First Prize

HOW SAFE ARE OUR CITIES FOR WOMEN

Are our cities safe for women??  Well, today women are under constant fear of being harassed and stalked by perverts.  There are sexual harassment faced by the women, children and even kids, safety is a distance word in today’s world.

The level of atrocities against women is an indicator of the openness of society. Sexual harassment and immoral trafficking are high specially in suppressed societies, whereas it is less in fully-evolved metros. Women, particularly single women, would happily testify that as far as Indian cities go Mumbai makes them feel exceptionally easy at most times of the day or night (and specially the latter). The public transport system works efficiently, women can roam around freely till fairly late, and they can stay in hostels or as paying guests without too much of a problem. It isn’t as though eve teasing doesn’t exist. Take a walk down any of our railway stations or try getting into a crowded bus and you can be rest assured there will be unwarranted attention and intrusion by way of a Johnny who tries to get too close for comfort. But most women have developed a defense mechanism by which they know how to deal with this.

I for one would always feel safe in Mumbai, however after the horrifying incident in Dec 2006; I would say that the city is getting notoriously unsafe for women. The woman was stripped and molested in full public view by an unruly mob at the Gateway of India.  Is this what our cities are coming to now???? I was shaken up by this incident as I happened to be in Mumbai at that particular time, and now I wonder whether Mumbai is still the safest city for women, as it was famously known.

What is important to understand is that peace and tranquility in cities is never appreciated until it has vanished. There is a perception that cities, which are presently safe, will continue to be safe, and that some invisible factor maintains that equilibrium. This is a myth, and the gradual increase in crime, violence and destruction of cities in India and all around the world bears testimony to the present fragile calm.

The issue of violence brings them into the centre. The focus of this presentation is to explore a very simple phase…." What works for women and children works for society." If women and children cutting across class and religion feel safe in cities, then those cities are safe. This is like a litmus test.

Most of the cities have changed from bad to worse. There is a lack of will among law-enforcing agencies to enforce rules. This has rendered the city comparatively unsafe, it is the parents who have to instill the right sense and teach their children how to tackle difficult situations for their own safety. Violence against women is prevalent everywhere in this country. There are law enforcement agencies to prevent such crimes against women but they alone will not be able to solve this scourge. The people’s cooperation is crucial in eradicating this menace. I believe that unless people come forward in rooting out such social evils, only law enforcing agencies will not do. And when the people are active in their drive against the crimes, the Police cannot remain a mute spectator though they are supposed to be the protectors of the citizens. They will be forced to dispense their bounden duties

Youths should be motivated to take social responsibility and protecting the children and women…this is the need of the hour. Parents should monitor children up to adolescent age and elders should set examples and youths to follow. Everyone thinks of changing the society. No one thinks of changing oneself. If we all abide by the rules, then I think the women in our cities shall be safer.

Recently, we witnessed gruesome and disgraceful incident by the Rajasthan youth who had gone to Jaipur to answer a test for the post of police constables. These boys molested the girls from Goa Home Science College who had gone on a tour of North India.  it was a harrowing experience for the Goan girls as they had never dreamt that their tour would end up this way. Imagine the future would-be cops caught in such scandalous offence.

Can we say that our children are safe in these times; I for one feel that no city can be called to be safe for our children with each passing day, as we hear time and again about the alarming atrocious on women and children.

As I write this article, I hear about the horrific stripping and abuse of an Adivasi woman in Assam. This is the most inhuman attack I have seen in my life where a woman is stripped on the streets of a state capital.  I fail to understand how such barbaric incidents can ever happen, it is indeed beyond my imagination.

In all these circumstances, I would definitely worry for our daughter’s safety as they are more vulnerable; however I pray that all our daughters may be well where ever they are at schools, working etc.  Another most important point to be noted is that our daughters should maintain their dress code so as not to excite the maniacs around them, keep it modest to avoid sexual harassment. Any dress, for that matter, can be worn both decently and indecently. The mode of dress has nothing to do with decency, but the mode of wearing it has something to do with it!  I wonder whether decently dressed girls are spared by them! There are many incidents when our women and daughters who are dressed decently are the victims of molestation and rape. Some men are born as such and girls wearing indecently revealing dresses would only be attracting their attention as well as that of even decent men making them also cast furtive glances. This would be the worst damage a woman could be doing to men in general and to herself in particular. Let us not make even decent men indecent by wearing indecorous dresses and T-shirts with obscene wordings, if we need to make our cities safe for our women and children, in our already unsafe cities. Arlette Azavedo

Second Prize

Are Indian cities safe for women? To day, there is a great awakening among Indian women to become economically empowered. They have learnt  the hard way that economic independence is the only way to remove dependency on men and to achieve gender equality. The other purposes are to help the family to attain better standard, and use the knowledge accumulated through higher education, productively. Therefore, increasing number of women goes out for jobs. Whether they are in top jobs, or in the intermediate or in the lower level jobs or self employed they face different types of risks in the outer world, especially in the cities which have become over crowded and accommodate all sorts of migrated people.

