There has been little change in the city’s infrastructure in terms of security for women. The situation remains the same from December 16 gang-rape to the recent Gandhi Nagar rape of a toddler.
Despite the massive public outrage demanding beefed up security for women in Delhi, the authorities are yet to wake up. Women feel unsafe venturing out on the roads after sunset, even in areas which attract large crowds during the day.
“It’s almost impossible to walk the brief stretch from ITO to Pragati Maidan Metro Station post 8 pm. Several instances of derisive comments being passed and inebriated men following me have thwarted my spirits of taking the stretch alone at night. As my work timings are little odd, I make sure that a male friend accompanies me to the Metro station or I take an autorickshaw,” said Aditi Sharma, an HR professional.
The Government has not been able to put its action plan into force to cut down on heinous crimes against women in Delhi. In order to address women’s security concerns after the December gang-rape, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had promised an action plan.
Dikshit had called
for a collective societal responsibility — from NGOs, police, universities, GRC, district administration and resident welfare associations (RWAs) — to make the city safe for women. It was decided that a committee will preside over functioning of the ‘action plan’ and will hold regular meetings with the police. However, even after lapse of over 100 days, the plan could not be put into action.
Women feel there is a need for an urgent upgrade in city patrolling, which remains intermittent, especially in the night. “There is no PCR van to be found outside most of the Metro stations after it gets dark and places like Chhatarpur and Hauz Khas are deserted after 9 pm. Even the bus-stops are vulnerable in absence of any patrolling and it seems there is no one to rein in the reckless autorickshaws and grameen sewas,” said Kittu Chawla, an advertising professional.
lieutenant Governor Tejindra Khanna presided over a safety commission meeting concerned with dark and poorly lit road stretches. The meeting had identified 255 such spots, in five areas of Outer Ring Road (Munirka-Mahipalpur), Dhaula Kuan cloverleaf, Dwarka sub-city, Nehru District Centre and Resettlement colony at Bhalswa, demanding an urgent increase in police patrolling.
Apart from these, 1,600 dark alleys were identified and civic authorities — including the trifurcated Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), NDMC and public works department (PWD) — were directed to improve lighting in these areas. Action is yet to happen.
Women feel unsafe in Delhi Metro after 9 pm, where instances of harassment are common. This is apparent from the fact that 11,000 men were prosecuted in 2012 for traveling in the reserved ladies’ compartment. The number refuses to go down though more and more men are penalised. “On an average, 2,000 men per month are penalised for commuting in the ladies’ coach,” said a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesperson.