Death of Aman Kacharoo -a 19 year old student of a medical college in Himachal Pradesh has sent the ball rolling once again. The high profile Sophia College started the ball rolling in 1997 when Indu Anto was ‘killed’ by her seniors in hostel. The justice is still to come. Her parents are still in shock and they have only one thing as a solace – the court accepts that Indu did not commit suicide but she was killed after a long drawn ragging.

The number of unfortunate victims of ragging is still growing at a rapid pace. Barring few states such as Maharashtra, the lack of legislation has ensured that the ragging is not questioned as something worth punishment. Indu’s death ensured that there will be a law in Maharashtra that will cap the extent of ragging and it has brought in some deterrent in this heinous crime. However the central legislature is yet to learn any lesson from this. There is no time to enact a law to that effect.

This is not just one instance. In 1997, the Supreme Court decided on the long drawn case of Vishakha – sexual harassment at work. As a part of the judgment, the honourable court of law issued some guidelines to deal with sexual harassment at work place and all associated abuses. The same judgment clearly mentioned that these guidelines will be applicable till the central legislature comes out with a expansive law. But alas, the Parliament is still very busy with the game of power and there is hardly any time left to enact a law to that effect.

The feminist pressure groups are busy fighting for 33% reservations in Parliament and at all levels of power, but very few of them are bothered to empower a women at workplace, which ultimately earns her economic freedom, the most coveted facet of freedom.

Another case in point is Lok Pal bill. The bill is not expected to gain ground given the apathy prevailing across political parties. The transparency expected and the level of power of Lok Pal and many more points are bone of contention for many in the power house. Given the multi-party governments in the center it is highly unlikely that the government will get some time to go ahead with some of the crucial legislations. Till then let us sit and count the number of Aman Kacharoo and Indu Anto.

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