Mainstream Weekly

On the Tragic Beheadings of Pakistani Sikhs by the Taliban

Vasudha Dhagamwar — 2010-03-19T07:35:17Z

The horrifying news about the beheading of three Sikhs in the tribal regions of North West Frontier Province hit the electronic media on February 21 and the print media a day later. Some sources say they were beheaded because the very large ransom was not paid. Some say it was because they refused to convert. But true it is that they were beheaded and their bodies thrown in public places including a gurudwara. For once, even the MEA of the Government of India has not treated it as an (…)

- 2010

On Opposition to the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill

Vasudha Dhagamwar — 2009-09-21T08:48:41Z

Rejoinder
D. Bandyopadhyay has written a short but hard-hitting piece entitled ‘Why We Must Oppose the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill of 2009'. (Mainstream, August 14, 2009) First of all the Bill is still dated 2007. But that is a small matter, of interest only to those who might try to locate it in 2009 and might not find it. What is of interest is Mr Bandyopadhyay's reasons for opposing the Bill. His main reasons seem to be with regard to the provisions to ‘Company'.
A) The (…)

- September 2009

Can Money Compensate Scheduled Tribe Victims for Rape?

Vasudha Dhagamwar — 2009-08-31T17:02:00Z

In our earlier study of Scheduled Caste victims in Uttar Pradesh we had drawn attention to the fact that compensation was regarded as the end of the case. [“Can Money Compensate for Rape” by Vasudha Dhagamwar, Mainstream (August 8, 2009)] We had raised doubts about the end beneficiary of the money paid ostensibly to the victim.1 We had noted the victim's need for rehabilitation and we also had also seen the victim's need for overall support from her community. The focus of our study in (…)

- August 2009

Can Money Compensate for Rape?

Vasudha Dhagamwar — 2009-08-16T14:05:26Z

The recent battle between Mayawati and Rita Bahuguna Joshi seems to be over and one hopes permanently. However, it does raise a very basic question: is money the right compensation for rape? Can the victim's feelings be assuaged by giving her money? If so, then why not give it to all victims of rape? At the moment compensation is paid if the victim belongs to either a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe and the rapist does not. The law does not specify what happens if the woman is from a (…)

- August 2009