Bihar Uterus Removal Scam: Compensation awarded to survivors
On, 3rd May 2016, the the Bihar Human Rights Commission awarded compensation to over 708 women who had been misled about their health. The women had undergone uterus removing surgeries under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in the year 2012. The scam was exposed when Samastipur district magistrate Kundan Kumar, organised special medical camps to re-examine the women, after the administration received complaints about bogus or unnecessary surgeries. A lot of hospitals in Bihar carried out unwanted uterus removal surgeries (hysterectomy) to pocket the insurance money. Hence an 18 crore compensation amount was awarded to the survivors of this scam.
Crimes against Women
A Panaji trial court on Friday sent Goa legislator Atanasio Monserrate to three days of police custody for buying, drugging and raping a 16-year-old girl in a case which will be closely watched by anti-slavery activists as the country moves to crackdown on human trafficking. The victim’s mother is accused of selling her daughter to the MLA.
Justice for Jisha
One week post the brutal rape and murder of a law student named Jisha, the Kerala Police has detained three persons in Ernakulam district. Jisha was raped and had sustained injuries in her head, her private parts and was murdered in her house. While the Police is suspecting the perpetrators to be the migrant workers of the area, Jisha’s sister suspects that this could be an act of revenge by her relatives with whom she had a fight earlier that day. Protests still continue in and around the state.
First underage child gets maintenance in Madhya Pradesh
Neha Kushwaha of Mandsaur has won another legal battle by becoming the ‘first underage bride’ from MP who will get maintenance under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006. Neha’s father married her off to Mahendra Banjara of Rajasthan in 2011 when she was 12. When she was forced to go to the groom’s family, she dialed child-line and with the help of child protection officers, Neha got her marriage declared null and void. She was presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), which shifted her to a shelter home and also got her enrolled in Class 11. Subsequently, Neha moved the Mandsaur family court for maintenance. After hearing both sides, the court on April 25 asked Mahendra’s family to pay her Rs 1,200 per month as maintenance.
Battling Status Quo- Women Fighter Pilots will now get permanent commission
Addressing the Rajya Sabha on the 6th of May, The Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that a decision to grant permanent commission to women in the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be taken in one year. He further added that three women candidates have been selected for ‘stage-II’ training as fighter pilots who would be ready by June-July. He was also certain about the fact that there will come a time when women will outnumber men as fighter pilots in the IAF.
Criminalizing Marital Rape- Another Chance?
The Home Ministry has asked the Law Commission to deliberate on the issue of criminalising marital rape, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Thursday. In a written reply, the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said that the Ministry of Home has requested the Law Commission to deliberate upon the subject of marital rape during the course of its comprehensive review of Criminal Justice System. She added saying that Pam Rajput Committee had made certain recommendations for safety of women which also included criminalisation of marital rape.
All women production company called We Do It Together to start soon
The 69th Cannes International Film Festival will witness a launch the first project of non-profit production company called We Do It Together. Freida Pinto is one of the members of the advisory board with other stars like Jessica Chastain, Juliette Binoche, singer Queen Latifah and film director Catherine Hardwicke. The all-female production company aims to produce films and TV content that boost the empowerment of women. The company also hopes to partner with male and female industry professionals to create a slate of gender-led projects, and to generate opportunities for women. The organisation also participated at the United Nations’ Third Annual Power of Collaboration Global Summit in February.
What we are reading
In a recent issue of protest against child marriages, 47,000 tent dealers of Rajasthan have refused to provide tents for Child Marriages in the state. The Tent Dealers Welfare Samiti of Rajasthan has been demanding the birth certificates of the brides and grooms it supplies to. They believe that the only way they could stop this practice of child marriage could be by not aiding to its requirements ie- a tent to conduct the ceremony. “We complain to the police and the village headman, get them to intervene, so there is pressure on them to not do it” said one of the members of the Samiti. In Rajasthan, weddings peak during the Akshaya Tritiya festival in April and May, which is considered an auspicious period. The association has stopped at least 80 child marriages in the past two years. India having over one third of the child brides in the world, more and more protests of such kind are arising in order to stop such a regressive practice.
Featured Image Credit: The News Minute
