Break the chain

Break the chain

We are living in interesting times.Not too long ago we were a country headed by a woman president and had four powerful members of the fairer sex as chief ministers for certain states which quite ironically is a telling statement on where we stand in terms of safety for women.Bangalore is what I call home and I have been living in this sprawling metropolis for the last 13 years loving each and every moment of it. Bangalore has undergone a sea change akin to an old banyan tree. The tree with its deep roots accommodating itself to the change which is currently happening at the speed of light around it with the only constant being the safety for women which has reached it's lowest nadir. Our society which in simple terms is a a group of people related to each other through persistent relations dominated by cultural expectations with the women quite paradoxically transforming themselves from bread makers to breadwinners in a male dominated stratosphere plagued by increasingly inane and anarchic thoughts. Rome interestingly was also a society which was never built in a day which brings me to to the moot point on how can Bangalore be a safe haven for women. I have listed 6 key points which can make a big difference and increase the plight and safety of the she women. 

Education- the government should partner publicly and privately with NGO's , Human Right activists and corporate companies in ensuring the vast populace of Bangalore is given basic and primary education at a subsidised cost. 

Law and order- There needs to be a larger representation of women in the armed forces. The police stations should make the filing of an first information report as seamless as possible with minimum paperwork and a a process driven approach backed by a solid team of analyst and experts transitioning to cases in courts which should be redressed immediately with a quick resolution. There should be increased policing after evening hours with police in plain clothes manning vulnerable and crowded areas.

Public infrastructure- Public infrastructure is the lifeline of  a metropolis like Bangalore. The toilets,buses,metro service and auto rickshaws are the touch points for most of the female populace using these modes of transportation and facilities on an everyday basis. Strict action should be taken against individuals who resort to Eve teasing, writing graffiti with the police maintaining a strict vigil and employing A clear and strong approach for repeat offenders. There  needs to be a 24 hour manned fully functional helpline which should be advertised and promoted
through all the mediums of communication ( tv,radio and newspaper) and a website which should allow a women to anonymously dial in and log in when stuck in a sticky situation.

Media- The print and electronic media should play a more responsible role in highlighting issues regarding safety of women. They should not just look at sensationalizing issues for getting more airspace but work closely with the citizens of Bangalore through the form of citizen associations and promoting the safety of the women through all modes of communication.

Theatre groups and films- Theatre groups and films are one of the few mediums which can touch the length and breadth of Bangalore sensitizing the urban population on the rapidly changing dynamics of society with the women from every strata of society rubbing shoulder to shoulder winning her way through all the obstacles.

Leadership- The local MLA should work closely with the citizen groups, NGO, police , print and electronic media in having a strong review mechanism in place to review open items on a weekly or a fortnightly basis consistently communicating improvements shown in the safety for women in Bangalore.

Finally all the above mentioned points will not work if the society turns a blind eye. The society has a huge role to play in improving the safety for women in Bangalore by playing responsible and accountable parents ,openness to change,putting pressure on the elected representatives as well as the law and order machinery demanding nothing but the best services.