Women in most parts of the country still do not feel safe and do not think much has changed with regard to measures to ensure their security from criminals and rapists.
This feeling was unanimously echoed by a majority of them almost two years after the rape of a 23 year old woman in a running bus on the outskirts of Delhi.
A Shimla resident Phalma Chauhan, said, “After December 16 (2012), our government had said that it will provide utmost security to women but I don’t feel that post that incident there has been any decline in the crime and violence against women, instead I feel that they have only grown.”
“Till date I don’t think we have seen any changes in the law. No doubt a lot of laws are made with regard to rape and molestation and we read about them in the newspapers too but when it comes to execution of these laws, it is from that point only that one can sense negativity,” added another resident of the area, Monika Thadda.
Deputy General of Police Sanjay Kumar however, did not agree with this view, saying the police have taken relevant steps to ensure the security of women.
“There was certainly a renewed awareness among the people after the incident of December 16 (2012) and the government also took relevant steps to ensure that women can come forward without fear and register their complaints. The police too responded well,” said Kumar.
Chandigarh resident Shahi said, “It is important that the politicisation of this issue is absolutely stopped. Because of the incessant politicisation of such matters no effective steps have been taken so far. However, if a political party has any suggestion with regard to addressing the issue of women’s safety then they can give it to the government.”
Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mahila Morcha President Vijaya Rahatkar said, “Every person’s freedom must be upheld and also every person must be treated humanely irrespective of their gender. We say that women and men are equal, if they are actually equal then why the ill-treatment of women?” (ANI)