Working women confidence shaken again; time to wake up: ASSOCHAM
New Delhi: Increasing incidents of women molestation in the country have not only shaken confidence of working women and their families but others too, said ASSOCHAM expressing concern over the unabated cases of sexual assault against women.
According to the paper published by ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF), as it gets dark early evenings, their anxiety level increases. The similar anxiety is more among the guardians of those women who travel by chartered buses, cabs, autos etc, adds the paper. The working women have to battle day in and day out in chartered buses, cabs, autos without knowing whether their drivers and crew members have been verified by the police or not. The fear of law must be instilled among those who are prone to commit heinous crime.
As per the findings, our assessment shows women required to work late in sectors like BPO’s and ITeS, travel and tourism, nursing homes and media, among others feel more vulnerable, adds the report.
The survey in Delhi covered Delhi-NCR based 2,500 women, working, housewives and college going girls in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderbad, Ahemdabad, Kolkata, Pune. The statistics were shocking that there are over 20 constitutional provisions laid down, 88% of women are not aware of them even in the national capital.
The paper reveals that around 53% have migrated from various states of India to Delhi in search of work, education of children etc mainly from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and others, which is a positive change and the society is also accepting this change.
The report said “the significance of women as an important human resource was recognized by the constitution of India which not only accorded equality of women but also empowered the state to adopt measures of positive discrimination in their favour.
While the cabs with major brands and with GPS were considered safe, the increasing incidents have shaken the confidence. “If immediate confidence building measures are not taken, the impact could be severe on the tourism and hospitality sector in the middle of a tourism season in the North India, which needs to do a lot in terms of law and order,” said Mr. D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM.
The report further added that ASSOCHAM Study, inter alia cover percentage of women migrants and reasons thereof, composition of marital status of women (divorces, married and widow) and awareness about legal age of marriage, mother and daughter schooling level, women age at the time of first born child, women literacy level, women and elections knowledge of minimum wages, sexual exploitation, support from family and knowledge about women cell and health.
Safety norms suggested by the ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation include:
· a highly effective and responsive GPS System in place
· Self defense training to the women staff
· Organization with odd hour working need to take extra precaution,
· to provide safety and security to their employees, especially females, tiny security devices to workforce to preempt threats on them
· Verification of Cab Driver be made by the police.