When it comes to safety of women and checking sexual harassment at public places, change should begin at home. The preferential treatment given in some families to boys over girls inculcates a superiority complex among the former.
This would eventually tend them to disrespect women, feels Hyderabad Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes, Swati Lakra. Hence, the reformation should start from home.
She was speaking at the launching of ‘Community Led Action Program by Police’ (CLAPP), an initiative by U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad and the International Foundation for Crime Prevention and Victim Care (PCVC), a voluntary organisation, on Thursday.
The conventional approach of asking women to remain at home and restricting their movement fearing the comments of harassers on streets must be done away with, the woman police officer remarked. Police, judiciary and most importantly society as a whole should play an active role in ensuring safety of women at public places.
“We worship goddesses Durga, Saraswati and Laxmi for courage, education and wealth but what about respecting the women on earth?,” Ms. Lakra wondered. Shift from problem oriented policing - like acting only after complaints are made - to community policing was the guiding principle in bringing together police and students to check sexual harassment, explained Rashmi Singh, Project Guide, CLAPP.
Efforts would be made to deepen the understanding and strengthen the sensitivity of police on sexual harassment issues. Gabriel Hons-Olivier, Public Affairs Officer of American Consulate, Hyderabad, said the consulate had taken up the cause of women safety as the US policy makers and administrators believed that when women move forwards, the rest of the society moves with them.
Positive step forward
*CLAPP will be implemented as pilot project in Hyderabad, Chennai.
*In Hyderabad, select students of St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda and SHE team members of Hyderabad Central Crime Station will be members of CLAPP.
*They will follow SARA method-- Scan sexual harassment issues, Analyse them, Response system will be examined and Assessment would be made at macro level.
