Women to travel 220 cities to talk on gender-abuse

Hyderabad: In a campaign ‘Baatein Aman Ki’ the women activists would be venturing into different states and hold public meetings to stop violence against women. “The campaign is aimed at intensifying awareness about the crime against women across India,” said social activist, Shabnam Hashmi.

As a part of this drive activists and volunteers from different organisations will travel together across 220 different cities, villages and towns. A team of about 25 women will venture along a path, there are five designated paths starting from Kerala, Tamil Naidu, Kashmir, Assam, and Delhi. Team Kanyakumari will venture along the south eastern states of Tamil Naidu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha.

“‘Baatein Aman ki’ is to speak about hate and violence, the issues which are subjugated and constitutional rights which are hindered, the issues which impact every woman. Through this campaign we aim to safeguard constitutional rights, to make peaceful, just and non-violent society,” said Shabnam.

Human Development Report ranked India 132 out of 187 in terms of gender inequality. In Telangana, only 43.7 per cent of women attain education above tenth class. And 99.3 per cent girls of sexual abuse and who reported the cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO Act) knew their offenders. Telangana ranks 11 among states on gender vulnerability Index of Plan International India, Goa stands first and Bihar last. 

In every sect, women in India are vulnerable may it be protection, education or healthcare. Violent crimes including rape, insult modesty, sexual assault, abduction, marital rape, cruelty by intimate partner or relatives, trafficking, dowry harassment and deaths and indecency are rising.  Women face a multitude of health problems and access to right to education. 

“We are not confined to organisations or to any group, we wish to have a wide spectrum combining regional, linguistic, caste and religious communities. We are missioned to hold public meetings on women related issues and over 4,000 different organisations will take part in this drive,” said Annie Raja, Secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women. The campaign will begin on September 22 across India and will conclude in Delhi on October 13. The campaign is being funded by women’s groups and self-funds from volunteers. Touring vehicles are being provided by UN. Food and stay is being self-funded by the participants and volunteers.

BY Mayank Tiwari