WOMEN FACES INSECURITY AND RISING SEXUAL HARASSING

   A survey conducted by Sakhi, a Thiruvananapuram based non-governmental organization,with the support of Anweshni, women's organisation ,has found that 99 percent of women living with in the limits of the city corporation face in security owing to rising  instances of sexual harassment in various places.
     The survey,which examined in detail how safe the city was for women and girls, found day light robbery to be another factor that women were apprehensive about.
   The study lack of lighting, toilets and safe transportation left women vulnerable to gender based violence, including physical,sexual,psychological and economic abuse. Crowded public transport and bus stops contributed to this feeling of insecurity.
     Nearly 74 percent of the surveyed women felt men disrespected women. Sixty nine percent of the women reported that they faced sexual harassment while using public transport  or waiting for one. As many as 97 percent of the women respondents observed that the male perpetrators were mainly in the 26-55 age group.

   The survey,headed by 10 investigators, took place in nine public spaces. Around 76 percent of the wo,men surveyed at bus stops, road sides,foot paths and traveling in bus or taxi. The study funded by the united Nations Development Fund for Women(UNIFEM). The Survey began in the city in October 2010 and was completed by the end of January, Around 57 percent of the women covered under the survey worked in organised and un organised sectors. The rest included house wives and students. The survey committee include K. Ajitha, P. Sreeja, Prameela and P Vasanta. Anweshi was also planning to conduct an awareness programme  for bus conductors and cleaners.

Prof. John Kurakar