In India Today: Let’s Not Wait for Another Headline—It’s Time to Stand Up for Women’s Safety, Together
In India, women's safety is a major issue. Every woman should feel safe at home, in school, at work, or outside. However, many women are still in danger. Some face serious offenses like rape, are mistreated at home, and are followed on the streets. Stopping these wrongdoings is essential. When women feel safe, they can attend school, secure employment, and pursue their passions without fear. They can live a happy life and help their families, too. But if they are always afraid, they might stop going out and working toward their goals. This is detrimental not just to women, but to the entire country.
The number of rape cases in India over the past five years has been shocking. In 2018, over 33,000 rape cases were reported. About 32,000 cases were reported in 2019. The number was over 28,000 in 2020, and it was over 31,000 again in 2021. The annual number of cases remained close to 31,000 in 2022 and 2023. That means almost 85 to 86 women are raped every single day in our country. And these are only the cases that are reported. Many more women stay silent out of fear or shame.
This situation breaks my heart. It is not sufficient to merely pass laws. We all need to work together. The public must support women and stay alert. Speak up if you observe someone abusing a woman. If someone needs help, help them. Report crimes. Do not stay silent. When people remain united and steadfast, crimes like rape and other crimes can be reduced. Families must also teach boys to respect girls from a young age. Women need to feel comfortable discussing their issues.
Society should support them, not blame them. Safety is the responsibility of everyone, not just women. When they feel safe, women are more confident. When they are confident, they grow. And when women grow, the whole nation becomes stronger and better.
Let’s open our eyes. Don't wait for another story in the news. Let’s protect the daughters, sisters, mothers, and friends around us. Let’s make India a safer place for every woman.
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