The Capital

New Delhi, one of the world’s most advancing and progressive cities, the capital city of the 'next superpower' of the world. With all the advancements made in the construction of the metro, which has become the windpipe for the city. New flyovers being made, the BRT, new look buses, all sorts of events happening in Delhi, with the world coming to watch. These events range from the mega Commonwealth Games to the annual trade and book fairs. Delhi slowly but surely emerging as one of the best cities in the world, or is it? By the cloud of dust raised due to the construction of infrastructure facilities, our eyes are blinded to the common people and in particular their safety and it is on this aspect that I would like to focus on and more importantly on safety of women. What is the use of extending metro timings to 11 in the night, when women can’t travel safely after 8? What is the use of encouraging women to work in MNC’s when they can’t even fulfill their basic need of feeling safe. Let’s look at this aspect in detail.

Many may argue that Delhi is getting safer for women now. I can’t help but agree, however what we are missing is Delhi doesn't just constitute Delhi it also includes Gurgaon, Noida, Faridabad. Places like these pose the more dangerous threat to women. The problem is that the typical thug resides in villages in and around these places, and to add to that most multinationals have their offices in these areas and thus women often work late hours in these areas, plus they host a plethora of pubs and clubs and thus even more women who are even dressed for clubbing visit these areas at night.

Recently on New Year’s Eve night at mg road (one of the more 'developed' parts of Gurgaon), a huge mob gathered outside a pub, and then when a couple arrived the beat up her beau and tried to molest the girl and the girl was rescued only when the police arrived. Recently only a employee of a pub was going back home in a hired radio taxi (which is supposed to be safer) with her 17 year old brother. Suddenly the car was stopped by a gang of 5 and the girl was taken to a flat, where she was raped and in the morning she was dumped outside a metro station. In response to all this the administration just said that women will not be allowed to work after 8pm in Gurgaon. So in a way they say that it’s the girls fault that she was raped and they run away from the responsibility .On one hand you encourage women working and then instead of providing them safety you put restrictions. Progressive I must say. Lets not even talk about Noida, its customary to have a rape a month over there, and as we have seen if women cant travel with their brothers or husbands safely, what will they travel alone?

I have almost never heard of a rape case in Mumbai and even down south it is pretty rare. Girls travel late into the night and are on the streets with minimum fear of their safety. Many may argue that a Mumbai doesn't have a volatile area like Gurgaon or Noida around and thus it is easier for the police, this may be true to a certain extent but then I would like to refer to Spiderman, with the great power that Delhi has of being the capital city of India, also comes great responsibility of protecting its citizens. Let us hope that the future is brighter and this city will boast of being safe for everyone.