PUNE: There is an urgent need to change the mindset about men as perpetrators of crime and bring in "gender equality" in the context of men. These will be some of the key issues that a city-based NGO working for men's rights would highlight at its International Men's Day (IMD) celebration on November 19.
Members of Men's Rights Association, which works towards addressing issues concerning men and protection their rights, said here on Saturday that reinstating the value of men in society and initiating an open discussion among men about the issues and constraints they face will be the focus of IMD celebrations in the city. More than 60 countries will be observing the day, the members said.
The IMD celebrations will be held at Balgandharva Natya Mandir on Jangli Maharaj road at 4pm on Tuesday. Addressing the news conference, Mahesh Shinde, president of the association, said, "We are arranging some fun games with prizes to be won by the participants. We will offer gifts to all participating men and will also felicitate men who have endangered their lives for social causes. We are also expecting a few Marathi film actors to join us on that day."
Shinde also urged men, including those in powerful positions, to stop living in denial about men's issues and even their own vulnerabilities. "We urge male film actors to end the glorification of violent male protector roles. We call for the establishment of male studies departments in universities, besides a National Commission for Men and a men's ministry to create gender equality," he said.
Propagating the celebration of IMD, Shinde said there is an urgent need to change the mindset about men as perpetrators of crime. "Under the guise of women empowerment, serious imbalance is being created in the society, by giving undue and unfair advantage to women. This is against the principle of natural justice. The IMD celebration is in recognition of the selfless sacrifice that men make for their families, parents, wife, sisters, and children in this age of constant criticism, male bashing and misandry in popular culture," he said.
Shinde argued his case with statistics of suicides. "In 2012, 88,453 men killed themselves. The rate at which the suicide rate of men has increased in the last 17 years is almost double as compared to women. Yet, no serious measures have been taken up by the government," he said.
"According to our survey, 84% of urban Indian males find domestic violence against men by women funny, and that abused husbands are not male enough," he said. "India as a country is famous for its family system. Not much will be left of it if women continue to "abuse" benefits accorded to them and men's value and rights are not reinstated," he added.
Men's Rights Association is a 500-member strong NGO which arranges free counseling every Sunday at 4pm at Sambhaji Park, Pune for men in distress.
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