Most women face sexual harassment while commuting

CHANDIGARH:Most women in Haryana are vulnerable to sexual harassment when they are commuting to and from educational institutions or work.

A staggering 64% of the 28,500 respondents surveyed by Haryana Police in the last fortnight say maximum eve-teasing takes place when they are commuting to and from school/college and work.

Besides the commute, 22% of the survey’s respondents say that eve-teasing takes place in parks, markets and coaching centres. The survey comes in the backdrop of a string of horrific crimes against women in a state known for its patriarchal mindset.

The findings are corroborated by the recent protest by girl students in Rewari.

They went on a hunger strike last week, demanding the high school at their Gothra Tappa Dahina village be upgraded to senior secondary as men on motorcycles harass them during their commute to the government school 3 km from their village.

FEAR FACTOR

Over 85% of those surveyed by Haryana Police said they fear eve-teasing most of the time.

The police conducted the 16-question survey from May 2 to 17 to assess the nature and scale of the problem of eve-teasing in the state and devise an action plan. At total of 28,539 people, 40% of them being women, participated. The police said 37% respondents said that most harassers used public transport, 33% said they were troubled by twowheeler rider, while 23% said the harassers were on foot. Only 6.9% blamed car-users. While 40% of the respondents found eve-teasers irritating, 23% found them dangerous and 18% thought they were criminal.

COUNSELLING AND CHIDING

36% of the respondents believe most eve-teasers are under 20 years old and should be counselled in the presence of their parents.

But 33% of the respondents say eve-teasers should be chided publicly. 18% even wanted them beaten and 12% were for sending them behind bars right away.

However, 22% respondents said that counselling eve-teasers in the presence of their parents will not make any difference, 34% said it would instead incite them to be more aggressive, while 30% said it would deter them and 13% said such an action would deter even their friends.

WHAT WILL HELP

34% of the respondents said that police can stop eve-teasing more effectively by catching defaulters by deploying women cops in plainclothes.

26% said uniformed police patrolling will help and 20% preferred information and warning boards in eve-teasing prone areas. 19% said monitoring through CCTVs will be better.