11.14.08
Press Release for IMD by SIFF
PRESS RELEASE
Sub: SIFF celebrating International Men’s Day on 19th Nov 2008 with a bike rally.
Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), the single largest group of NGOs dedicated to promote the cause of Gender Equality and Family Harmony in India, is celebrating International Men’s Day on 19th November 2008 in Bangalore. A bike rally is organized on the Outer Ring Road from Bellandur Gate to Madivala post from 1: 30 PM to 3: 00 PM. At least 30 bikers are expected to participate in the rally and express their solidarity. The rally is being organized as a mark of tribute to:-
- The great inventions that men have made over the past several thousand years to make technological advances and reduce communicational and organizational latencies.
- The sacrifices that men have made over the past several thousand years for either running their households or the country or its defenses or by undertaking the most risky jobs. The lives that men laid down for the sake of martyrdom are often gone unheard and unsung.
- And the issues that men in general and Indian men in particular have been facing and that have sadly fallen on deaf ears so far like:-
a. Today, the expectations from men by the family and society have touched the roof. A man is expected and often demanded to provide luxuries to his family, take care of parents and also in-laws. Men are forced not only to spend all the money that they earn and but also are forced to take huge loans to provide for luxurious apartments, diamond necklaces and costly cars.
b. The domestic abuse and family disputes are taking a huge toll on married men’s minds. No one shares their pain, grief and there is no social support system for these distressed men.
c. Men, who commit suicide, are often ridiculed as being weak and irresponsible and this arguments is used to deny any support or counseling to men. Moreover there is no acceptance of the fact that a large number of men are victims of domestic violence as apparent from the fact that in the last 10 years 1, 50, 000 married men have committed suicide.
Here are some figures just indicative of the grim situation men in India are facing currently with no redressal mechanism in sight.
- As per the Labor and Employment ministry more than 13 lakh men have lost their jobs in the five years span of 2001 to 2005.
- As per suicide statistics provided by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), for the years 2005 and 2006, more than 52,483 and 55,452 married men, respectively, have committed suicide as opposed to 28,188 and 29,869 married women. Whenever a married woman dies due to any reason, be it accident, illness or commits suicide due to any reason unknown, it is converted into dowry death and yet such large scale suicides by men are not even noticed let alone imparting justice to them.
- As per NCRB records, in the year 2005, more than 2,264,000 crimes have been registered against men (which are 92.8% of total registered crimes) but still this fact has never been highlighted in media reports.
- Men in India are responsible for 82% of taxes, yet not a single rupee is spent for men’s welfare despite the fact that 192 men are ending their lives daily.
- More than 98% of men have faced Domestic Violence at some point of time in their lives at the hands of their wives and in-laws in terms of verbal abuse, physical abuse, economical abuse, relationship cheating, and mental harassment on an average in 3 years of marriage.
- More than 22,000 men have ended their lives in reverse dowry harassment by their wives, either being forced to accept dowry or because of a threat of filing a false dowry harassment case.
- Men pay more taxes than women at the same salary levels.
- False allegations should they be related to dowry harassment, sexual harassment, relationship cheating or any other form of social abuse, has become a norm to be used as a tool against any man by the unscrupulous women, supported and pampered by the society, to realize their vexatious designs or hide their own follies / crimes.
- All the gender neutral laws under IPC have a clause of punishment for abusers of those laws, whereas there is no such clause in any of the women centric laws, which is a clear violation of the article 14 of the Indian Constitution and discrimination against the male gender.
- Adultery is a crime for Indian men but not for women, which also depicts direct discrimination against men.
Last year Save Indian Family Foundation and its associate NGO’s had celebrated men’s day with their demands. As those demands have fallen on deaf ears and men have been left high and dry, those demands are again repeated this year. Save Indian Family Foundation, on International Men’s Day demands that:
- A separate Men’s Welfare Ministry and a National Commission of Men should be setup to specifically cater to the men’s issues in the country.
- Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code and Domestic Violence Act should be suitably modified to accommodate cruelty and Domestic Violence against men as well so that the aggrieved men can also make complaints under the laws and get appropriate and suitable relief.
