IANS/New Delhi
A radio station has launched a special campaign aimed at helping women feel safe in New Delhi - be it in a park, cinema or at a market place.
Following the wide media coverage of a 23-year-old student, who was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in New Delhi in a moving bus on December 16, the capital has been repeatedly called the ‘most unsafe city for women.’
This needs to change, says Akash Banerjee, programming head of Radio Mirchi, the FM station hosting Dilli Meri Hai (Delhi is mine) initiative.
“We don’t say that with the campaign, we will change the face of Delhi. But an attempt can be made. Women have every right to visit a park in their neighbourhood or go to a market late in the night. But they can’t even enjoy these little joys alone or even with someone, without fear,” Banerjee said.
In the first phase of the drive, Radio Mirchi worked towards increasing the ‘safety quotient’ of Delhi’s parks. The station’s popular radio jockey Anant took listeners to Japanese Park at Rohini earlier this month.
“We have a lot of wonderful parks in the capital, but women are scared to go there alone. They become spots of gambling and drinking for men during the day, and there is no policing. There is a lost charm about the parks.
“So, in the first phase, we wanted to look at reclaiming the parks for some safe leisure time for women. It is sad that there are no beat constables at these parks, and in the evenings, people can be spotted taking drugs or drinking alcohol. How will women feel safe,” Banerjee asked.
In the second phase, the listeners gathered at Connaught Place’s Central Park to make their voices heard so that market places become safer.
“Something as basic as markets are also unsafe for women. There are liquor shops in almost all markets, and petty, local goons, whose only purpose is, ‘Let’s go to trouble women, touch them and comment on them.’ So, markets aren’t safe at all. Why can’t women walk around freely after 11pm or even before that,” Banerjee said.
In the third phase of the campaign, which happens to coincide with the International Women’s Day on March 8, the station wants to emphasise women’s need to enjoy a movie “safely.”
“Every woman and person has the right to watch a movie or have a good time! We are even offering 100 movie tickets, 100 free dinner meals and vouchers for girls,” he added.
The campaign might extend to other spots too, considering its impact and response from listeners.
Minor siblings killed in Delhi
Two siblings, who went missing three days ago, have been found dead near a railway track in central Delhi, police said yesterday. The family is suspecting the involvement of a neighbour in the abduction and murder. Their father, Manoj Kumar had received five ransom calls demanding Rs3mn, a police officer said. “The bodies of Mansij and his sister Yashvi, aged seven and five respectively, were recovered from near the railway track in front of Pragati Maidan power station at around 9.30am today morning,” the police officer said. The children had been missing from their school for the past three days. The bodies were found in a decomposed state. The family suspects the involvement of a neighbour in the incident.