Women Safety

SC seeks Centre's reply on plea asking guidelines for safety of women

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to examine a plea seeking direction for framing pan-India guidelines to provide a safe environment for women, children and transgender persons in society. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to different ministries of the Centre and its instrumentalities and posted the matter for further hearing in January. Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pawani, appearing for the petitioner Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, said several incidents of sexual abuse against women are taking place in smaller cities, which are going unreported and pushed under the carpet. "After the RG Kar Medical College Hospital incident of Kolkata where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered, around 95 incidents of sexual violence have taken place but were not highlighted," Pavani said, adding that like Scandinavian countries, offenders should get punishments such as chemical castration. The bench said it will not entertain many of the prayers mentioned

Rajasthan to launch women-led patrolling units to prevent gendered crimes

Rajasthan Police will launch specialised women-led patrolling units next week to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces, officials said. The Kalika Patrolling Units will be distinctively identifiable by their blue uniforms with neon monograms, they said. Malini Agrawal, Additional Director General (Civil Rights), said the initiative will begin with 250 teams, each consisting of four female officers. The plan includes expanding the program to 500 teams, with Jaipur receiving 35 units initially, and each District Commissionerate receiving 10 units. The squads will operate under the supervision of senior female officers. Subsequently, 20 units will be deployed in Kota, 12 in Udaipur, 10 in Jodhpur and 10 each in Ajmer and Bhilwara. "The decision to form these patrolling units was driven by frequent complaints of eve-teasing and harassment in public spaces. Female constables and head constables will patrol these areas on scooters," Agrawal said. The teams will use

'Manosphere' intensifies misogynistic threats, language after US election

In the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a self-defence kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm. It's a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing manosphere influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump's presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring Your body, my choice at women online and on college campuses. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women's rights. The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad, said Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin. Women want and deserve to feel safe. Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and societ

Surveillance tech at Corbett park misused to intimidate women, study finds

Cameras and drones originally planted in Corbett National Park for conservation activities, such as monitoring animals, are being deliberately misused by local government officials and men to surveil women without consent, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Environment and Planning F, revealed that forest rangers intentionally flew drones over local women to scare them and prevent them from collecting natural resources, despite their legal entitlement to do so. A total of 270 residents around the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, including women, were interviewed over 14 months by researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK. "We argue that the use of digital technologies for forest governance, such as camera traps and drones, tends to transform these forests into masculinised spaces that extend the patriarchal gaze of society into the forest," the authors wrote in the study. Researcher and lead author Trishant Simlai reported that the women, who had ...

WHO begins 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence ending Dec 10

Experiences of violence lead to long-lasting physical and mental health impacts on the survivors, including injury, unintended pregnancy and pregnancy related complications, WHO's Saima Wazed said

Delhi govt to reinstate bus marshals to ensure safety of women, elders

The proposal will be forwarded to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena urging to make the appointments permanent

77% women feel unsafe in Delhi buses at night, reveals Greenpeace report

Over 75 per cent of women feel unsafe commuting in Delhi buses after dark, even as the city government's fare-free bus travel scheme has crossed the milestone of 100 crore 'pink' tickets issued to women, a report said. In its latest report 'Riding the Justice Route' report, Greenpeace India, a non-governmental organisation, said 75 per cent of the surveyed women have seen significant savings from the 'Pink Ticket' scheme, with many redirecting these funds to household needs, emergencies, and healthcare. Additionally, 25 per cent of the surveyed women have increased their use of public buses, and more women who previously avoided buses have become regular riders since the scheme's launch in October 2019, the report said. However, safety issues persist, with 77 per cent of women feeling unsafe on buses after dark due to poor lighting and infrequent bus schedules, it pointed out. Many women have also reported incidents of harassment, especially in overcrowded buses, it added. Under t

Employment, women's safety are UP's growth mantra: Awasthi at BS Samriddhi

Awasthi was speaking at a panel discussion titled 'Environment protection with infrastructure and tourism development' in UP

International Day of the Girl Child 2024: History, significance, and more

International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year on October 11. This day was established by the UN to focus on gender equality, education, and healthcare, advocating for girls' right

