The Hindu : No security at working women's hostel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 02, 2002

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No security at working women's hostel

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI DEC. 1. When everyone in the Capital is talking about the safety of women, particularly working ones, the New Delhi Municipal Council has turned a blind eye towards the problems of inmates living in its working women's hostel - "Aakanksha'' -- on the Bhagwan Das Road near Mandi House.

It is over 18 months since the hostel was inaugurated by the then Union Urban Development Minister, Jagmohan, in May 2001. But the hostel still neither has a proper gate nor an enclosure around the hostel complex. Moreover, the hostel is situated in badly lit by-lane around 200 metres away from main road and poor security arrangements on the part of police and NDMC authorities have left the 100-odd inmates jittery.

It was only a week ago when at around 9 p.m. five inmates decided to go to a PCO situated near Himachal Bhawan just half-a- kilometre from the hostel. But to their horror, while returning to the hostel, their way was blocked by a van occupied by around half-a-dozen young men.

As there was no police personnel or a PCR van at the busy Mandi House roundabout, the terrified girls tried to beat a hasty retreat. But the young men in the van followed them to their hostel, passing lewd remarks. The 15-minute ordeal ended for the girls only after they entered the hostel.

``All along the way, not a single policeman was present. Ironically, the incident took place just a few days after the physical assault case of the Maulana Azad Medical College and when police was claiming that law and order situation was under control,'' said one of the inmates.

``We decided to stay in this hostel thinking that being in the VVIP area it will be a more secure place. Earlier there used to be at least one PCR van at the mouth of our lane, but for the past two months, very seldom do we find a security personnel deployed here. Walking on the road at late evening hours is not at all safe,'' said the inmates.

Stating that the hostel does not have a PCO and the nearest one is only at Mandi House roundabout, they said as inmates here were those who have come from different parts of the country to work in the Capital, they needed to call up their homes. So going to PCO was the only option. "Now we go in groups because going alone is no longer safe.''

Criticising security arrangements at the hostel, they alleged that the NDMC had installed a security booth at the entrance of the hostel premises but it was no more than a "show piece'' as most of the time the only guard was untraceable. "On that night too, no guard was present there. If a PCR van or guard would have been present, those youths could not have escaped.''

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