This refers to your editorial “[inlinetweet prefix=”” tweeter=”” suffix=””]Pune has become unsafe for women[/inlinetweet]” (May 11). We are living in a country which is witnessing innumerable incidents of sexual harassment. This is a serious issue that has long been ignored and treated with complacency. Although it is heartening to see women making stupendous progress in almost every sphere of activity, one cannot be oblivious to the fact that they continue to be victims of violence of different hues. Every human being has the right to live with dignity and respect. It is noticed that the prevalence of crimes against women in a certain place depends on a large extent to the social ambience of that place. Efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women should have high priority by way of implementing various measures. The punishment for battering, sexual molestation and unlawful threat must be increased. Projects must be launched for a better cooperation between the police, the social services and other relevant parties. Government should come out with much more essence and urgency to check the indecent behaviour against women folks, and the need to chart out stern measures on the part of administrative authorities for curbing down such events. Making crime committed under Section 354 a non-bailable offence will mark a significant accomplishment towards the empowerment of women. People also need to come out with determination against such evils and not be a mute spectator wherein a daughter, or a sister, or a wife, or a mother is crying for alms.
Vinod C. Dixit
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
