Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 17: 'It is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world, one of the least prosecuted crimes and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development'.
The students, faculty and management of St Aloysius College (Autonomous) under the leadership of Women’s Forum, CASH (Committee Against Sexual Harassment) and Human Rights Cell, organized a candlelight march procession to the DC’s office on Friday December 13 to voice their dissent on the recent crimes against women and children and vulnerability. They expressed their solidarity with the victims. A panel discussion was held between 4 pm to 5 pm at the college campus at the Mother Theresa Peace Park to mark the day. “We have gathered here as a disturbed audience to bring out our discontent to voice our concerns against the violation of human rights that appear to have become a routine matter in our country if we do not take care,” voiced the young faculty and students of the college in the panel
Neeti Shetty from the department of English and Alwin D'Souza from the department of Political Science were the faculty panellists who questioned the attitude of silence among the people. Harshitha and Aparna from BA, Adarsh from BSc, Sahil from BCA and Kushubu from BVoc participated as student panellists. The panellists discussed the atrocities against women since the incident of Banvari Devi in Rajastan and the struggle that led to Vishaka guidelines and later sexual harassment of women at the workplace (prevention, prohibition and redressal Act 2013). Students also brought to discussion the Puttur case of Dalit rape and IPC – Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act & IT Act, encounter death, role of civil society, Nirbhaya case etc.
Rector, Fr Dionysius Vas SJ appealed to the students to have a culture of diversity on the campus and appreciated the culture of multi-languages that the students employ while conducting Sports Day on the previous day. Principal, Fr Dr Praveen Martis SJ appreciated the move to improve social responsibility through the march.
Moderator, Vineetha, registrar, School of Social Work appreciated the efforts of the students and impressed the young students to believe doing something to promote change. Dr Shalini Aiyappa delivered the vote of thanks. Cleophas and group led the invocation to God. "I think we can all agree that the time for complacency is long gone, has passed and belongs to another era. The silence on violence against women and children has been broken and now, now is the time for stronger action,” said Joeana Cera, III BA while compering the programme.
Dr Saraswathi, coordinator of the women's forum and Dr Shalini Aiyappa, co-ordinator CASH and Dr Rose Veera D'Souza of the Human Rights programme were the convenors of the programme.
Marching in silence peacefully, holding placards around 1,000 students proceeded to the DC’s Office in procession and displayed a street play to promote an awareness for a secure society for men and women. Few NGOs of Mangaluru were present and expressed their solidarity for the cause.
“It is high time we as students of a premier institution of Mangaluru raise our voices against the atrocities and horrific incidents taking place against women and the vulnerability. We all know that we have a lot to do. We have to do much more to end these horrible abuses and the impunity that allows these human rights violations to continue was the crux of the peaceful march. Upon reaching DC's office, students displayed a street play. Dr Sarawati and Dr Dinesh Nayak who guided the street play expressed their views. Jyoti Chelyar from the NGO spoke about the need to change our culture of silence to claim justice. Dr Dinesh thanked the DC, Sindhu B Rupesh IAS and DR P S Harsha, Police Commissioner of Mangaluru and Police of Pandeshwar and Bunder Police station for their support.
After the street play the rector, principal, faculty and student council members along with the convenors proceeded to the DC's office and handed over the memorandum to be submitted to the chief minister through the DC. The DC received the memorandum. The co-ordinators thanked the DC for her co-operation.
Prof Naveen Mascarenhas and the Student Council president, Lloyd Vineeth guided the students in the march.