UPSC Mains 2014 · GS IV · Q8 · 10 marks · 150 words

We are witnessing increasing instances of sexual violence against women in the country. Despite existing legal provisions against it, the number of such incidences is on the rise. Suggest some innovative measures to tackle this menace.

हिन्दी में

हमें देश में महिलाओं के प्रति यौन-उत्पीड़न के बढ़ते हुए दृष्टांत दिखाई दे रहे हैं। इस कुकृत्य के विरुद्ध विद्यमान विधिक उपबन्धों के होते हुए भी, ऐसी घटनाओं की संख्या बढ़ रही है। इस संकट से निपटने के लिए कुछ नवाचारी उपाय सुझाइए।

Attitude Family, Society and Education

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Due to increase in the incidents of stalking, kidnapping and rape in moving vehicle, life of women has become unsafe in one such city. There have been reports of two murders both are related to stalking. In both cases, women were married and had children as well. In both cases, police have been informed and formal complaints were filed but still the menace was not addressed. Interestingly, in one such case when complained was filed by the woman, the constable himself became stalker. These incidents have found wide coverage in the media which has further abetted fearfulness and lack of safety to women. It is also a setback to the city police which has in past special drives for creating awareness on women safety and has taken many measures including community policing. a) Suppose you are the Deputy Police Commissioner in the city then what more specific measures will be taken to tackle the menace of stalking and other issues? b) Discuss the behavioural problems of the police in this case and whether disciplinary action as transfer is sufficient or there in need for upholding police accountability if it is, so how?”

Manuj JindalAIR 53 · CSE 2016 · 410 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening

The issues at stake here are:

Body · points

safety of women from crime, rape etc. as duty of state & women's rights to life & liberty (Article 21 of Constitution).
Issue also raises question on professionalism, training, effectiveness & citizen-centric-ness of police towards citizens & women.
values of moral conduct towards women, upholding Rule of law, punishing the perpetrators of heinous crime & showing as empathetic but effective approach.

Deputy Commissioner, my action & decision must be on matter driven urgency & upholding social fabric of the community at large, women in particular.

(a) Specific measures:

Set-up a Hot line for women to address any suspicious cases or incidents. Increase police-checking in 'dark areas' (where crime is committed often).
Set-up a Rapid-action force for swift action, investigation & arrest of perpetrators of stalking.
Review the IT Act & take action in regards to e-reporting of social media activity of cyber stalking, cyber bullying etc.
Launch a website, in consonance with state/central laws to list sexual-violence perpetrators &

offenders to warn public. ↳ This must be reviewed to ensure privacy rights of concerned people are not violated. (5) organize nukkad nataks to create awareness about the issue & enable psychological counselling for any potential stalkers. (6) organize self-defence classes for women.

(b) The behavioural problems of the unprofessional constable turned stalker has many reasons: (1) lack of gender sensitive training. (2) Potential psychological imbalance which can be addressed by counselling. (3) Poor attitude towards women due to entrenched male

dominance & patriarchy. (4) Lack of police to check such behaviour due to over-looking of past actions may also be the reason. (5) Feeling of police that they are not bound by law due to power given to them.

Transfer is not enough because

(1) It doesnot address the psychological, attitudinal & ethical dimensions of constable's behaviour. → It is a knee-jerk step & constable may further commit same act elsewhere. → Against ethos of code of conduct of police.

Greater accountability mechanism is needed by undertaking full review & committee investigation of this event. → This will help to bring the challenges of making police more 'sensitive' to public needs to light. → It will also ensure that such actions are caught before being committed.

Close · a way forward

Hence, a long-term approach to handle this issue would be to suspend the person & conduct a full review. The appropriate steps as described above can be taken based on report.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper IV, Q8. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.