WOMEN SAFETY IN INDIA!

Kangkana Rajbongshi1 — Kangkana Rajbongshi

We all have been aware of tragic Nirbhaya gang-raped case which occurred in December 2012 in Delhi. This case received extensive attention across the country at the time. This case also highlighted the urgent need to address sexual violence and improve women’s safety.

But have we gained any insights from it? Well, it doesn’t seem much has changed since then.

Regrettably, the legal proceedings in the Nirbhaya case were prolonged and complex, and it took almost 8 years for justice to be served in the case. Here, the question arises “Are women in India safe?”

Every now and then rape cases happen so frequently in India. Another brutal rape case in Kolkata exposes our ongoing struggle with sexual violence. A 31-year-old PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata was sexually assaulted and murdered during her 36-hour shift.

This incident took place inside the seminar hall when she came for rest. Her body was found with multiple injuries. If women are not safe in her own workplace, where is women safe then?

In India, women’s safety concerns include public safety, Domestic violence, online harassment. Women face harassment, assault, and threats in public spaces. Incidents of verbal and physical harassment can occur in parks, public transport, and other public areas. Due to inadequate lighting, poorly maintained infrastructure, and absence of security women doesnot feel safe in public spaces.

Another serious issue in India is domestic violence. Domestic violence in India is a significant and common issue, affecting women across various socio-economic backgrounds. It encompasses physical, emotional, psychological and economic abuse within the home.

Moreover with the rising technology cyberbullying, stalking, and exploitation, are growing problems in the digital realm. Addressing online safety requires a comprehensive approach involving legal measures, technology solutions, and public awareness.

The Indian legislation plays a crucial role in safeguarding women’s safety. There are laws for the protection of women in India, such as : “Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005” , “The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013”, “ The Criminal Law ( amendment) Act, 2013” , “Indecent Representation of Women ( prohibition) Act, 1986” etc.

But despite the laws, several challenges affect their effectiveness. Many women are unaware of their legal rights or face difficulties accessing legal support and services. The implementation and enforcement of laws are inconsistent. Delays in legal proceedings and inadequate training for law enforcement personnel can undermine the effectiveness of legal protections.

Moreover, the deep-rooted cultural norms and societal attitudes can impact the reporting and handling of cases, often leading to reluctance in seeking justice. While India has made significant strides in enacting laws to protect women’s rights, the effectiveness of these laws is often limited by implementation challenges, social barriers, and inconsistencies in enforcement.

One of the most significant role plays in our society is cinemas. Cinema has an immense influence on everyone, not just in Western society, but across the globe as well. While some people in our society tend to exhibit this influence explicitly, others are much more subtle. For example, In India a potentially extreme influence of a movie character of Shah Ruh Khan or Salman Khan could result in copying how they look or how they behave, or all together worshipping them.

The film industry has a great responsibility to display narratives that promote important, representative, and diverse values and perspectives to their audiences. There are several films which have addressed women’s safety, highlighted issues like harassment, violence and empowerment.

Some of the Indian movies which can be recognized are “Pink” (2016), a film directed by Aniruddha Roy Choudhury, the film highlights issues of sexual content and the struggle women face in seeking justice after harassment and assault, “Thappad” (2020), directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film explores the issue of domestic violence and it’s impact on women.

“Chhpaak” (2020), directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film portrays the harrowing journey of Malti as she deals with the physical and emotional trauma of acid attack, her fight for justice, and her struggle to rebuild her life.

However, there are many films that portrays women as mere object of desire, and their characters are often reduced to their physical appearance and sexuality. Films like “Kabir Singh” or “Animal” which supports or glorify women being humiliated, abused and treated abysmally by toxic men impacts the society in negative ways. I believe the film industry can do better job at treating serious issues.

In conclusion, women’s safety remains a crucial issue that requires comprehensive efforts across various sectors. Media, including films, plays a significant role in raising awareness, challenging societal norms,and advocating for change. At last, I hope the Kolkata case receives the justice it rightfully deserves and cases like this don’t occur in the future.

Kangkana Rajbongshi, Department of communication and journalism, Gauhati University

19-08-2024

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