Bollywood's Mr. Perfectionist Aamir Khan is back with the season 2 of his social show 'Satyamev Jayate' and what better topic to begin the second season of his show that the growing issue of rape and women safety in the country. 

In the first episode of Satyamev Jayate, Aamir highlighted the increasing number of rape cases, plight of rape victims and the trauma they go through in our country to get justice. The episode was divided into four parts from the role of police officials who turn a blind eye and refuse to file a FIR to the protocol the doctors need to follow while examining a rape case.

The first episode of Satyamev Jayate was surely an eye opener as it revealed shocking statistics. According to 2012, a total of 1,01,041 rape cases were reported of which only 3,563 resulted in the accused getting convicted, 11,446 cases were withdrawn and these are only 10% of total rape cases as the rest go unreported.

The role of police in rape cases: The episode brought forth police apathy in rape cases. Aamir Khan spoke about many cases where the police simply refused to file rape cases, asked the rape victims to compromise or even locked up the rape victims and their families in police station. One such case was of a 11-year old girl who was raped twice and was burnt alive by the accused despite changing base and asking for police protection. One of the guests also highlighted that the plight of the rape victim increases when they are distinguished on the basis of class.

The role of doctors in handling rape cases: This was one of the most shocking sections of the show when Aamir revealed one by one the facts related to the role of doctors in handling rape cases. Many a times doctors themselves de-motivate the rape victims. The two-finger test wherein a doctor inserts two fingers in the rape victim's private part of the body is against the Supreme Court ruling but the astonishing fact is that this is still prevalent in various hospitals. Another aspect of this section was that there is still no set of rules on how such patients need to be examined so that crucial evidence related to the case can be preserved to solve the case. Two important guests Sangeeta Rege of CEHAT and Dr Nikhil Datar, a gynaecologist, highlighted the attempts started by them across the country to follow a set of rules in rape cases. They also brought to light the need of different medical kit for rape victims.

The long delay in getting justice: We all know what happens when our judiciary turns a blind eye. The third section of the show highlighted the long wait that the rape victims have to go through once their case is registered. Aamir spoke about a rape victim whose case has been stuck at the sessions court for the past 21 years. The victim narrated her heart-wrenching story. She explained how despite of giving all the information that the police needed along with medical tests, time and place of the incident to get her rapist behind the bars, there was nothing done. However, everything went in vain as the accused has not only granted bail but is even on the run and all the files related to her case have gone missing.

One stop rape crisis centre: Justice Usha Mehra spoke about working towards building a system which can give justice to the rape victims as early as possible. A one-stop rape crisis centre is being build wherein senior police do all the needful, experienced doctors take medical tests needed and within two months the verdict is out to create a fear amongst the rapists. This will also give a promise that the rapists cannot get away easily and they will have to pay for the horrifying crime that they have done and will also try to change the plight of the rape victims.

Breaking the myth and societies thinking pattern: Aamir Khan also highlighted the most obnoxious thinking of our society towards a rape victim. Those judging eyes who always criticize women's dressing sense and her moral conduct after the rape incidents. This segment unfolded a hard-hitting fact that maximum number of rape cases have happened to women who wore Burkhas, sarees, Salwar-Kameez and frock since they were below 8 years. But before the show ended Aamir showed two inspiring stories of women who have not only survived the gruesome crime but are also fighting for justice. Suzette Jordan (Park Street, Kolkata) and Urmila Singh Bharti (Madhya Pradesh) are giving their best to put their criminals behind bars.

Vijaya Tiwari, TNN