Cities across the world are increasingly becoming unsafe for women. There is no city or country in the world where women and girls live free of the fear of violence. Whether walking in streets, using public transport, going to school, college or workplace or selling goods at the market, women and girls are subject to the threat of sexual harassment and violence. To raise awareness and trigger action to end violence against women, the United Nations observes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25. The theme for this year is “Prevent violence against women”.
Women’s safety involves strategies, practices and policies which aim to reduce gender-based violence. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, there is a gradual increase in the number of rapes reported in India -- from 24,923 in 2012 to 33,707 in 2013. The report says a total of 33,707 rape cases were filed across the country in 2014.
In 2014, 14,606 cases of crimes against women were registered in Odisha. There is also a gradual increase in the number of rapes reported in Odisha -- from 1,458 in 2012 to 1,832 in 2013 and 2,011 in 2014.
Women in Bhubaneswar are not safe in public and workplaces. In Bhubaneswar, the number of rapes reported was 56 in 2012, 81 in 2013 and 138 in 2014. Besides, gender-based violence is present at various levels, beginning with discrimination in education, nutrition, employment and wages.
It is well-accepted that in cities, women’s sense of security in public places varies depending on their own personal experiences of the place, or based on the experiences of other women. At times, they are unable to carry out their daily activities, to participate in the life in the city, move around freely, study, work or even enjoy leisurely activities.
In an ambitious plan to upgrade urban India, the Government of India is planning to build 100 Smart Cities which would be equipped with high-tech communication capabilities. Odisha capital Bhubaneswar leads in the Smart City race. A city cannot be smart and sustainable if women are not safe and live in fear. International cities have either implemented or are experimenting with smart technologies in the areas of intelligent transport management systems and public safety. Countries like China have already built smart cities that have building with sensor monitoring traffic flows and security cameras. The data can be directly sent to the city administrators.
In February 2015, Bhubaneswar has taken the initiative to instal CCTV cameras at different locations. It is being utilised as a tool to control crimes and enhance traffic movement. Bhubaneswar is one of the first cities in India that has empowered its citizens by setting up a state-of-the-art online grievance redressal system. This system, popularly known as ‘My city My pride’ (MCMP), was launched with an objective of providing a citizen-centric approach towards online service delivery.
A Smart City should be inclusiveness and equitable. It is important for the policymakers to adopt a gender-inclusive urban plan so that we can ensure better participation of women in urban planning process. It is expected that a Smart City will generate options for all residents to pursue their livelihoods and interests meaningfully. This refers to a city’s ability to create employment opportunities, social sustainability, environmental sustainability, safety and security, inclusiveness, ease of seeking and obtaining public services, cost-efficient healthcare, quality education, transparency, accountability and opportunities for participation in governance. Smart cities use multiple intelligence systems to gather public safety information effectively and respond to events efficiently. In the approach document of the Smart Cities Mission by the Government of India, it is clearly laid down that one of the key objectives is to promote cities that provide smart solutions for safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly. Safer city programmes can be organised to contribute to a better understanding of gender-based violence and development of adequate tools to prevent it. local authorities can improve the city’s physical environment, for example, through better street lighting, building alternatives to dark and secluded walkways or even by positioning bus-stops in safer areas.
Safe cities are the stepping stones to smart cities. Women’s Safety Audits (WSA) can help build smart communities. WSA is a participatory tool that is used for collecting and assessing information about perceptions of safety in public spaces. It is a process that brings people together to walk through a physical environment, evaluate how safe it feels and identify ways to make it safer. A women’s safety audit is a simple and effective way to find out from women about aspects and places in the community that pose obstacles to safety and access.
Violence against women is one of the most widespread violations of human rights. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for prevention and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto has been enacted by the Parliament. The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive Principles. Articles 14 and 15 not only grant equality to women but also empower the State to adopt measures of positive discrimination in favour of women and protect their rights. Articles 16, 39, 42 and 51 favours gender mainstreaming .There are also several sections of the Indian Penal Code that deal with sexual harassment. Despite legal measures, violence against women is not yet eliminated. The issue can be addressed through implementation of effective legal measures and change in attitude.
Urban planners can take up responsibilities and play a role in improving the situation of women by designing ‘Safe Public Spaces for Women and Girls’. Besides, They have a role in helping women enter the decision-making process. Equal representation is certainly a way to ensure that the needs of men and women are addressed in a Smart City planning and management.
(Dr Praharaj teaches at Department of Architecture, College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar)