10 Years Of Nirbhaya: Indian Women Reflect On Country's Safety Issues

Nirbhaya, one of the most horrifying cases that this country has seen, still reminds us that humanity reached its lows when the merciless assault occurred on the 23-year-old. Women's safety is always a concern across the world and there isn't much done because the people in power are busy pointing fingers at the victims and survivors rather than holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions. Today marks 10 years of the incident and have we done enough to secure the lives of women in this country? Let's hear it from the women themselves.

I was a 13-year-old kid when the Nirbhaya case happened and it shook me to the core. Like a lot of teens, I was also just starting to go out alone and travel to nearby places without adult supervision. I remember I lost all confidence to even go to my friend's place after dark without my parents coming along. The concept of rape and assault is not really taught to you in school or by your parents, you would usually come across it via newspaper or other forms of media. I understood it was something that is done to women when they were alone and growing up as a woman in India, unfortunately, no one is foreign to the uncomfortable experiences of creepy stares from random men and being groped and touched by them in public. And you adapt it as a part of your regular activities because how many would of us would put up a fight and as a teenager, you're too scared to confront, at least I was. Kudos to the women who don't take it and retaliate.

Today as a 23-year-old woman in India, Nirbhaya and the thousands of women who lost their lives or did not but faced the brutality of assaulters and rapists, I am very very scared. What scares me the most is the reaction of the government and the powerful people who encourage and uphold the ">rape culture. Whenever there is an incident of such a manner, one of the first comments made by politicians is about the clothing that the woman was wearing and which hour of the day was she out and with whom was she present. The accused often gets bail if they have a political or powerful influence.

10 Years Of Nirbhaya: Where Do We Stand At Women's Safety?

Growing up and living in Kolkata for the past 10 years, what I have noticed so far is the awareness of the people about such incidents. But if asked whether the government has actively done anything for the security of women, I would find it hard to give a positive answer. I would still avoid travelling alone at night, find a crowded lane to walk and be cautious of what I wore because I might be blamed for provoking men around me. I also don't think the responsibility lies fully on the government but also on the people who should be twice as careful in their actions and behave as a normal human being would. I wish there were more consequences for such heinous crimes and an inclusive education system that taught sexual health, intimacy, consent, equality and morals without biases.

Renu Singh who loves Delhi and is also aware of the state of women's safety in the city said, "It feels like home but there is no denying that ten years later, I still hesitate to go out by myself late at night. " She agreed that after Nirbhaya's case mindsets have changed in some ways, people are more aware of "how vulnerable women are once they leave their house". What concerned her is the absence of stricter laws and nothing being changed when it comes to her parents being worried about her safety. She added, "The only thing I wish for is women to not have to think twice before stepping out no matter what they are wearing, no matter what time of the day it is."

Journalist Mona Pachake who grew up in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, said, "Nothing has changed. In fact people are still scared to come out and tell what has happened to them irrespective of gender." She said, "Talking about women's safety, I still don't think women can go out at night time and come home without any harassment." She believes change begins at home and one must stop expecting the world to change. She added, "Living in this world as a rape victim or a person who has been harassed sexually is definitely very hard but I do think standing brave against them and raising the upcoming generation with practical and brave values is the only solution."

Somashree Roy, a professional who grew up in Guwahati, Assam, shared her experience in the post-Nirbhaya world. She said, "When it comes to residents and local police taking steps against women's safety, no I don't think Assam has progressed on that." She added, "very few cases reach a point where the perpetrators are punished severely. Otherwise, most of the cases fail to get registered." Roy is concerned that women coming from middle-class or lower-middle-class backgrounds have it harder as they don't have a financial or political backup to support their case and it's easy for the perpetrators to get away with. She continued that the mentality and actions of men have to improve for things to change in society.

A resident of Mumbai, Ridhima Mainkar, gives hope about the state of women's safety in her city. She said, "I feel men are way more respectful if they see you are alone. They make an effort to walk further away etc so they don't make you feel uncomfortable." Mainkar travels in the city's famed local trains and says that instead of the women's only compartment if she gets on to the general ones or if she is in a crowded place at the station, "men move aside and make space for you. Make sure they aren't making you uncomfortable."

Talking more openly about safety is mandatory, there is no need to use euphemisms anymore to explain the sad state of affairs of women in India. It is not completely hopeless because we humans adapt the behaviour we see around us and when the rape culture is shunned, people will behave better and make it easier for others to live. Movies have a huge impact on how we look at society and social conduct, so the representation of women in a better light and an end to promoting songs with an inappropriate male gaze and the use of poor language can bring in change.

Views expressed are author's own.

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