and the same have also been implemented by the Haryana Government in letter and spirit. She said that the women have become more aware and also have started reporting the incidents. For the convenience of such victims, the State Government has decided to depute a female officer of the level of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in every district so that the victim could repot the matter without any fear. Apart from this, a woman helpline has also been started in the State and similar helplines at district level would soon be made functional and would be widely publicized. Mrs. Hooda said that prosecutors have been appointed to give legal aid to women.

Saluting Malala, the girl that stood against the Talibani culture, Mrs. Hooda said that   today the entire world was saluting her.  Mrs. Hooda said that she was proud of being a woman as women play  a pivotal role in building a strong society and nation. “We are not less than men”, added Mrs. Hooda. She said that the women have made their mark in the society by sheer dint of their hard work. The women players from the State have made the country and the State proud with their performance in the Olympic Games-2012, she added.  

          She said that there was a time when the women was given full honour and respect in the society and considered as a ‘Devi’ (goddess), but during the last many years there had been decline in such thinking. However, she made it clear that there had been men in our society who had taken various steps for the welfare of women. Mrs. Hooda said that a number of rights for women were enshrined in our Constitution and every woman should be aware of such rights so that they could be benefited. Quoting an example of women right,    Mrs  Hooda said that citizens of America had got voting right after 200 years of attaining democracy whereas, in India we were being given such right from the very first day when India became a democratic country.

          Mrs. Hooda also greeted the people on the occasion of Navratras. She said that no such person should visit the   temple who has no respect for the girls.

         Mrs. Hooda also released a book entitled as ‘This Happens In India’    written by social activist Harshinder Kaur. 

          During an interactive session, Mrs. Hooda, who is wife of Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, made it clear that she has no intention to join politics.           

          Television actress, Ms Meghna Malik said that she was proud of being a daughter of Haryana. She said that she found herself lucky as an actress and for being a part of story which had a strong influence on the society. She said that through a serial, she got a chance to propagate Haryanvi. Ms. Meghna said that during Navratras we worshiped the girl (goddess) but in certain cases they were also killed before their birth which was a matter of grave concern. She also attributed lack of dialogue between parents and children as one of the major reason of social problems.

Speaking on the occasion, Journalist Ms Donna Suri said that women empowerment was necessary to check crime against women. She stressed that various welfare policies and programmes of the State Government  should be implemented sincerely to get positive result.

          Social Activist Ms Harshinder Kaur said that as per the World Health Organization (WHO), 68 per cent women were the victims of domestic violence. She suggested that a police station should be set up for women in every city so that in case of any crime, the women could report the matter to the police. She also said those involved in heinous crime of abortion and sex determination should be dealt with sternly and there should be a provision of strict punishment in dowry cases.