Sir,
Media ,the fourth pillar of democracy plays an important role to highlight and aware the issues at grass root level.But its role has abruptly transformed with the advent of so many news channels and social media in todays scenario.Media-be it electronic or print or social strengthenes the democartic set up by making all the things transparent.One of the prioritised area of 21st century has been Women empowerment. So many legal provisions ,policies awareness programmes are being framed every day.But role of media is biased on this perspective This we can analyse by a case.A girl is raped and killled brutually in a remote village.Media highlights the issue but with diffferent angles and flavour.Switch to one channel you will come to know about the background of victims family, switch to another you will know about some hidden aspect of victims family and finally after some time you come to know that the girl was Dalit and had relations with the culprit. How the image of a rape victim whose pain has to be felt been tarnished on the lines of caste and religion.At this point what role Media can actually play is different from what is being played.Crime against women be it rape, dowry death, molestation, eveteasing,acid attacksare being reported every day but how different news channels add flavour to it cant be neglected.Right to privacy is a basic right which every citizen enjoys but when it comes to media it is more interested in highlighting which dress, what food, a celebrity eats.How many break ups and affairs they have and what is the culture of Ambanis.Do all these news stuff justifies the modesty and dignity of females.Laws are there, safeguards are there, but only 20 out of 50 females are aware of these.
What to talk at National level, in Sunderbani which is a small town of District Rajouri as per official data only 7 cases of crime against women have been registered during 2016 and the data remains 6,9 and 2 only for 2017,2018 and 2019 respectively .On the contrary to this, if we go through the news papers every day crimes like rape, murder, molestations are being covered but lack of awareness and social stigmas still prohibits females to come forward and report the cases.Here comes the real role of media, in particular, the electronic and social media which has become a strong tool in today’s scenario.Media should highlight the laws,awareness programmes and policies so that confidence building capacity of females be enhanced.
Nidhi Badyal
Jammu
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