Have a look at the analysis of the Hindu Editorial published today.
Safe havens no more: On growing crime against women
Sexual violence in workplaces and educational institutions is worrying
From Odisha to Karnataka, Bengal to Delhi, violence against women has seen an ominous rise over the past few months. What is even more appalling is that crimes are being committed in spaces such as school and college campuses or workplaces which are usually presumed to be safe havens. On July 14, a 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, passed away after suffering 90% burns in an immolation bid. The B.Ed student had taken the extreme step outside the principal’s office after her repeated complaints of sexual harassment, against a senior teacher, went unheard. The accused teacher, Samir Sahu, and the principal, Dillip Ghosh, have been arrested, but a precious life would not have been lost had her grievances been redressed in time. She ran from pillar to post, taking it right up to the Chief Minister’s office, but no one paid attention to her grave complaint. In Bengal, even before a year has passed since a post-graduate student’s brutal killing at R.G. Kar Medical Hospital in 2024, a law college student was gang-raped on campus this June; in Mangaluru, two lecturers have been arrested for the alleged rape of a student; in Delhi, a nine-year-old girl’s rape and murder led to the Opposition crying foul over the collapse of law and order.
Little seems to have changed on the ground after Nirbhaya’s rape and murder in Delhi in 2012. Stringent laws are in place, but to what effect? The Odisha student’s plight has put the spotlight on Internal Complaint Committees, mandatory under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013. The Odisha government asked all colleges to form the committees within 24 hours, after the tragic death. Questions should be raised about the manner in which the system failed the student, and the absolute lack of accountability. The annual ‘Crime in India’ report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for the year 2023 is yet to be released. Figures available for 2022 show that a total of 4,45,256 cases of ‘crimes against women’ were registered, showing an increase of 4% over 2021. While the majority of crimes against women were registered under ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives’ (31.4%), ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ comprised 18.7% of all crimes, and ‘rape’ was pegged at 7.1%. It must be noted that many crimes go unreported as well. In this backdrop, conversations about sexual violence and gender are imperative, and must start early. The clamour for justice against a crime should not die down after a few days either, especially when protectors turn predators.
The editorial draws attention to the alarming rise in crimes against women across various Indian states, including Odisha, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Delhi. What is especially disturbing is that many of these crimes have occurred in institutions such as colleges and workplaces — spaces typically regarded as safe havens. A particularly tragic case is cited from Odisha, where a young student immolated herself after repeated complaints of sexual harassment against a teacher went unaddressed, despite her approaching higher authorities, including the Chief Minister’s office. The editorial criticises the lack of timely action and accountability, noting that even stringent legal provisions like the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, fail in the absence of proper enforcement. The incident has highlighted the negligence surrounding the formation and functioning of Internal Complaint Committees. Furthermore, the article underlines the persistence of gender-based violence, with official data revealing over 4.4 lakh cases in 2022 — a number likely underreported. The piece concludes by stressing the need for early conversations around gender and safety, continuous public engagement, and systemic reforms to ensure that the protectors do not become predators and justice is neither denied nor delayed.
This article talks about the growing number of crimes against women in places that should be safe, like colleges and workplaces. It focuses on a heartbreaking case from Odisha, where a 20-year-old girl set herself on fire outside her college principal’s office. She had been complaining about a teacher who harassed her, but nobody took her seriously — not even after she reached out to top officials. Similar cases are being reported from other states, showing that the problem is widespread. Although there are laws to protect women, they are not always followed properly. For example, every college is supposed to have a complaint committee, but many don’t. After the girl’s death, the Odisha government told all colleges to form these committees within 24 hours. The article says that we must talk more about women’s safety and not forget these incidents after a few days. It also reminds us that many cases go unreported. True safety can only come when rules are taken seriously and action is quick and fair.
Tone Explanation:
The tone of the passage is serious, critical, and urgent, with underlying shades of outrage and concern.
Detailed Explanation of Tone:
Serious:
The article deals with grave issues — sexual violence, harassment, institutional failure, and the loss of a young life. The language avoids sensationalism and maintains a formal, sober narrative that matches the gravity of the subject.
Critical:
The editorial sharply criticises the apathy and inaction of authorities, especially in handling complaints of harassment. It questions the effectiveness of legal mechanisms like the Internal Complaint Committees and the Sexual Harassment Act, highlighting the gap between law and implementation.
Urgent:
Words like “must be redressed”, “clamour for justice should not die down”, and “conversations must start early” indicate an urgent call for action and reform. The editorial stresses that delay in justice or inaction can lead to irreversible consequences.
Outraged/Disappointed:
The tone also carries a subtle but controlled outrage — not emotional or loud, but firm — especially when pointing out that the victim’s complaints were ignored even after approaching the Chief Minister’s office. This conveys moral disappointment.
Empathetic and Advocative:
It shows empathy for victims and advocates for societal change and accountability, making it not just informative but also reform-oriented.
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