What is the state of Women’s Security In India?
Woman security in India is an issue that has been of utmost importance. The repeated cases of harassment, molestation, eve-teasing have accounted for an unsafe environment for women.
According to NCRB, India, there was a total of 44% rise in incidents of crimes against women. The rise in the number of rapes, cases of sexual assault, harassment cases against women is the testimony to the fact of poor safety of the women in the country.
India is getting more unsafe with each dawn. It all starts with hoots, hisses, whistles, sexual innuendo or catcalling.
Early employment experiences shape future career pathways. For young workers, adolescent girls, in particular, early experiences of workplace sexual harassment can have negative ripple effects throughout their careers resulting in changed career paths, lower lifetime earnings, and increased vulnerability to workplace harassment and violence in the future.
What are Safety Laws for Women in India
There is a list of safety laws for women in India working in the field to provide safety to women from all types of crimes against women.
Some safety laws are:
- Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929,
- Special Marriage Act 1954,
- Hindu Marriage Act 1955,
- Hindu Widows Remarriage Act 1856,
- Indian Penal Code 1860,
- Dowry Prohibition Act 1961,
- Maternity Benefit Act of 1861,
- Foreign Marriage Act 1969,
- Indian Divorce Act 1969,
- Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971,
- Christian Marriage Act 1872,
- Code of Criminal Procedure 1973,
- Equal Remuneration Act of 1976,
- Married Women’s Property Act 1874,
- Births, Deaths & Marriages Registration Act 1886,
- Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act 1986,
- Muslim women (protection of rights on divorce) Act 1986,
- Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act 1987,
- National Commission for Women Act 1990,
- Prohibition of Sex Selection Act 1994,
- Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005,
- Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012,
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place Act 2013, etc.
Another Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Bill, 2015 has been replacing the existing Indian juvenile delinquency law of 2000 (Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000). This act was passed by the Lok Sabha on the 7th of May in 2015 and however, by the Rajya Sabha on the 22nd of December 2015. This act is passed to lower down the juvenile age from 18 to 16 years in cases of heinous offense (especially after the release of Nirbhaya’s case accused juvenile).
Some Safety Tips For Women
- Self-defense techniques are the first and foremost thing that each and every woman must be aware of and getting proper self-defense training for their safety. They must be aware of some effective defense techniques such as kicks to the groin, blocking punches, etc.
- Escape and run is also a good way to reduce some risks of women whenever they encounter any problem.
- Women must understand and feel their physical power and use it accordingly.
- They should be careful while communicating with someone on the internet in the cyberspace.
- Pepper spray can also be a useful self-defense tool.
- They must have all the emergency numbers with them. if possible so that they can immediately tell their family members and police.
- Women should be very conscious while driving the car and going on any trip. They must lock all the doors of the car while traveling by own or private cars.
Conclusion
Women’s safety is a big social issue that needs to be solved urgently by the effort of all. It is inhibiting the growth and development of the country and most importantly hurting half the population of the country in all aspects (physically, mentally, and socially).