RG Kar rape-murder: Nationwide protests had erupted after a trainee docto was found dead in the hospital's seminar room on August 9
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Friday said every place of work, whether government or private, must ensure a safe and secure environment for women and this is the responsibility of everyone. She was speaking at a review meeting held at the Latur collector's office with members and heads of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) formed under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Rahatkar said that many women endure harassment at workplaces and hesitate to file complaints. But office heads and the colleagues of women must take proactive steps to instill confidence and create a safe workplace environment, she said. The ICCs must hold quarterly review meetings and ensure fair and timely resolution of complaints, Rahatkar said. "First of all, the places of work must be such that no incidents of sexual harassment take place," she said. Rahatkar also called for public awareness campaigns about th
The Anna University sexual assault case has sparked protests and a SIT probe, with Madras HC directing Rs 25 lakh compensation for the survivor, while an FIR leak raises privacy concerns
The 37-year-old accused had been arrested in 2011 on charges of sexually assaulting another woman on the same campus
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to examine a plea seeking direction for framing pan-India guidelines to provide a safe environment for women, children and transgender persons in society. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to different ministries of the Centre and its instrumentalities and posted the matter for further hearing in January. Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pawani, appearing for the petitioner Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, said several incidents of sexual abuse against women are taking place in smaller cities, which are going unreported and pushed under the carpet. "After the RG Kar Medical College Hospital incident of Kolkata where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered, around 95 incidents of sexual violence have taken place but were not highlighted," Pavani said, adding that like Scandinavian countries, offenders should get punishments such as chemical castration. The bench said it will not entertain many of the prayers mentioned
Rajasthan Police will launch specialised women-led patrolling units next week to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces, officials said. The Kalika Patrolling Units will be distinctively identifiable by their blue uniforms with neon monograms, they said. Malini Agrawal, Additional Director General (Civil Rights), said the initiative will begin with 250 teams, each consisting of four female officers. The plan includes expanding the program to 500 teams, with Jaipur receiving 35 units initially, and each District Commissionerate receiving 10 units. The squads will operate under the supervision of senior female officers. Subsequently, 20 units will be deployed in Kota, 12 in Udaipur, 10 in Jodhpur and 10 each in Ajmer and Bhilwara. "The decision to form these patrolling units was driven by frequent complaints of eve-teasing and harassment in public spaces. Female constables and head constables will patrol these areas on scooters," Agrawal said. The teams will use
In the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a self-defence kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm. It's a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing manosphere influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump's presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring Your body, my choice at women online and on college campuses. For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women's rights. The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad, said Perez, a 19-year-old political science student in Wisconsin. Women want and deserve to feel safe. Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and societ
Cameras and drones originally planted in Corbett National Park for conservation activities, such as monitoring animals, are being deliberately misused by local government officials and men to surveil women without consent, a study has found. The study, published in the journal Environment and Planning F, revealed that forest rangers intentionally flew drones over local women to scare them and prevent them from collecting natural resources, despite their legal entitlement to do so. A total of 270 residents around the Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, including women, were interviewed over 14 months by researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK. "We argue that the use of digital technologies for forest governance, such as camera traps and drones, tends to transform these forests into masculinised spaces that extend the patriarchal gaze of society into the forest," the authors wrote in the study. Researcher and lead author Trishant Simlai reported that the women, who had ...
Experiences of violence lead to long-lasting physical and mental health impacts on the survivors, including injury, unintended pregnancy and pregnancy related complications, WHO's Saima Wazed said
The proposal will be forwarded to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena urging to make the appointments permanent
Over 75 per cent of women feel unsafe commuting in Delhi buses after dark, even as the city government's fare-free bus travel scheme has crossed the milestone of 100 crore 'pink' tickets issued to women, a report said. In its latest report 'Riding the Justice Route' report, Greenpeace India, a non-governmental organisation, said 75 per cent of the surveyed women have seen significant savings from the 'Pink Ticket' scheme, with many redirecting these funds to household needs, emergencies, and healthcare. Additionally, 25 per cent of the surveyed women have increased their use of public buses, and more women who previously avoided buses have become regular riders since the scheme's launch in October 2019, the report said. However, safety issues persist, with 77 per cent of women feeling unsafe on buses after dark due to poor lighting and infrequent bus schedules, it pointed out. Many women have also reported incidents of harassment, especially in overcrowded buses, it added. Under t
Awasthi was speaking at a panel discussion titled 'Environment protection with infrastructure and tourism development' in UP
International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year on October 11. This day was established by the UN to focus on gender equality, education, and healthcare, advocating for girls' right
The CBI chargesheet says that accused Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer with the local police, allegedly committed the crime on August 9 at the premises of the RG Kar College and Hospital in Kolkata
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday urged the NALSAR University of Law here, including its alumni, to enlist the support of all stakeholders and help in setting up a nation-wide network of women advocates and law students to make efforts to prevent atrocities against women. The President, who attended the 21st annual convocation of NALSAR University of Law, said, "the network will work with the mandate to make concerted efforts to prevent atrocities against women and deal with cases of such atrocities". Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Earlier, the President was accorded a warm welcome by the Governor, CM, his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials when she arrived at the Begumpet airport here.
Critics argue that while the BJP has delivered on some of its election promises, the 2027 panchayat elections will put the ruling party to test
In response to the Kolkata rape and murder case, the Odisha government has introduced new safety measures at hospitals, colleges, and hostels
India's top companies lack women leaders, contributing to poor workplace safety for women. With only 1.6 per cent of Fortune 500 companies led by women, gender disparity remains deep-rooted
Over 14,600 CCTVs are installed across the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network making it one of the safest means of travel in Delhi and neighbouring cities, officials said on Tuesday. The statement from the DMRC comes days after the Delhi Police wrote a letter to the urban transporter to take measures to prevent security breaches and suicides on its premises. "DMRC is one of the safest means of travel in Delhi-NCR with massive cover of over 14,600 CCTVs and policing through notified police stations under the jurisdiction of Delhi Metro rail police across all its lines," the DMRC said in the statement. "Dark spots if any, still pending, will be identified and covered. An exercise to cover such areas have already been done in the past and many new CCTVs were also installed," it stated. A survey report has been received recently from the Delhi Police and the same is being examined to ascertain feasibility. A timetable for implementation of the proposal will be jointly worked out and
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