Girls still feel unsafe in Delhi

There are new lessons to be learnt with every unfortunate incident. In the wake of gangrape, the Delhi government decided to double the services of state-run buses during night hours and has planned to deploy home guards in it. However, the effort fails to impress Delhi girls who still think twice before boarding a bus these days. “I would not feel any safeer because the guard is again going to be a man. Drivers, ticket checkers and any other man on the bus come from the same pool and they all behave the same. I have seen cases where DTC bus drivers themselves misbehave with women passengers,” says Kavita, a student at Deshbandhu College, who travels to Delhi Cantt after her classes get over. Saadia Farrukh, a PR professional, is also sceptical. “I don’t think the government’s decision would be of much help. I travel daily from East Delhi to Okhla in DTC and the condition is terrible even during peak hours. The decision to deploy home guards is a welcome move but I would not prefer travelling late or staying at work till late hours. All these moves are temporary. I would prefer office cabs or the ones driven by women drivers,” says Saadia. Adds Neetu Saini “They are finding a solution to buses, but what about the cars in which most of the abduction happens, even the autos which fleece commuters at night This incident has proved that Delhi is one city where women should not set out at night, not even with family.”