To the people of Kerala who were already apprehensive about Women safety the morning tea had been bitter as the reports of one of their favorite actress Bhavana kidnapped and molested on her way to work made rounds. But this news was merely as ripple in the seemingly perfect lake of female security in Kerala as its reality began to seep out into the open.

Kerala has poor record in terms of Women Safety, as the women living in the state have to battle with eve teasers to the unnecessary moral policemen who watch the women with suspicion who are out after the ‘regulars hours’ i.e. 6 PM. This situation embarrassingly comes in sharp contrast with its much touted 100 percent literacy status.

Over the years the several governments of Kerala has taken series of brilliant initiatives to improve on safety of women but with little success; it was not because of the lack of public interest or the deficiency of funding, but merely because the government has been too languid to execute those initiatives properly.

One of the latest initiative of Kerala government in ensuring the women safety had been installing GPS system in the public transport. In the wake of infamous Nirbhaya tragedy, the State Government had decided to be more vigilant in terms of female security and announced GPS and CCTV camera to be installed in the public transport system. That was in 2015. Now, after two years while GPS system seems partially operative in new buses, CCTV still remains a distant dream, just like female safety.

All women police station had been another one of Kerala government’s brilliant strategy to provide the relentless safety to its women. Although female police station were existent in Kerala since 1973, the State decided to set up an all women police station in 2014. Complete with women Station House Officers (SHOs), these female stations were set up exclusively to ensure that women can approach the police station at any given time of day or night confidently. But this scheme too fell short of doing its work as these station reportedly adopted a deserted look after 8 PM. More or less these police stations are closed up like a business enterprise after the dusk, leaving the safety of women vulnerable.

Women helpline/hotline 1091 too had been one of the good moves to ensure the women security in state. While 1091 is the common statewide helpline for women in needs, all the fourteen districts in Kerala have been assigned with the individual Vanitha Cell too, complete with helpline numbers. Although it had been good strategy, two things makes it almost complete failure. One is the lack of public awareness of this number and second the absence of accessibly of protection even upon calling this number.

In fact, the people became more aware about the existence of 1091 only after a popular media house reported in their channel that hardly anyone picks up this number when you call them. Ironically it is hardly a news. It had been reported several times previously regarding the lack of response of the helpline which is supposed to be called by women in case of emergencies. Apparently nobody bothers to pick up the call, and even if it does the calls of the districts seems to be cross connected, like the calls of Kochi would be picked up by someone in Kozhikode.

Last year the State Government had rolled out yet another of its great strategy to ensure women security, Pink Police patrol. During its inauguration in Kochi, one of the metros of Kerala, both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Kochi Mayor Soumini Jain promised fast actions to counter the “growing atrocities against women”. And then Bhavana incident happens. Bhavana who was travelling from Thrissur to Kochi for her her dubbing appointment was stalled by a car. Her driver was beaten up and she was kidnapped. She had been reportedly molested, indecent pictures of her were clicked and harassed in the span of gruesome two hours. She was later on dropped off in from of a producers house by her assailants who threatened her with further harassment.

All while she did not spot a single Pink Patrol Police.

Kerala has some outstanding enterprises for women like the much famous Kudumbashree, Vanitha stores, She Taxi etc. which has immensely been a great help for women especially from lower education and strata to earn decent income. But when it comes to women safety it has miles to go. In spite of its good literacy rate, healthy sex ratio and great GDP status, it suffers severely in women safety. It has one of the highest rape percentages in country with 63 percent (on contrary to nations’ 56 percent), not to mention the cases of women molestation and eve teasing which have almost become the part of society.

The laws framed the changing governments have done little to nothing to tackle the ever growing atrocities on women. The present situation is dismaying as the women are feeling less and less safety whether they are travelling or working or even in their homes. While the crime against the women is on constant raise, the government and law are busy passing the blame on to other sources – from immigrant workers from other states to the growing influence of western culture.

Every time a case of brutal rape and murder (such as that of Jisha and Soumya) raises its ugly head the politicos organize a bunch of rallies and protests even as the government ‘vows’ to take strong measures to counter such future attacks. Sadly they become obsolete as the world move on to the next scandal. While both the government and the opposition forgets the victims the laws formed by them gathers dust.

Now, as the media is in frenzy over the kidnap of Bhavana and the film industry is busy expressing its shock and outrage, one can only hope that some those obsolete female safety schemes will be finally brought to life with proper implementation. Although the culprits involved in the crimes have been arrested, there is little guarantee of justice; case in point Soumya V/s Govindachami. The failure of State legal system to build watertight case against Govindachami the perpetrator of brutal rape and murder of Soumya is an example itself if plodding legal system; the result was he got away with a liberal punishment.

Organizing night marathon or free crash course of judo for women is merely temporary solution in ensuring safety of women. What the state needs is an immediate and comprehensive strategy and impeccable execution of it to strengthen the women safety in the state. Instead of big words, it high time for bigger actions.

-anila

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