WOMEN’S SAFETY

WOMEN’S SAFETY

Women’s safety is an important issue in India. In the past few years, Women Safety has become a major issue in India. The crime rates are continuously rising, and there is an increase in the number of violence against women. According to Constitution, all men and women have equal rights and have freedom from gender discrimination, yet there are multiple cases of rapes every day. No girl or woman today is safe travelling by public transport; however, the planning of the public can support the crime prevention to a great extent. Few simple measures can greatly improve the women’s safety, for example, installing street lights in isolated areas, separate toilet facilities at market areas to make them feel comfortable. If you search on the internet, many cases are happening in different parts of India where women young or old are being harassed and even killed. A 15-year-old girl in Agra succumbed to her injuries sustained from being set alight by a couple of men on motorcycles. Also in Telangana, a 22-year-old woman was killed by her parents for marrying a man outside her caste. In 2012, the horrid Nirbhaya gang rape in the nation’s capital Delhi outraged not only in India but across the world compelling the government to overtake the anti-rape laws. However, these legal amendments have not put an end to the harassment faced by the women . even today, the violence against women continues to plague our roads, public transports, etc. India is a land of customs, religion, norms, folkways, folklore, etc. where Parvati, Durga, Sarasvati, Laxmi are worshipped as goddesses, on the other hand, women face violence such as eve-teasing, harassment, domestic violence, dowry and many more. In India, gender discrimination has existed for generations, although the Constitution grants men and women equal rights. Gender equality is a belief that both men and women should receive equal treatment which they don’t. Being born in an Indian family as a woman, one has to face gender discrimination at all levels; it is the duty of the women to prepare the food, the women need to wake up early and do the household work daily. Achieving gender equality requires eliminating harmful practices against women and girls such as an acid attack, sexual violence etc. According to a survey, Mumbai is an unsafe city; however, Goa is the safest city. The police must ensure that the police stations are welcoming places for women’s complaints. Rape is the fourth most common crime against women in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2013 annual report, 24,923 rape cases were reported across India in 2012. Out of which 24,470 were committed by someone known to the victim (98% of the cases). The rape cases are not declining, in 2018, over 30,000 rape cases are reported, and only 1 in 4 convicted. The terrifying Kathua rape case, the abduction, rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, Asifa Bano, in Rasana village near Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, India in January 2018, is such a shame. Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have topped the list of state reporting the greatest number of acid attack and attempt to acid attack cases. The biggest example of a warrior is Laxmi Agarwal, who is an Indian acid attack survivor, a campaigner for the rights of acid attack victims. She was attacked in 2005 at the age of 16. Section 326 A in Indian Penal Code lays down the punishment for acid attacks. The minimum punishment is ten years imprisonment, and it can extend up to life imprisonment with fine. She also pleaded for a total ban on the sale of acid, citing an increasing number of acid attack cases, under new regulations, acid could not be sold to any individual below the age of 18 years. Indeed, it is a great change which was necessary. Simple measures can bring change; for example, FIRs should be registered for all the cases of rape, sexual harassment as well as other crimes against women. The girls or women must be aware of their surroundings, should make good use of ‘sixth sense’ in every situation and must avoid late night travels using public transport for their safety since. “Be the change you want to see” as said by Mahatma Gandhi. Anyone can bring change Laxmi Agarwal is a great example, if each one of us contributes a bit towards women safety, definitely one day we will be able to end this plague, i.e. Violence against women and the world would be a better place to live.

NAME: VARSHINI.C.B

SCHOOL: PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

STANDARD: 10TH