Migrant women working in Hyderabad believe the City reasonably safe but uncouth behaviour of some still leaves many women sceptical about their safety
Hyderabad is home to thousands of migrants from different states. They get trained and secure well-paid jobs and add to the cultural tapestry of the historical city.While a major part of the migrants happen to be men, women are also not in small number. Migrant women, especially engaged in private enterprises face several problems, safety being a key issue.
Bhavya G, an IT professional from Chennai, residing in Venkatgiri Colony, said that she feels unsafe after dark especially on the roads. “I am scared as someone or the other stares at me and I am followed almost everywhere I go. I try to keep calm, but it is hard to ignore it,” she said.Nonetheless, Bhavya says, once home, she doesn’t face any problem. “The fact that I am living alone is proof enough that life is reasonably safe in Hyderabad. I am probably a little more vigilant here than I would be in Chennai as that is my familiar city,” she says.
Shweta Das, who hails from Punjab is a student in NALSAR University. She said that recently when her friends and she were looking for a place to dine at 11.30pm, they decided to halt at Osmania University. “A group of men came along and started abusing us. I think they made out that we were not from the City. They were threatening us and we were forced to move. That was a scary experience,” she said.
Having faced men staring and passing rude comments, Papari Valte, a student living in Marredpally, take such uncivil behaviour in her stride but what scares her is sometimes some men ring her doorbell randomly and peek inside. Her living alone is probably misconceived by some unscrupulous male. This incident has happened many times.
“Eve teasing is all too common here. As I am from the North East, I am called nasty racist names. It is demoralising. Compared to my hometown, Mizoram, where I can walk the streets freely without the fear of being unsafe, Hyderabad is a dangerous place. I feel extremely unsafe here,” she said.
On the other hand, Anushree Gupta from Jaipur residing in Shamirpet, said that Hyderabad is really safe city for women who have come from outside. “I like Hyderabad a lot. You can wear anything here and nobody looks at you indecently. It is easy to adjust and language isn’t a problem at all,” she opined. There are many like Anushree who say the City is safe during day though they will not vouch the same for about the night.
–Courtesy:Postnoon News