Delhi residents launch collective defence system intiative for women safety

Residents of Delhi's Civil Lines area organised a "Nirbhaya Walk", an initiative to spread awareness ensuring women's safety and security in the neighbourhood, over the weekend.

They also launched 'Project Nirbhay' in collaboration with Delhi Police to promote cooperative security measures or collective defence system.

Cooperative security or collective defence is a system in which society proactively contributes and takes up responsibility to ensure safety and security of women in the neighbourhood.

The tag line defining Project Nirbhay is 'Our security is our responsibility'.

The "Nirbhaya Walk" saw a participation of over 600 people and went around major roads of the national capital.

'Project Nirbhay' includes installation of CCTV cameras at the sub-division level in residential areas for improving surveillance.

Residents said the surge in crime against women in the national capital has led to creation of 'Project Nirbhay' that will make the society more responsible regarding women safety.

"For the first time, Civil lines has taken such initiative. The issue of security lies in the hands of the citizens. Government agencies are a part of it and are our helpers. But for our responsibility, we undertook this project in which all the entrances of civil lines will have cameras for surveillance. Police will monitor it. We have undertaken this project to make a safe and secure neighbourhood," he said.

The walk has been named after Nirbhaya, a name given to the young physiotherapist victim who was raped in December 2012 and died almost two weeks later in Singapore due to the physical injuries inflicted upon her.

People of all age groups from young children to old ones participated in the Nirbhaya walk.

Residents also said that such projects should be initiated across the country that will help in reducing crime against women.

"This is a very very good opportunity, specially for the residents of civil lines. I think it should be done in all the areas of Delhi for the security purpose and it's a very good beginning and I think we all should move ahead with it at more places," Pooja, a participant said.

The Nirbhaya case provoked a national wave of protests and the international spotlight on India's record in tackling violence against women.

India, with its poorly trained police force and clogged courts, is struggling to curb violence against women.

Social commentators say patriarchal attitudes towards women have not been diluted by more than a decade of rapid economic growth.

Reports of rape, dowry deaths, molestation, sexual harassment and other crimes against women rose by 6.4 percent in 2012 from the previous year, the government said.