Right Madame Bafna, "Idiots Are Lined up at Every Step"

We should be ashamed to hear from our daughters and sisters that they don't wish to reborn in India. Let  us not forget  that if  "mothers" aren't  born, we are extincted.  Its more shameful to hear such an extreme reaction from a woman of highest substance ,Riju Bafna. What led her to go for such an extreme reaction? She is an IAS officer and posted in Madhya Pradesh, the land  of infamous Vyapam Scam. Horrible to find that even a young IAS officer  is a victim of sexual harassment. That's not  our "mahaan Bharat" eulogizing its rich culture heritage now and then. A society is not rich if women are sexually harassed in public places and people instead of fighting turn their attention away to such "goondagardi". Having this ugly face of India in mind, the young IAS officer Riju Bafna, had to write in her  Facebook post that  "Idiots are lined up at every step," describing her experience of combating sexual harassment. Ms Bafna, had filed a sexual harassment case last week against a member of the state's human rights commission for sending her "indecent messages". Though complaint led to the alleged harasser's swift removal from his post, but it was far from a satisfactory ending. That's because, according to her post, a lawyer was present in court when she showed up to record her statement or testimony. She requested that he and others be asked to leave the courtroom  as she was uncomfortable giving her statement in front of so many people. She explained her concerns to the judge as well. But Judge reaction was :  "you are young and that's why demanding such things." Mrs. Bafna case underlines the ground realities why the victims of sexual harassment are afraid of coming  forward. If a highly placed woman  is meted out agonizing treatment in court, what about others less privileged womenfolk?  The judicial system and penal laws  in India are  too  feudal  and not very friendly to weaker sections including women. And fighting sexual harassment is too  challenging. The worst hit are children and Women.  We are still a tribal society. Women  dresses, their lifestyle  and liberal thinking are blamed for sexual advances. Sexual harassment begins right from registering a complaint. Police asks uncomfortable questions. Lawyers sprinkle salt on their wounds in courtroom. The defense lawyer tries to demolish victims in every possible manner. Resultantly,  Just 15 percent  trials of  child sexual harassment cases and 22 percent of rape cases  are successful . This is  despite "stringent" law such as 'The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO)'. The reason is that most complexes aross the country are  yet to get a dedicated sessions court for POCSO or independent special public prosecutors as envisaged under the Act that came into force in November 2012. Section 28 of the POCSO Act makes it mandatory for state government to establish "a court of session to be special court in every district" while section 32 mandates appointment of "special public prosecutors". India need to progressively  fast-track its judicial system as to make it more reader friendly.