Women coming out of comfort zone, a good sign: Indira

Activist says Delhi gang-rape incident gave ammo for eves to fight

Whenever there is a feminist movement, it is most likely considered as anti-men, but it is a ‘gender justice movement’ in reality, said director of International Centre, University of Mysore,  R Indira.

Speaking on the ‘Safety of women in working places’ as part of International Women’s Safety Day celebrations organised by Indian Medical Association (IMA) Mysore chapter here on Thursday,  Indira demanded for creating a secured atmosphere where women can report the crime. 

Indira said, post gang-rape of a physiotherapist in Delhi, the whole country seems to be shaking given the high voltage protests.  The situation unfolding in the national capital in the past few days shows women stepping out of their houses with enormous courage to fight for justice to the victim. A decade ago, it was exactly opposite where the women were silent spectators to the courts awarding judgements against them.
The women were held responsible for the ghastly act.

Said Indira; “It is always the women’s sexuality that is targeted and the attackers look at women as mere sexual objects. Though violence against women are not new, more such cases are being reported of late and also more women are stepping out of the comfort
zones to fight for justice.

Safety Act

Talking on Women’s Safety Act at work place, she said, the Act dates back to the year 1992 when it was introduced as a bill with Vishakha versus the government of Rajasthan case.

Women kept tolerating both physical and mental torture and some even continue to do so, fearing threat from the culprits to their family and to themselves.
Indira said, ‘Don’t look at women as a sexual object, but as a human being with heart and feelings’.

The hard reality about crime against women is that, according to Indira, many of them never approach the police or court, remaining unreported. Explaining how sensitive the society is, Indira said, rather than punishing, the tendency is to suppress the voice.

Very few cases have reached  its logical end and 80 per cent of the women are from unorganised sectors where the violence against women is very high.

President of IMA, Mysore branch Dr C Sharath Kumar, former IMA president Dr J Kamala Raman, secretary Dr P Puttaswami and other were present.