ARE PUBLIC TRANSPORTS SAFE FOR A WOMAN?

Public transportations are extremely beneficial for people but it has its own drawbacks, especially when it comes to women’s safety. Every now and then we hear about or read in newspaper about sexual harassment cases taking place in public transports. One needs to do something about it before it’s too late. Every women before taking a public transport has to first prepare herself mentally as well as physically because they have no idea what might happen next with them. Whenever a girl travels alone in a bus, metro or a shared auto, they will always find creeps staring at her shamelessly and that too without even a pinch of fear.   Who the hell gave them the rights to stare? Do you think they ever realize how uncomfortable they make for girls? I don’t think they even give a damn about how girls fell or how wrong they are. Usually girls prefer covering their faces, to avoid such circumstances. Groping incidents has become very prevalent these days. Usually men try to take advantage in the crowded buses or autos which leaves the girl with no eye witness or proof to justify her accusation. Men need to understand that a woman is not their property with which they can do whatever they feel like.  In India, around 5.5 million women enter the workforce each year and more than 50% express high concerns about the safety of their commute.

Since the rape cases are increasing at a higher rate, there is a constant fear of getting raped while travelling alone back in every girl’s mind. When a 4 year old girl can get raped, then how can you even expect them to feel safe in public transports? The amount of fear is so big that they sometimes even suspect innocent people. Many times the auto driver or the male passenger in the bus tries to be over friendly with women. My tip for all the girls travelling alone is don’t fall in their trap and avoid unnecessary conversation with the strangers because it might create a big issue for you. Not all men are bad but you can’t take the risk of trusting strangers.

In spite of all of this girls can’t simply avoid travelling alone but they can take few steps to feel safer like carrying pepper spray in their bags, learning self-defence techniques, knowing all the women help emergency numbers and so on.

 Sitting cowardly at home isn’t an option, you yourselves have to take bold steps.

-Anshika agarwal