- Large scale suicides of men should be viewed seriously and suitable measures be taken to contain and prevent the same.
- Suicides of husbands within seven years of marriage should be considered as “death due to cruelty” and Section 113A and 113B of The Indian Evidence Act, 1872 should be suitably modified to accommodate the same.
- Men should be provided with unemployment benefits and every unemployed man should be given at least Rs. 600/- per month till employment.
- Men should not be forced to work for more than 9 hours in office and after office work they should not be expected to lend their helping hand in domestic chores as well, because there should be a limit to expectations from a man and an acceptance of limitations of a man.
- University Grants Commission should sponsor studies for disciplines dedicated to men as 82% of the taxes are paid by men.
- Ministry of Information & Broadcasting should ban anti-male advertisements in Television displaying physical, financial and verbal abuse on men, especially by women.
- Single men should have right to adopt a child.
- Prevention of “male child labor” and rehabilitation of these child laborers.
- Punishment to wife and her parents, who drive married men to suicide by threats, extortion, monetary demands, violence and torture. Life of married men is as valuable as a married woman. No one has a right to drive a man or woman to suicide by extortion or cruelty.
- Article 51 A (e) of the Indian Constitution be suitably modified to contain “and men” at the end of the sentence. Presently it stands as,
“To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women;” which needs to be modified to
“To promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women and men;”
Save Indian Family Foundation feels proud to launch its helpline for men trapped in false sexual harassment cases and unwarranted departmental actions initiated against them on frivolous complaints as we have received quite some complaints in that area. The helpline numbers are 9880763790 and 9449835612.
Save Indian Family Foundation is also happy to announce its international association with other international men’s rights organizations like Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation, Australia. We share our concerns with them regarding contributions and sacrifices men have made to the world so far.
With an ending note it is imperative to mention here that if the Government fails to recognize the issues of men and does not provide any redressal mechanism, the agitations against the government are only going to increase.
Thanks and Regards
Public Relations Officer
Save Indian Family Foundation
Worst examples of Yellow Journalism by the media
It is extremely unfortunate that since last couple of years, a small group of journalists in Bangalore have been able to spread “dangerous lies” to defame Bangalore. These journalists not only spread lies, but also campaigned to term Bangalore as “Bride Burning Capital”. There are anti-Karnataka, anti-Bangalore agencies, who were even successful to take this false story to “American Talk Shows” including Oprah Winfrey so that Bangalore’s reputation can be held hostage.
There are journalists, who argue with me even today that there are 250 “bride burnings” are happening in Bangalore every month. They refer to Victoria Hospital data.
There is no basis on which Bangalore can be termed as a bride burning Capital.
According to National Crime Records Bureau, there are only 244 incidents of “Dowry Deaths including Bride Burning” in whole Karnataka.
The same report shows the incidents of dowry deaths in Bangalore in 2006 as 50 in a year.
(Please refer: 2006 Crime Table )
Are 50 “dowry death” cases registered in a year, qualify Bangalore to be termed a bride burning capital?
Dowry deaths can happen due to hanging, poisoning, beating or burning.
It is also being noticed that any suicide of married woman today is categorised as dowry death.
If there are 250 “bride burning victims” admitted in Victoria hospital, then why do not that figure in the statistics? If 250 women are burnt in Bangalore every year, then in a year the number would have been 3000 “bride burnings alone”. When organisation Vimochana put a table in Victoria Hospital, what stopped it from registered all these 3000 cases (if they were real)?
In reality, the figure in only 50 reported dowry deaths, not 3000 “bride burnings” as claimed by journalists.
This is where the yellow journalism comes into play.
Eager to write a juicy story, the journalists feed on rumours.
Some journalists still have not got out of hangover and keep using the hoax of “Bride Burning” even today to defame Bangalore.
“Bride Burning” was a big hoax.
In 2006, there are 1830 convictions of dowry deaths (plus domestic violence deaths) all over India. (NCRB)
That rate is lower than similar deaths in US. In US, some 900 women are killed by husband or relatives every year.
Population of US is 1/4th of India. So, if US had been as populous as India, it would have been killing 3600 women in a year.
