Protests mark one year of rape

On Monday, a year after the fatal gang-rape of a young physiotherapy student in Delhi, various women’s and students’ groups in the city expressed solidarity at Jantar Mantar against gender-based violence.

“When we get out of our homes, do we feel safe? This is the question we are asking our government,” said Sowmya Mylavarapu, 22, a physiotherapy intern. “Being in the health profession, we have erratic working hours. We are working, this is the basic credit that you got to give us,” she said.

More than 50 physiotherapy students and interns marched in solidarity of the victim.
The Delhi-based group demanded no leniency for perpetrators of gender-based violence, including minors.

The National Federation of Indian Women who were demanding women’s reservation Bill ended their 21 days’ protest at Jantar Mantar by paying a tribute to the victim. They observed one-minute silence in her memory.

A member of NFIW demanded the proper utilisation of the ‘Nirbhaya Fund’ that was constituted after the horrific incident. The fund was announced by the Centre in the Union Budget earlier this year.

Another group, that had more than hundred women from various parts of Delhi, demanded arrest of Justice A K Ganguly.

“Whatever is happening with girls shouldn’t happen. The police don’t listen to us!” said 14-year-old Shewta who was part of the protest. She is from Palam. “We are being told to raise our voice against whatever is happening with us.”

After the December 16 incident, the sensitivity towards violence against women has increased, said K B Hina, vice-president of Pragatisheel Mahila Sangthan, an NGO.

“If any boy says anything to you, don’t live in fear. If he says one thing to you, pay him back with interests,” said Meha, a young documentary filmmaker. She was addressing a addressing a gathering of girls, many of whom were from various slums in the city.