The proposal to introduce a new Section 509B in the Criminal Law (amendment) Bill, 2011, has given women in the country reason to rejoice. With this amendment, the Indian Penal Code will make stalking, which includes following a woman repeatedly, contacting her through phone, mail or any other form of communication or loitering or watching the place where she works or lives, a punishable offence, with imprisonment of up to seven years.

Women across the country feel that the move will be a formal acknowledgement of the mental trauma that a victim of stalking goes through. Even a Katrina Kaif and a Shilpa Shetty, despite their high security, have had their fair share of stalking. Will this bill provide any real respite? Stars get talking to Hyderabad Times.

Rape is also a punishable law. But how many convictions do we actually see? In a country where 800 million people are struggling to survive on a day to day basis, crimes that don’t result in fatalities, will hardly be taken seriously, irrespective of the laws.

– Gul Panag