LUCKNOW: Political parties are now faced with a unique demand - add "formation of a National Commission for Men in their manifestoes" or face the risk of yet another party, formed by men facing domestic violence, entering the fray.
This demand was raised by about 50 organisations and pressure groups - under the aegis of National Coalition of Men - who are asking political parties to promise to constitute this body to uphold rights of men and address issues pertaining to men, both at the national and state level. They have threatened that if political parties fail to do so, they will form a party and also contest elections.
Speaking to TOI on the sidelines of the release of its "Men-i-Festo", Amit Gupta, a facilitator, said, "By March this year, all formalities pertaining to the registration of the party would be completed in Delhi. WE have scheduled a meeting in Agra in April, in which the final call on contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections would be taken."
"Other non-negotiable demands include formation of a task force to follow up, investigate and bring the culprits to justice on men's suicide," he added.
There was also a demand to make domestic violence gender-neutral, so as to protect men against domestic violence and family disputes. "All family laws should be of civil in nature and men should be protected, male child to be given equal opportunity and rights and equal rights to men for child custody and visiting their children in case of family issues," said Gupta.
"More than 50% of men under trial, who are accused of minor crime, await bail, and the state should facilitate a mechanism for their freedom," Gupta added.
When asked to reason the need for establishing the National Commission for Men, Gupta was of the view that 51% of India's population consists of men, and it is 80% of men are taxpayers, whose hard earned money is being used for the upliftment of the society, and 90% of the politicians and lawmakers are men.
"However, despite significant contribution made by men, they are assumed guilty till proven innocent, especially when the complainant is a woman," Gupta said and added that more than six decades have passed, but no study on men's issues and right have been done so far. And as far as emotional strength is concerned, statistically men are weaker than women. The facilitator also made it amply clear that validation of men's problem(s) is not an invalidation of women's problem(s). He also criticised the National Women's Commission for doing virtually nothing in order to improve the condition of the women across India.
NEWS Link:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Harassed-men-demand-National-Commission/articleshow/30075711.cms
This demand was raised by about 50 organisations and pressure groups - under the aegis of National Coalition of Men - who are asking political parties to promise to constitute this body to uphold rights of men and address issues pertaining to men, both at the national and state level. They have threatened that if political parties fail to do so, they will form a party and also contest elections.
Speaking to TOI on the sidelines of the release of its "Men-i-Festo", Amit Gupta, a facilitator, said, "By March this year, all formalities pertaining to the registration of the party would be completed in Delhi. WE have scheduled a meeting in Agra in April, in which the final call on contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha elections would be taken."
"Other non-negotiable demands include formation of a task force to follow up, investigate and bring the culprits to justice on men's suicide," he added.
There was also a demand to make domestic violence gender-neutral, so as to protect men against domestic violence and family disputes. "All family laws should be of civil in nature and men should be protected, male child to be given equal opportunity and rights and equal rights to men for child custody and visiting their children in case of family issues," said Gupta.
"More than 50% of men under trial, who are accused of minor crime, await bail, and the state should facilitate a mechanism for their freedom," Gupta added.
When asked to reason the need for establishing the National Commission for Men, Gupta was of the view that 51% of India's population consists of men, and it is 80% of men are taxpayers, whose hard earned money is being used for the upliftment of the society, and 90% of the politicians and lawmakers are men.
"However, despite significant contribution made by men, they are assumed guilty till proven innocent, especially when the complainant is a woman," Gupta said and added that more than six decades have passed, but no study on men's issues and right have been done so far. And as far as emotional strength is concerned, statistically men are weaker than women. The facilitator also made it amply clear that validation of men's problem(s) is not an invalidation of women's problem(s). He also criticised the National Women's Commission for doing virtually nothing in order to improve the condition of the women across India.
NEWS Link:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Harassed-men-demand-National-Commission/articleshow/30075711.cms
