Urgent Need For Women’s Safety

By Aryan Katiyar

The safety of women has been a persistent issue in India. For a long time, experts, politicians, and activists have discussed this. Newspapers, news channels, and websites have carried out campaigns, and yet the voices of the people are not heard. But a solution to this problem has to be carved out.

Recently, we witnessed a devastating rape and death case of a senior doctor at RG Kar medical college in Kolkata. The evil eyes of the man saw the situation as an opportunity to fulfill his desire with a resting woman who had worked for long hours. Protesters have continuously urged the government to initiate safety measures, questioning how people resting in supposedly safe premises, such as colleges, can become a target for exploitation.

This raises the question: where do women feel safe? Instances of workplace harassment, domestic violence, public space safety, online abuse, and incidents of abuse in educational institutions all contribute to an environment where women often find themselves asking, “Am I safe here?”

This issue has to be addressed at the earliest. In Karnataka, we have seen free bus rides for women leading to more women traveling, but the risks increased as well. Similarly, as women attain higher positions in the workplace, they often face demands for sexual favours or threats of blackmail in exchange for career advancement. When crimes against women occur with such frequency, the necessity of prioritizing women’s safety becomes even more necessary.

India as a country has failed in women’s safety where every 16 minutes a rape is being committed. Many raise their voices, but many remain silent owing to societal pressure. A lot of young women being exposed to prostitution has become a serious concern. Owing to easy access to the internet, young kids too are consuming pornography at an earlier age. Additionally, explicit content in movies should be viewed with a skeptical eye, as it often serves as a medium to attract a young audience.

What can be the solution?

Sex education as a subject needs to be introduced at the earliest in schools and colleges. Under the guidance of parents, online content should be consumed with restriction. Community awareness and education on gender sensitization, improving support systems such as helplines, and improved law enforcement could help women feel safe.

With such a strong vision, it needs people to sit down with patience, address each concern, and provide a solution to the problem. Women’s safety should be on high priority radar within the country. If not, India’s progress will be hindered.