People> Eve Teasers a Menace

Text by: Tanya Munshi

I read through the account of that Srigowri wrote for Yo Vizag. I completely empathize with her. I have been living in Vizag for the last couple of years and everytime I think of going out alone, I think twice. Eve teasing is very bad out here as it leaves a bitter taste. Vizag can be a livable place, only if the eve-teasing went down. Not one day goes without hearing a cat call, lewd remarks in Telugu or when men (married or young boys) whizz past in their cars or motorbikes just missing the women by a few inches making it difficult to walk on the streets.

Rape, physical assault on women and eve teasing should not only be a punishable offence, but should fall under capital punishment in our country. Enough is enough, its time the culprits are brought to book. Several crimes are committed against women in our country, but most offenders go free due to their political backing. There should be no two ways about such crimes; capital punishment for such offenders is the answer.

Unfortunately in our country, justice comes through very late; it takes years for a victim and her family to get justice. We should have a separate cell that will deal with such crimes with utmost priority. It is so difficult to walk out alone in broad day light. Whenever a woman tries to defend herself, she is taught by her family not to stand up against eve teasing for the fear that the culprits will harm her.

Why in the first place should anyone allow eve teasers to harass women by succumbing to the fear? If the so called moral police can ransack pubs and night clubs, why aren't they taking charge of eve teasers? Isn't it going against the so called Indian ethos that women should be respected and not be harassed. The truth is, we are all double standard people, at one hand we pray to the goddesses of wealth and prosperity but on the other hand we harass the very women at homes and in public areas. Shame on us as we have no control over the heinous crimes against women.

Every citizen of India should stand up against eve teasing and harassment against women. If we can stand up against terrorism and make our politicians listen to us, then we can surely make ourselves heard with regard to safety of women in our country. Its time to create the fear in eve-teasers; lets for once see them in fear instead of the women. This is a free country and each one of us has a right to live in peace and no one has the right to take it away from us, especially not by these eve-teasers.

Published in 'Yo Vizag', February 2009 edition and Deccan Chronicle.