Even before the 23-year-old Delhi paramedical student, victim of one of the most horrendous gang rapes ever reported, died a painful death, public anger had spilled onto the streets. In the midst of the rage, serious concerns have been raised about the safety of women in the larger sense, and specifically of students.
Bangalore had its own episode of shame when a student of a prestigious university was “gang-raped” on campus last October. These cases raise questions about what measures universities, colleges and schools should take to ensure the safety of women students. Some of the students candidly say they don’t feel secure outside their campus. This week’s Public Eye takes a reality check on the safety measures in place in the educational institutions, as well as in private accommodations for students.
> School is not always the safest place for girls
When Child Rights and You (CRY) conducted a rapid assessment survey in August and September last year in the slums of Madiwala here on girl child education, over 40 per cent of the parents interviewed said that their children faced abuse of some form or the other in school or on their way to school... >Read More
> Colleges offer disciplinary measures instead of security measures
Instead of a proper security machinery, they resort to curfew and separation of the sexes ...>Read More
> Security lax at paying guest accommodations for women
PG accommodations don’t offer the security that hostels do. Most colleges, particularly the newer ones, don’t have hostel facilities. And many of the older hostels offer poor amenities, are in a shambles, and don’t provide a conducive atmosphere to study, students say, forcing many of them to opt for PGs... >Read More
> International students find it doubly hard here
While public discourse in the past few weeks, following the Delhi rape, has focussed on the lack of safety for women in public spaces, the fact is that it’s twice as tough for foreign students.... >Read More
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