They have to face dangers while travelling and in work places. If the girls happen to be ambitious in their career, they invariably choose the private sector because of higher salary and promotion on the basis of efficiency and not on seniority. If they are in the top jobs, late night meetings are common and travelling to different cities is part of their job. Staying over night with men when they are employed in certain professions like BPO jobs, medical jobs and even in software jobs can not be avoided. Even the women with low end jobs working in construction, quarrying, export garment factories etc., and in marketing or sales jobs are exposed to great risks especially in cities where the families' or communities protection is not possible.

The risks they face are in the form of thefts, molestation, eve teasing, rape, character assassination, sexual harassment, acid attack and fraudulent marriages, love trap, blackmailing and murder. If we wonder why there are so many  risks faced by women, the answer we get is "to men, women are only sex symbols"- whatever be her age, or educational qualification or intellectual capacity or status in job. That is the reason for sexual assaults on even IAS officers, scientists, call center's endangering graduates, lawyers, medical officers and researchers.

Cities are filled not only with sex maniacs due to sex tourism but also with thieves, kidnappers, cinema brokers etc, Cities have a lot of places which attract young men and women for holding private meetings like the parks, beaches, cinema theaters, shopping malls, cinema theatres, coffee shops and pubs. The girls who for go for dating to these places, often get into all sorts of trouble.

Extensive use of cell phones and internet also exposes the city girls into risky situations. Even the over crowded buses and lonely lanes are not safe for the girls. The civic society in the cities is often indifferent to other's troubles. Even if a girl is caught in dangerous situation help would be rarely available. Even the heavy traffic in cities is causing concern to the girl's parents who are using mostly two wheelers for commuting. The autos and share autos and call center taxis are involved in criminal offences against women sometimes.

Therefore the risks of city life have resulted in restricting the girl's freedom. The parents become tight controllers of there movements especially when the girls have the habit of mixing or going out with boys or are late coming home, or when they get long and frequent cell phone calls , and long hours on the computer chat . The city atmosphere has become so risky that, the parents are eager to settle their daughters in marriage as early as possible. This is because it is not at all possible for the parents or the police to protect girls from all types of risks existing in the cities.There is absolutely, no use of blaming the state government for the crimes against girls, after the damage had been done. The safety measures are to be practiced by the girls themselves. They know instinctively about wrong approaches by men. They have to avoid such men. Roaming about with boys may be thrilling, but they should realize they are likely to get into all types troubles later in life if they continue to be irresponsible.

Third Prize

A little girl so soft and lovable
grows up to be pretty and adorable

Steps out for work into this universe
independent though money is in her purse

every move she makes
and every step she takes

should be careful
else life will be aweful

everybody is trying to get an opportunity
pretending to be in unity

with evil desires at heart
to destroy her apart

she ought to be in caution
taking every precaution

escaping every trap
and singing a rap

Safety is in the hands of the beholder. Modernization is the killer which has resulted in an unsafe world. Let us look at it from an individual perspective. I have a 14 year old daughter. She rides her cycle to all her activities during the day. I never allow her to wear a modern dress (specifically revealing dresses) when she is out on her own. I always ask her to call me if she is late. She has all the freedom to go out with her friends; she enjoys food with her friends etc. However the limit and the transparency is what matters. She knows that she has the liberty to all but with the advice of the elders. I have seen many girls hanging around with mini and micro mini skirts in roadside with mobiles around. This provokes all. Safety has to be imparted and practiced by all. Safety has to be learnt and practiced by all. Unlike the olden days the community feeling is slowly fading out. This means we do not know who our neighbors are. With all these in place I think any place is safe or unsafe depending on the individual. It need not be to the girls and guys, it applies even to grown up adults. My opinion is that city is safe for all age groups. In fact with the recent modernization (police numbers are available and are reachable anytime). Patrolling and the flat system with securities being appointed in all houses, it has become safer for people to stay in city. Sowmya

This is the most common question or the discussion that arises in every mind whether its women or men. But to me, what is important is how you approach it positively in the context of today's lifestyle and work environment, and this is in the hands of the women.

As far as the situation is concerned, most of the cities are developing and women are also given more importance by making them more knowledgeable and educated. The moral values imparted to them are equally important.First of all, parents should come out of the shell and face the real world.

Yes, there are many stories heard everyday through the media or people or advertisement about the harrasment, sexual abuse and many other stories. I feel there is an answer to every thing we face. As of now even the government is taking these
issues seriously. Its all in the men's support too!! How men take it and their egoism is affecting the lives of both men and women...after all, we are also human beings and we are also given the right to do everything. Why not give us an oppurtunity to prove it. If we look at what makes our cities not-so-safe for women, its the security. We women should have our limits whether its rich or middle class or low class family. Our behaviour, language, attitude, reaction etc plays an important role.

People in general take precautions in the case of a daughter. Even I as a mother will have some worries, but its too early for me to think about it as my two daugthers are small. I am giving my best to impart knowledge and also make them use their knowledge, participate in all the competetions in their schools and colleges. I wish and hope that all parents should stop worrying too much about their daughter's life and give them the knowledge and support through out their lives.
Malini Satyanarayana.