BEAT AND BE BEATEN

One of the poorest regions of India has given rise to a movement of vigilante women which tries to instill independence in the next generation of women while at the same time beating wrong-doing husbands and shaming corrupt government officials. “Nobody comes to our help in these parts. The officials and the police are corrupt and anti-poor” says Sampat Pal Devi, the leader of the “gulabi gang” (pink gang). “So sometimes we have to take the law in our hands. At other times, we prefer to shame the wrongdoers.” In recent months the group has been involved in everything from thrashing men who have beaten their wives to exposing the political corruption in the distribution of grain to the poor. (BBC)