The day a woman can walk freely on the roads at night, that day we can say that India has achieved independence” —Mahatma Gandhi
The meaning of the word ‘independence’ as defined in the lexicon is self-sufficiency, self-reliance, autonomy, freedom and liberty. Orissa POST interacts with a few women ahead of the 72nd Independence Day to find out whether they consider themselves “truly independent.”
Safety of women in India is a huge concern today, says Smruti Rekha, a housewife. “It’s been decades since we got freedom from British rule. Yet, women today face safety issues right from school to the workplace. As per Indian tradition, women were considered as goddesses. But Indian women are not safe. A woman thinks twice before going out at night without an escort. Every day there are incidents of rape, dowry deaths and workplace harassment. Women and even minor girls are not safe outside their home. Crime against women should be tackled with the most stringent punishment. The man who worships Goddess Laxmi, Sita and Parvati at the temple should have respect for women around him. The women also should raise their voice against harassment.”
Although Indian tradition holds women in high esteem, we cannot ignore the fact that they are among the most vulnerable sections in the country, says Sangeeta Sahoo, a housewife. “I was independent in my father’s house. My husband has also given me all freedom, but I worry when my daughters go to school, tuition or any other place because every day we read about harassment and molestation of women. We cannot trust even our neighbours. When a man thinks and believes that every girl is important and to be respected, then a change may happen. But a woman should also fight for her safety if necessity demands.”
“Women’s safety has become a matter of great concern. Women are not safe on the streets or in public transport vehicles,” says Poonam Naik, a social worker. “The government has launched awareness programmes for the safety of women and girls. NGOs are also working on this issue. In a recent incident, a girl child was sold by her parents for money. Girls have become victims of acid attacks and abductions. According to statistics, a woman is raped every 20 minutes in India. Women are raped by relatives, beaten up by husbands or parents-in-law, burned for dowry, and so on. The Nirbhaya gangrape in New Delhi was a horrific event. In my opinion, a woman should be trained to protect herself. Women must understand their physical power and use it accordingly. They should never consider themselves weaker than men and they should learn self-defence skills.”
Bratati Baral, OP
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