RG Kar rape-murder case: CBI files chargesheet, Sanjoy Roy sole accused

The CBI chargesheet says that accused Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with the local police, allegedly committed the crime on August 9 at the premises of the RG Kar College and Hospital in Kolkata

Prez Murmu backs female advocates to combat atrocities against women

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday urged the NALSAR University of Law here, including its alumni, to enlist the support of all stakeholders and help in setting up a nation-wide network of women advocates and law students to make efforts to prevent atrocities against women. The President, who attended the 21st annual convocation of NALSAR University of Law, said, "the network will work with the mandate to make concerted efforts to prevent atrocities against women and deal with cases of such atrocities". Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Earlier, the President was accorded a warm welcome by the Governor, CM, his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials when she arrived at the Begumpet airport here.

Even after 100 days, Majhi govt still has to cover lot of ground in Odisha

Critics argue that while the BJP has delivered on some of its election promises, the 2027 panchayat elections will put the ruling party to test

Boundary walls to washrooms: Odisha issues new safety policy for doctors

In response to the Kolkata rape and murder case, the Odisha government has introduced new safety measures at hospitals, colleges, and hostels

A vicious circle: How gender gap makes workplaces unsafe for women

India's top companies lack women leaders, contributing to poor workplace safety for women. With only 1.6 per cent of Fortune 500 companies led by women, gender disparity remains deep-rooted

With over 14,600 CCTVs, Delhi Metro one of the safest means of travel: DMRC

Over 14,600 CCTVs are installed across the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network making it one of the safest means of travel in Delhi and neighbouring cities, officials said on Tuesday. The statement from the DMRC comes days after the Delhi Police wrote a letter to the urban transporter to take measures to prevent security breaches and suicides on its premises. "DMRC is one of the safest means of travel in Delhi-NCR with massive cover of over 14,600 CCTVs and policing through notified police stations under the jurisdiction of Delhi Metro rail police across all its lines," the DMRC said in the statement. "Dark spots if any, still pending, will be identified and covered. An exercise to cover such areas have already been done in the past and many new CCTVs were also installed," it stated. A survey report has been received recently from the Delhi Police and the same is being examined to ascertain feasibility. A timetable for implementation of the proposal will be jointly worked out and

News updates: Senior bureaucrat Tuhin Kanta Pandey designated as finance secretary

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West Bengal Guv refers Aparajita Bill to President Murmu for consideration

According to Raj Bhavan Media Cell, Governor has pointed out the omissions and commissions in the hurriedly passed Bill

Safety first: Ensuring women's security is as critical as stringent laws

The bigger danger implicit in the extremist approach in the Aparajita Bill, as with similar Bills passed by other states, is a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the crime of sexual assault

Encourage research in education; change the way women are seen: Prez Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday stressed the need to encourage research in the education system, and said research scholars in India are capable of finding solutions to the problems not only faced by the country but by the world. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 gives impetus to research, she noted while addressing the 21st convocation ceremony at Symbiosis International (Deemed University) in Pune. Murmu also urged students to pursue excellence and not to equate success with material possessions like money, a big house or a car. "I am confident that the young generation is working hard towards the development of the country. People of the country possess a lot of talent and skill. "I want you to understand the requirements of the society and using your knowledge, come up with solutions that can help in the development of the masses, especially those who are marginalised, and it can encourage sustainability," the President said. Through the government schemes, like ...

Safe environment for women is govt's top priority: Minister Annapurna Devi

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Saturday said that empowering women and providing them with a safe environment is the Central government's top priority. Devi said the Central government has taken several concrete steps to ensure the safety of women. However, it is the responsibility of the state governments to take advantage of these schemes and implement them. The Union minister was addressing a gathering at Mahatma Mandir after inaugurating the seventh edition of "Poshan Maah", nationwide nutrition month, the Centre's flagship initiative celebrated annually throughout September. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state Women and Child Welfare Minister Bhanuben Babaria were also present. "Empowering women and providing them a safe environment is the Indian government's top priority. The government has taken many concrete steps to ensure the safety of women. But it is also the responsibility of the state governments to take advantage of this