The Escalating Menace of Crime: A Wake-Up Call for Society
By: Javid Amin
The recent incident of a mother being stabbed by her own son is a horrifying wake-up call for society. Such shameful incidents are becoming all too common, painting a grim picture of a diseased society. Rape, murder, burglary, physical assaults, and verbal abuse have stained the sacred fabric of Kashmir’s social landscape.
The surge in criminal acts demands immediate attention. The impact of crime is not limited to the tragedy and trauma faced by the victims; it spreads its tentacles throughout society, polluting the social environment and instilling a sense of insecurity and uncertainty. Apprehensions and anxieties mount as crime looms large.
The society’s passive surrender to this onslaught of crime is deplorable. We are bound and silenced by the clutches of criminal elements.
Blaming any single factor for this social degradation is oversimplifying the issue. Instead, we must examine the performance of various institutions. The family, as the primary institution, bears the responsibility of guiding young members towards positive attitudes and a healthy outlook. Are parents fulfilling their duty of monitoring their children’s psycho-social development? Has moral education taken a back seat, overshadowed by material pursuits? Fractured family bonds weaken its integrity, making it a fertile ground for criminal tendencies to flourish.
The neighborhood, once a pillar of support, has withered in today’s individualized living. In a harmonious neighborhood, informal surveillance kept individual actions in check. However, with the erosion of this institution, its influence wanes.
The drug epidemic is another factor fueling erratic behavioral changes. Drug addicts become immune to moral considerations, their conduct veering wildly beyond societal norms. We cannot afford to let this menace thrive; it must be eradicated at its roots.
Excessive use of social media exposes users, particularly teenagers, to obscene and harmful content. Controlled and limited usage can mitigate these negative consequences.
The solution to this escalating crime lies in going back to basics. Parenting cannot be outsourced; parents must instill humane values in their children. A supportive family environment goes beyond material provisions, encompassing love, trust, empathy, care, cooperation, patience, and gratitude. These virtues are the foundation of a well-rounded life, and their absence results in antisocial behavior and criminal acts.
We must mend our shrinking social spaces and unblock communication channels. While gadgets have their utility, they cannot replace the natural human need for social interaction. Empathy and compassion, found in human connections, cannot be replaced by lifeless devices.
The lost humane ambience of our social living must be restored. In the pursuit of materialism, humanity feels haunted by the ghost of greed. It is time for deep introspection. The rising crime trend must be halted, or else our society will struggle to survive.