Yet, India and Bangalore is defamed by some ill-educated journalists, who love yellow journalism.
When rate of murder of women in India by husbands and his relatives is half of the rate of murder of women in US by husband or his relatives, then Indian homes are 2 times safer than American homes so far as women are concerned.
Yet the journalists show Indian family system is a poor light and want to convert India into America without realizing that crime against women in America is more than that in India in any category of crime. We hear so many cases of Indian women shot dead in US today.
The love for white skin countries has taken over.
That blind love makes them write lies to defame Bangalore and India.
This rampant yellow journalism and hypocrisy has driven people to distrust and even hate this category of journalists.
Violence against women must not be tolerated. However, taking help of lies, spreading false rumours and calling Bangalore a “bride burning capital” is utterly disgusting. It is a grave insult to all peace loving Bangaloreans.
Journalists are not Gods. When journalists insult common people using derogatory terms and spread lies and rumours, then they should also be prepared to face the same music from people one day or other.
Lies and half truths do severe damage to society.
With great power comes great responsibility. If journalists do not show responsibility and do not question the facts, then soon people will lose their faith on media. Today, people use extremely derogatory language on English TV Media in blogs because of media bias. Does the same has to happen for print media as well?
Almost every news paper published a lies in Nov, 2006 that 70% of Indian women face domestic violence referring it to UN. In reality, it had no source in UN, which means it is a lie. Washington Times apologized for picking up that lie. No Indian newspaper or TV channel has apologized yet.
In US, most men believe that feminists are male haters. The same will happen in India, if lies are not stopped.
It is up to the journalists to do some unbiased research so that lies and half-truths can be filtered. For example, Karnataka is the only state in India, where only 6% of educated women (who completed class 10) face domestic violence at any point of time from 15-49 years(national family health survey Karnatak fact sheet). No journalist highlights the positive side of Karnataka or Bangalore. In US, 29% of women and 22% of men face domestic violence. Karnataka is far better and peaceful.
In Karnataka sex ratio at Birth is 949 girls for 1000 boys. Where as in US, it is 956 girls per 1000 boys and in Germany it is 944 girls for 1000 boys. Still, journalists fail to see the scientific fact that it is nature’s law that 950 girls are born for 1000 boys and this is never mentioned in the newspaper articles. There are always 5% less girls are born. When this fact is not mentioned and it is reported that 949 girls are born for 1000 boys in Karnataka, that misleads the common people.
Women’s Organizations spreading paranoia
Extreme Reactions to lies:
===================
It is to be noted that common people react extremely to lies. I have seen people recommending “boiling in oil”, castration of people accused in dowry cases, bride burning or rape cases. That is disgusting. The alarm caused by journalists is the reason for people to react in that extreme manner. This same extremism results in “extreme laws”. (Pl. refer the comment in a news website below).
Imagine, someone recommending chopping of tongue of a woman, if it is proven that she has filed a false dowry, false rape case, or false acid attack case?
I once met a guy in a court, who was accused of attempt to throw acid on a female colleague. He told me, when he pestered her to return Rs.10,000/- she borrowed from him, she filed the false case of “attempt to throw acid”. If a common man is brainwashed with acid attack stories, then the common man may feel that this guy should be castrated (as shown in comment of a newspaper below). If this guy is innocent and if he reads someone talking about “castration of men”, who are accused of throwing or attempt to throw acid of women, how will he feel? Will he not lash out angrily at journalists?
Journalists forget that, when they campaign for “extreme laws”, then innocent people get victimized and these victims lose sympathy of the society due to radicalization by media. Then, these people blame the journalists for being extremists and promoters of yellow journalism.
I clearly showed that “Bride Burning” capital and 70% women facing Domestic violence are great pieces of yellow journalism.
People can lash out angrily at journalists (or their supporters) who write extreme articles, call Bangalore the “Bride Burning Capital” or recommend castration of men.
Please note: I am not specific to any journalist here. I am addressing the whole media in Bangalore and India. We think, the poor work by journalists in general is now forcing Software Engineers to do journalist’s work and research “unofficially”. Only after, we shouted for years, the journalists notices false dowry cases or child custody issues, where as it was their duty to do research in these topics on their own.
