Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 21: As many as 27 corporators turned up at the Presidency Hotel’s auditorium Saturday to participate in an interactive dialogue on their role in addressing violence against women in their respective wards. The session, conducted by the Orissa chapter of National Alliance of Women (NAWO), was chaired by Deputy Mayor K Shanti.
While some of the corporators passed the buck of women’s security to the police and the residents’ themselves, many of them appeared quite sensitive to the issue and suggested innovative ideas that they have implemented in their respective wards.
Vishnu Priya, Sailshree Vihar corporator, said, “We have formed a group of young women which held meetings with residents to educate them on their rights. Similarly, we have been holding awareness camps for young boys to sensitise them on such issues.”
Sanjay Sethi, another corporator, however chose to differ. “It’s not our responsibility. If women have issues with security, they should approach police.”
NAWO made a power presentation for corporators that listed some reasons for rising cases of violence against women. Their findings were based on questionnaires posed to a number of women who were asked which are the possible reasons that make them vulnerable to street violence.
The reasons listed were lack of streetlights, crowded bus stops, presence of wine shops in residential areas, absence of vendors near bus stops and other public places. “Through the session, we wanted corporators to understand that security of women is related to defunct civic works and policies that indirectly have an effect on women,” said Lalita Missal, state coordinator of NAWO.