‘A cultural problem’
Students react to the incident of sexual harassment of a minor
In a shocking incident at Sarvapuram village on the outskirts of Narsempet town, a 17-yearold student was subjected to sexual harassment by an auto rickshaw driver and his friend. While the perpetrators were caught in the end, the message is loud and clear. Delhi is not the only place where crimes are committed against women; the evil is everywhere.
“It’s just getting worse by the day. There have been times when my friends and I were returning home late and we have seen men misbehaving with women, especially at the ECIL bus stop. Sometimes, we even pretend to talk on the phone and appear to be busy just so that we won’t be bothered,” says Bhagyashree, a student of C.V.S.R. College of Engineering.
Tejaswini K., a student of IIIT Hyderabad, says that the problem is not about law and order enforcement but more a cultural issue. “Talking about punishment is not enough as rape is not just a legal problem but also a cultural one. People’s mindsets need to change. We can’t expect the problem to disappear just because there is strict punishment attached to it.”
Since danger is always lurking around the corner, students are also of the opinion that women need to be extra cautious and well prepared.
“I agree that you can’t argue with every other person on the roads, but when it’s a matter of safety, women need to take a stand because it’s a matter of our own lives at the end of the day,” states B. Siddanti, student from St Francis College.