Historic Problem Requires Modern Solutions: Steps To Ensure Safety Of Women

Indeed! Women Safety is a big concern in India for all the citizens. And this can be ensured only by changing our mindsets, especially the mindset of politicians towards women, they need to rise above vote bank politics and address real issues.

Here are a few ideas that can take us a step forward towards women’s safety:

• Technology: If the government can install GPS, CCTVs on buses, and make drivers and conductors wear non-tamperable photo identities in public transports then there might be a chance of 50% decrease in harassment in public transports.

• Tamper-proof GPRS & DVR-cameras on back and front inside the buses can be fit and a single click miss-call police emergency-call system can be devised which will send an alert about the location and vehicle to the police. Each bus should have its own IP address on 3G or 4G along with its own mobile number for easy tracking and contacting. Encourage random checking of busses with PCR vans at night time.

• Increase police patrolling. If necessary, a public message via SMS or WhatsApp must be rolled out containing important helpline numbers like police, fire station, ambulance, etc.

• A separate department for registering FIRs for any crimes of rape, sexual harassment and other crimes against women can be formed. Appropriate actions must be taken against officers who are found guilty of violating their duties and responsibilities.

• All sexual offenders must be monitored by law enforcers once they have served their sentence.

• A significant proportion of Indian men of certain age groups, especially in countryside, still thinks a women as a commodity rather than a human being with equal rights and right to be treated with dignity. One should not just focus on "rape cases" but also other cases of harassment or domestic violence against women, in daily newspapers.

• The practice of reserving positions should be spread across representative bodies for women (Norway was the first country to introduce a 40% quota for female directors of various companies in 2006, which later came into force in 2008, followed by Malaysia as 30% quota and Brazil as 40%, etc).

• Self-defence should be taught in Colleges and Schools. Awareness programme should be organised regardingtheir rights and enhancement of their security.

"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." —Michelle Obama