The recent gruesome rape case of Sita Rai and other heinous acts of gender violence haven’t only infuriated the public but have put the capital under the scanner: “Is Kathmandu safe for women?” No it’s not. But then it never was.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Keshav Adhikari and spokesperson of Nepal Police, says that crime has always been a part of our society just the way it’s part of every other society. But now greater reporting of cases and awareness have led to widespread fear among the general public.[break]
Anusha Tamrakar feels vulnerable in the capital. The 19-year-old college student who walks to Bag Bazaar and back home after her tuition classes fears for her safety. She moved to the capital from Hetauda three years back for higher education and since then has been living in a girls’ hostel in Kupondole.
While she enjoys Kathmandu and finds that everything suits her tastes for a modern lifestyle, her stay in the Nepali capital hasn´t been without bitter experiences. She narrates countless accounts of being groped while commuting in bus in the city. The everyday acts of sexual harassments are red flags for women who constantly need to be on guard while roaming the streets of the capital.
“One of the first things I heard when I moved to Kathmandu was to be careful. I heard it from the hostel in charge, my friends and relatives and even well meaning people I met at restaurants. I knew the incidences of rape and other crimes were high, but I largely interpreted the warnings as people underestimating my ability to take care of myself,” says Anusha.
Her friends have their own stories of encounters with unwanted behavior while traveling within the capital, even during the day. While it’s not easy to come to a conclusion about the underpinnings of why such a large number of women feel so unsafe, living in the city definitely comes with a fair share of threats.
Almost everyday, newspapers carry stories of rape or harassment. Everybody has a story to tell about those lecherous eyes, catcalls and even groping – different forms of rape, one could say.
According to the Demographic Health Survey 2011, one in three women from 15-49 years have experienced physical violence since the age of 15 and nine percent of the population has experienced the same in a span of a year.
Rohini Shah, 21, a student of Management, had two inebriated men corner her and get her to step inside their car when she was heading to meet her friends.
“It was around two in the afternoon and I was strolling over to the coffee shop where I was supposed to meet my friends. These two men stood smoking by their car and followed me after I’d passed them,” says Rohini before explaining how a seemingly posh guy slipped into the car and started to drive by her side while his friend pursued her on foot.
The most traumatizing part of the incident, she mentions, was that it was during daytime and there were many people all around but they did nothing to help her and just looked on.
“Some men had silly smirks on their faces and were actually enjoying what was happening,” says Rohini, adding that the incident has scarred her for life.
Though public reaction has been extraordinarily exceptional in recent times in case of rape victims and other gender-based violence, other small acts of harassments often go unnoticed. Every girl has uncountable stories of guys bumping onto them and brushing against the curves while walking down crowded footpaths.
Men who turn a blind eye to such acts, however small, in their own neighborhoods, communities and families, are just as culpable as those who perpetrate these acts, and actions from courts and police will not suffice if the community remains defiantly opposed to change.
With a judicial system on the verge of collapse, it’s easy to see why laws and punishment aren’t major deterrents, and Kathmandu is steadily becoming an eve teasers’ paradise. Aside from the reluctance of most victims to press charges against perpetrators, their doubts on the supposed “protectors” aid in making the city unsafe with every passing day.
Nilasha Karki, a 25-years-old bank employee, encounters a group of men who pass snide remarks and try to block her path every single day.
“I just plug in my earphones and walk off but it’s getting annoying. They seem to be more confident now that they know I’m scared,” says Nilasha who has thought of reporting them to the local police but has backed out since she doesn’t have faith in the system, either.
“I don’t think they’ll be able to help, so I’ve just let it be,” she says, adding that unless there’s a crime, the police won’t be bothered taking any action.
DIG Adhikari, however, begs to differ. “People shouldn’t take these incidents lightly and should report them. You don’t even have to go to your local police station. Just dial 100 and report the case,” he says. He also adds that the police has standby Control Room Vehicle (CVR) and will be for your rescue in minutes if you ask for help. In cases like Rohini’s, he insists that people should call for help.
He also believes that crimes can be circumvented through proper safety and security measures but the public also needs to have faith in the system and needs to at least file reports.
“Even if it’s the smallest act of harassment like eve-teasing, a crime is a crime and needs to be brought to light,” he says, adding that only when people actively participate in reporting crimes, can it be curbed.
What Kathmandu needs is a stronger commitment to form strict laws. At the same time, society as a whole has responsibility to change attitudes and stereotypes that maintain women’s inferiority. Now there seems to be a great responsibility on the part of parents as well as society not to raise sons in ways in which they are indoctrinated with a sense of superiority and privilege.
A society that is unable to respect, protect and nurture its women and children loses its moral moorings and runs adrift. This problem cannot be solved by the government alone but by a national awakening involving the entire country and its civil society.
cillakhatry@gmail.com
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