Pepper spray cans as
self-defence tools
In the wake of rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata, the Sub-District Hospital, Chicalim reportedly organized a martial workshop for female staff of the hospital. This is a good move as the crime against women is on the rise. Such training sessions need to be carried out in schools and educational institutions across the state.
Speaking of devices for self-defence of women, the one thing that comes to mind is pepper spray cans. Using pepper spray in India is legally permissible to prevent harassment of women and outraging their modesty. However, some states and localities have specific regulations and restrictions. Pepper spray is a chemical that is used to incapacitate or stop an attacker. It works by irritating the eyes and nose, which can cause difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness. The effects are temporary but very uncomfortable for the target, making it an effective deterrent against attackers or other assailants. The spray cans come in various sizes, concentrations, and delivery systems for easy transportation. This presents a strong case for easy availability of these spray cans for use as an effective tool of self-defense for women. However, a tag needs to be kept on its sale so that they are not misused by anti-social elements for ulterior motives.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Kudos to former
student leaders
The interview with some former student leaders in Goa was interesting and an eye opener. Now all of them are respected citizens busy with their career and social service but during their hey-days might have been ‘trouble makers’ to the then governments. But thanks to them, several changes occurred such as ending of ragging, introduction of concessional tickets in buses to students, halting frequent hikes in college fees. The leaders took up cudgel on behalf of other students and even for the teachers, and in most cases won against the government. Perhaps even the governments might have found justification in agreeing to the demands. In many States, student leaders have joined politics and risen up the ranks but student leaders who are in Goa’s politics have not been interviewed.
One common refrain from the former student leaders is that nowadays the student movements are subdued, despite the presence of social media and mobiles. The reasons are many such as the present authorities are more iron-fisted and less considerate, to address the students’ issues, then those in the past, students are career-minded, they are busy with social media distractions, parents are afraid that their children may fall in trouble, issuance or impounding of passports would stop students from travelling abroad for studies/work, any FIR at the police station may be a bolt in their future, politicians may take advantage of the situations and so forth. Yet, in India there are sometimes call for strikes and bandhs (with little success) by students’ unions, and thankfully hardly in Goa. One does not know if this is a good trend or the students are not motivated presuming that “all is well.” But at least the citizens are not put to hardships by stopping of transport, riots, burning of public facilities and shops etc.
Sridhar D. Iyer, Caranzalem
Swifter and sterner
anti-rape laws needed
The rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor has roused the collective consciousness of the entire nation. We need swifter and sterner laws to deal with rape. "Why do people commit crimes so readily? Because crime is not punished quickly enough" (Eccl 8:11). In most Muslim countries, rapists are executed summarily. We need to fast track all rape cases so that justice is awarded within 6 months of the crime, while the case is still fresh in the public mind. Justice delayed is justice denied. The justice delivered last week after 32 years to the Ajmer rapists, is case in point. Nobody remembers the case in which over 100 school/college girls of a reputed Catholic institution were raped. ( I too was unaware of it. And I was born and raised in Ajmer!) This is what happens when justice is delayed
I also suggest that there should be a 3-digit emergency number to report a rape. On receiving a complaint, the local police station must dispatch a PCR van to the complainant's residence .The FIR must be lodged at the complainant's residence and not at the police station. All hearings of such cases must be held ‘in camera’ so that the victim does not suffer further humiliation.
Robert Castellino, Calangute/Mumbai
War against
‘Me Too’ virus
The ‘Me Too’ is the current serious ‘virus’ making the headlines and thereby haunting the cine industry. This virus need not be put into any kind of test as it’s attacking almost all the states uniformly. The grievance and the helplessness of the victims have been doused off on the earlier occasions when this matter of ‘Me Too’ hit Kollywood. This virus has no exception with respect to parties. Earlier on the Congress MLA Eldhouse Kunnappillil had raped a schoolteacher in the capital city gone underground to evade arrest. Now that the CPI (M) Kerala leadership is defending Mukesh MLA on the complaint against him. Director Ranjith seems to have more stories behind him than in his movies as a director. Actor Vishal is the only one voicing for the aggrieved women in the Kollywood industry and trying to form a committee to clean the system. One can’t discount the fact that when it comes to ‘Me Too’ virus even the Padma Bhushan awardee has been taken under the special treatment by the blessings of political doctors for his own safety in the allegation on him. Hope the skeletons tumble soon to end this nasty episode to clean the mess in the mollywood and allied states.
A P Thiruvadi, Chennai