One more "stupidity feather" in the Government's cap
28th March 1999
Tushar J. Mehta @ieee.org
"General Insurance Corporation of India outlined insurance policies for
women with disabilities arising out of natural calamities like floods,
earthquakes, terrorist activities and from RAPE, PHYSICAL ASSAULT, surgical
operations, child birth etc."
Indian Express on-line
http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19990326/ige26052.html
This has _got_ to_ be among the most ill-conceived, hare-brained idea the
Indian government has endorsed ! (though, I am sure with a little bit of
research there will be other contenders for this "Stupidity of the Year"
award).
Tushar.
30th March 1999
Pia Promina DasGupta Barve @giascl01.vsnl.net.in
Dear Tushar,
Can you specify why you consider this a hare-brained, stupid idea.
Interested to understand your thought process.
Pia
31st March 1999
Tushar J. Mehta @ieee.org
In response to the replies posted to my previous message,
The Indian government's interference is the citizens' daily lives' is
well-known.
Since the government has endorsed the idea of providing insurance for rape,
the onus of proving its legitimacy exists with the government. I am entitled
to question its validity and logic, as an Indian citizen and a taxpayer in
the world's largest democracy.
While many may agree with this scheme, my opinion is that providing
insurance for rape is tantamount to elevating rape to a premium. It is
equivalent to providing compensation for loss of dignity. (Please bear in
mind that I am defending my previous posting - I am NOT belittling the crime
of rape). The government should not be in the business of ensuring against
loss of dignity. Instead of protecting women against violence, the
government now offers insurance policies for them. The word insurance
implies "a contract to pay money in the case of loss of life, property,
etc." While insurance is available for replacing damaged/lost/stolen goods
of materialistic value, what kind of a message does this (providing
insurance for rape) project ? While I admit I don't know of a better
alternative, a government-endorsed scheme providing insurance for rape is
equal to endorsing the crime. Two wrongs do not make a right. 50% of
respondents to an Indian Express on-line poll, believe that providing
insurance for rape victims, will INCREASE the incident of rape.
http://www.expressindia.com/bin/poll/daily/poll_archive.cgi?19990326
Finally, for those of you who INSIST on getting personal, I hate to
disappoint you - I don't have time to waste. My sincere suggestion to you is
to learn basic netiquette - that's an acronym for Internet etiquette. Learn
to respond to the issues and facts - Interact Inn is an informative and a
discussion forum.
Tushar.
5th April 1999
P.K.Saha @poboxes.com
Tushar J. Mehta wrote
>Since the government has endorsed the idea of providing insurance for
rape,
>While many may agree with this scheme, my opinion is that providing
>insurance for rape is tantamount to elevating rape to a premium.
The logic is not clear to me. From an event (1) above, how did the
conclusion (2) come about?
The is a life insurance, where the death of a person by "murder" results in
payment of "insured" amount to the nominated beneficiary. It neither
tantamount to legitimizing murder nor putting numerical value in monetary
terms to one life. One person may be insured for Rs. 10,000/- whereas
another person for ten times that amount. Life does not become cheap for the
one insured for lesser amount. Does it?
With best wishes,
P.K.Saha
5th April 1999
Neeraj Chaturvedi @hotmail.com
Let me clarify... why this logic is wrong...
1. Insurance on death is not for the person who is dead but it is for
his dependents.
2. Insurance on health is nothing but to expenditure on RECOVERY
(getting previous healthier state)
3. Insurance on vehicle is nothing but expenditure to get the vehicle in
previous state after accident.
No expenditure can bring back the previous state of physical abuse.
Moreover in our indian culture "Rape" is not just physical assault but
its loss of dignity, Which can not be recovered by any financial amount.
If the same process continues... one can get insurance amount ... if one
is slapped... if one is beaten .... verbally or physically abused ...
harassed by one's boss (and can be claimed weekly). Well I don't think
this kind of INSURANCES exist anywhere in the world.
any views/ideas on this issue are welcome.
regards
neeraj
8th April 1999
P-S @giasmd01.vsnl.net.in
With a special request to the list coordinator, to post this message which
appears to be of poor taste. Thankyou.
When " acts of God" can be considered as a probability that may happen and
gets insured, I cannot understand why rape which is much more concrete in
its occurence and more definite should not insurable.
I do not support rape nor do I have any intentions to indulge in the act
either due to sheer breakdown of my willpower or other circumstances.
And when sexworkers can demand and be on the verge of getting licences to
peddle their trade and this provokes not much indignances or noises from
the society as a whole, it is beyond me as to why the insurance against rape
is being brought considered such an aberration.
Personally it can be seen as the almost only decent means of succor in a
situation like rape, which until now had no solace for those affected except
for being a social outcast. As for thinking on lines of increase of rape
cases because this insurance offers an incentive for those men who indulge
in the beastly act, then they already have incentives because tho poor
victims who undergo the torment and torture already have social ,
governmental and ngos' organisations who do their most best to relieve the
victim of the trauma and relive life afresh.
Rather it would be much more advisable for all of us to write to the
insurance companies and ask them to form a group to lobby for more stricter
legistlations to be enacted by the government. This can be used to enact
legislations where the rapist gets a minimum of 20 years or more of
imprisonment, castration and is made to compulsorily work and make a huge
financial payment to the victim as mandatory while handing out judgements in
rape cases.
K N Srinivasan Udupa