Many journalists have written articles supporting men’s causes recently. Thats one way, the journalists have undone some of the damage done earlier by “vicious campaigns” against men.
My final request, Please do not term Bangalore as “Acid Attack Capital” now just because there are some 65 cases of acid attacks in last 4 or 5 years. Acid attacks happen in equal rate in US, Europe and other great “white” countries as well. You can do a search in google to find the facts.
Due to massive population of India, the Indian crime statistics look huge, where as India is much peaceful (in spite of poverty, lack of opportunities) compared to many “white supremacist colonial countries”, who fund Indian media to destroy our cultures, societies and families.
A comment (after moderation by news website)
We should introduce CASTRATION OF male criminals and 10 years in jail along with publishing his photos and address in local newspapers. This will deter such crimes. We should look at Saudi Arabia. Long back the Gulf area had resource crunch and low education levels as well as low intelligence level, and to bring down the crime rate they had introduced barbaric sharia laws and it kept the Gulf tribes, safe from crime..
References:
Veena Joshi
Last Updated : 23 Oct 2008 10:57:30 AM IST
BANGALORE: Bangalore has hit the headlines once again for the wrong reasons. After earning disgraceful titles like the “suicide capital” and “brideburning city,” it is now recording an alarming number of acid attacks too.
Can South stay smug?
7 Sep 2001, 0040 hrs IST, SEETHALAKSHMI S, TNN
for evidence, consider the hundreds of young brides who arrive in bangalore’s victoria hospital with burns either because they have not brought enough dowry or simply because they cannot produce children.
Divorced men filing PIL for shared parenting
Full Story can be found at http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1206291
Divorced men filing PIL for shared parenting
By – Vineeta Pandey
‘Children need a father too, why favour women only when deciding custody battles?’
NEW DELHI: The best thing a child can have is love, affection and the company of both parents. But that seldom happens if the parents are locked in bitter courtroom battles.
To prevent children from going through the ordeal of choosing one parent, an NGO called Children Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) is filing a PIL in Supreme Court seeking guidelines for judges to determine the best interest of children while deciding child custody matters.
Bitter about the fact that mothers are generally favoured over fathers in child custody cases, over 500 aggrieved fathers, including NRIs, have joined hands to prepare the petition while expressing their wishes to change nappies and be with their children.
The group has recommended that due consideration be given to the presence of a father in the child’s upbringing. It wants India to be a signatory to the International Hague Convention for honouring foreign court judgments in India.
The NGO has also demanded that courts be sensitive to the fact that grandparents too have love for their grandchildren and should not be deprived of that. Guardianship courts should be opened specifically for custody matters so that they are not mixed up with marital problems.
“It is just impossible for a single parent to fulfil the rising demands of children so both parents have to co-operate in raising their children in spite of separation,” said Kumar Jahgirdar, who is leading the campaign. Jahgirdar is locked in a custody battle for his daughter with former wife Chetna, now cricketer Anil Kumble’s wife.
Child psychologists feel that unless there is a clear case of abuse, violence or neglect, there is no reason why one parent should be kept away from the child. “Children from broken families go through a lot of upheavals. Young teenagers who are away from fathers often develop complex behavioural problems. Hence, it is extremely important for the child to get the balance of both parents,” said Dr Shelja Sen, a psychologist and family therapist at Sitaram Bhartia Institute, Delhi.
CRISP has suggested various models for shared parenting: In case where both parents reside in the same city, the child can stay with one parent during the weekdays and with the other during weekends. If parents are not in the same city, custody can be given on a 50-50 basis. Small children may be given to the mother but with generous visitation rights to the father.
“The institution of marriage in India is crumbling. Two out of five marriages end in divorces in Mumbai and 10 divorces are filed daily in Delhi. Since children become the objects of the ego war between erring parents, the custody battle becomes a heinous poison which strangulates innocent childhood,” Jahgirdar said.
CRISP Launch success at Nagpur
Children’s Rights Initiative for Shared Parenting (CRISP) successfully launched at Nagpur as the pics below narrate the success,
