This refers to your article “Empowering Women” (THT, March 8, Page 8). Swami Vivekananda has said, “The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women”.

Women continue to have a long way to go to achieve equality and fairness throughout society. A country which respects women survives better. Every year we celebrate The International Women’s Day” but we find that the crime against women seems to be increasing at an alarming rate.

Crime is endemic to the human condition, but a crime specifically directed at one sex is most despicable and unfortunately, the one that is punished the least. It is found that the media exposure and all laws have little impact.

Legislation introduced by the government is often mere tokenism. One would find that the problem before the majority of women in our country is not equality but survival. The “pati-parmeshwar” has rudely and gradually been brought down to earth.

The scenario for women seems grim indeed and this will continue so long as the basic social and economic structures remain unchanged and the implementing and law and order agencies show indifference.

The thinking of society has to change and parents must value their daughters on a par with their sons and should give them the same advantages.

Vinod C. Dixit, Ahmedabad

Violence

It does not seem that the ongoing political course in the country will easily take its right direction in near future considering the widening political gap among the political parties.

The government has completely failed to convince the opposition CPN-UML to agree on constitution amendment. Madhes-based parties do not show any indication to backtrack from their political stand.

They have been saying for long that unless their demands are addressed, they will not allow the government to hold the local level elections. This situation does not indicate that there will be a political consensus among the parties so soon.

Without bringing the agitating forces on board, the government has announced the poll date which should not be deferred now considering its importance to let the people elect their representatives after a gap of more than 20 years.

It was sad and unfortunate to hear the death of four people in Saptari “Four protesters killed in police firing in Saptari” (THT, March 7, Page 1). The circumstances that led to the tragedy in Saptari should not have developed.

Perhaps the local administration could have done something to prevent the tragic incidents from happening. Whether the police used excessive force or not is a matter for investigation. The violence and vandalism aimed at disturbing a peaceful political campaign should not have happened either. The shootings should be properly investigated and those guilty should be suitably punished.

Those who resort to arson, to the throwing of stones and petrol bombs, and so on should not be spared either.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj