What’s happened to the great city of Delhi?
Why is Delhi Unsafe for Women? Topping the charts for being the most unsafe city in the country for quite a few years in a row, Delhi continues to paint a troubled picture in the mind of almost every Indian woman. While the city has everything that a modern metropolis can boast of – some of the country’s leading colleges, the nerve-centres of Indian politics, global corporate houses, international brand outlets and ritzy malls – it nurtures a darker side as well.
This stark ambiguity naturally leads us to the question- what makes Delhi so unfavourable for women? Safe Cities Baseline Survey-Delhi 2010 had pointed out the following aspects as the contributing factors:
- Lack of women-friendly and functional infrastructure such as adequate lighting, sidewalks and safe public toilets
- Open consumption of alcohol and drugs
- Lack of an effective and visible police presence
Sadly, even after 4 years of the survey, these factors still exist and continue to foster an environment hostile to women. However, some experts also believe that the deep-seated psyche of the patriarchal society and the socio-economic disparity are at the heart of such a mentality where a woman walking alone is perceived as a fair game.
The biggest blotch on the face of the capital was the gruesome gang-rape of a 23-year old woman in 2012, after which it came under the global scanner and shot to the headlines. Since then, the situation has largely remained the same. One of the world’s leading travel portals, TripAdvisor’s “Solo Women Traveller Survey 2013” witnessed Delhi emerge as the most unsafe destination for female travellers.
Not just rape cases, Delhi’s crime scenario has molestations, female foeticide and honour killings going rampant and worse still, most cases have gone unreported. However, the joint efforts of Delhi police and the State Government in urging people to fearlessly lodge complaints seems to have shown some positive results; the percentage of crimes reported has almost doubled since last year. (See infographic)
As per the latest news, Delhi Police will receive Rs. 40 Crore under the United Nations Women Safe City Project to strengthen the security system for women in the national capital. “An amount of Rs 14.745 crore has already been granted to the Delhi Police as part of the first phase of the project,” said a Home Ministry official.
Hope for a safer Delhi, anyone?
Sources:
http://blogs.reuters.com/india/2011/09/30/not-so-safe-on-delhi-streets/