THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, AUGUST 17, 2013

www.thehimalayantimes.com

PAGE 7

TheHimalayan
ON S A T U R D A Y

Harassment of women on public transport is rising.With the culture of keeping mum on such issues, it usually goes unreported and the offenders walk away to harass another woman. Ritzy Sedhai talks to women commuters and they suggest that we

Break the silence

C
ommuting on public transport system is not really a pleasant experience in Kathmandu, and if you are a female, the journey might just become your worst experience. Get on a crowded bus, and whether it is a 15-minute long journey or of an hour, you might be harassed by a fellow male passenger(s). They either push you or touch you inappropriately, pass comments which are usually intentional. And many of you must have become victims of males making indecent gestures through hands or body movement or eyes.

Photos: THT

Offenders abode
Public vehicles are the most common place where women are being harassed in such a way. The majority of total population use public transport service everyday. They are becoming a safe abode for such offenders because the bus, microbus and other means of public transportation are always overcrowded, as per Manila Raut, who travels on public vehicles from Basundhara to Chabahil everyday for her work. Even though there is not even an inch space left in a public vehicle, the passengers tend to get on it. At such times, people can easily touch you anywhere, she expresses. Because of this, public transport has become one place where women get harassed easily, Raut further adds, sharing, While some apologise later for touching women, some act as if they did not do anything wrong. When asked to share her travelling experience in public vehicles as a woman, Ritu Shakya, a resident of Patan replies, It is tough. Till date there is no news of men being harassed in public vehicles, but as a woman, I feel insecure. And Shakya also feels that harassment in public vehicles is encouraged due to overcrowding. The conductors bring in more passengers and one feels like cattle loaded in a bus. Such an environment allows room for harassment, points out Shakya adding, It has affected many women. So, efforts should be made to make travelling easier. Echoing a similar view, Shrija Rana, a student of Sociology at TU said, As the number of seats in any public vehicle is limited, a law should be made that allows

ing activities of harassment.

Speak up
Women face such harassment everyday. Though some dare to come forward with complaints, many hesitate to report the case because of social stigma. There have been many complaints about harassment in public. But in many cases, women hesitate to speak and sometimes the nature of harassment cant be described in words, reveals Bandana Rana, a woman activist. There are a num-

complaint so that another person will be safe from such offenders. Women usually keep quiet and let go any incident of harassment. But that is wrong, the culprit must be punished. As women fear to fight, the offenders get encouraged as they feel that women would not do anything even if they harass us, she says. Due to such reasons, Rana urges all women to break the silence and protest against such violence, we will provide you full support.

Efforts of Nepal Police

Unlike crimes of grave nature rape, domestic violence against women and murder the cases of public harassment get reported less and the authorities dismiss such issues as minor infractions. However, with the rise in complaints against such harassment, the Nepal Police has launched a campaign to protect the dignity of women. As part of the campaign, it plans to mobilise police in mufti in different places of Kathmandu including public vehicles. If our personnel find anyone harassing women in public places, including public vehicles, they will immediately arrest and take strong action against those

In case of ...

criminals, informed SSP Hemanta Bahadur Pal, Spokesperson at Metropolitan Police Commissioners Office (MPCO), Ranipokhari. Meanwhile, the Nepal Police is also planning to install surveillance cameras in different places of the Valley to record such activities and accidents. We will start installing cameras from Maitighar to Tinkune in a few days. Gradually, we will install them in all the places of the Valley, he revealed. Sajha Bus, however, already has surveillance cameras installed in it. As part of its long-term strategy, Nepal Police has also decided to install CCTV camera in every vehicle that runs in the Valley to keep an eye on such harassment.

And Pal believes that this new initiative taken by MPCO will definitely help in controlling sexual harassment against women. The Initiatives taken by Nepal Police will surely be helpful though women dont talk, police in mufti can arrest the criminals on the spot of the crime, Rana expresses with hope. However, Rana, who feels there is need of the campaigns publicity suggests, This must be publicised to let the perpetrators be aware of this campaign. As such they will be discouraged to harass any woman. Its an exemplary way of discouraging the perpetrators and the victims will also realise that their voices will be heard. Appreciating the effort of Nepal Police, Rana expresses, This campaign may slow down the criminal activities like sexual harassment and eventually solve the problem if it is carried out sincerely.

Victims of such harassment can dial 100 or 102. The police of the local area will be there to help you. You can also file your complaint at the nearest police office.
ber of organisations working for women and those in authority are also enforcing rules to bring an end to sexual harassment. But women should also speak for themselves, says Raut, who requests women to protest or file a

vehicles to ply on the roads only if it carries people according to its seat capacity. This prevents buses from being overcrowded further reduc-