Heart of Haryana: Women’s safety takes centrestage

The sensational rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata has not only triggered anger across nation but also raised a serious question over the safety of women at work and public places.

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Haryana too is not untouched by this growing concern, especially at a time when Haryanvi women have brought glory to the nation in the recently held Paris Olympics.

‘More efforts needed’

The state witnesses adverse sex ratio, rape, honour killings and mounting insecurity for women at work and public places. These disturbing trends show that institutions and political persons at the helm of policy making have not done justice towards the cause of women development. — Dr Jagmati Sangwan, Woman activist

As per the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB)-2022 report, Haryana is one of the unsafe states for women, recording 118.7 incidents of crime per lakh women. As per official information, a total of 3,954 cases of crime against women, including 2,131 of molestation and 1,823 of rape, were registered in Haryana in 2023, which means the registration of average over 10 such cases per day. Karnal registered highest 191 cases of molestation, while Faridabad was at the top with the registration of 190 rape cases.

The safety of girl students at educational institutes is also a major concern in the state ever since incidents of sexual abuse of girls by their teachers and school heads in Jind, Kaithal and other places came to light. It left everyone shocked when over 50 girl students in Jind accused their school principal of sexual harassment. The incidents of honour killing and domestic violence too bring a bad name to the state.

Dr Jagmati Sangwan, a prominent woman activist and founding director of the women studies centre at Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, said Haryana was passing through a paradoxical phase.

“While Haryanvi women are being praised for their prowess in various fields, including education and sports, the state witnesses adverse sex ratio, rape, honour killings and mounting insecurity for them at work and public places. These disturbing trends show that institutions and political persons at the helm of policy making have not done justice towards the cause of women development,” she added.

Jagmati said several political leaders, including former minister Sandeep Singh and former chief of the Wrestling Association of India Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, were facing allegations of sexual abuse.

Khazan Singh, a retired professor of sociology from the MDU, blames the easy availability of obscene and pornographic contents on the Internet one of the major causes for molestation and rape-like crimes.

“Youngsters at an immature age are watching obscene content on phones, which not only diverts their focus but also drives them towards criminal activities. Moreover, youngsters from humble backgrounds, coming from rural areas, are indulging in crimes compared to others as they prefer to adapt to the exposure of urban life,” he added. Sangwan pointed out that the study in educational institutes revolves around only the curriculum, but there should be a counselling session to make youngsters, especially teenagers, remain away from crimes and focus on their career. Moreover, vital steps should also be taken to ensure punishment to culprits at the earliest to discourage others from indulging in crime, he added.

Sheel Madhur, former DGP Haryana, finds multiple reasons for crime against women and claims collective efforts from all sections of society are needed to check it. “The police will have to lay more stress on preventive steps by strengthening its information network. Politicians, social activists and other responsible persons of society, too, would have to make collective efforts to check crime against women,” he suggests.

Madhur maintains that cops, too, come from male-dominated society where women are mostly empowered on paper. “Crime against women cannot be prevented until we consider son and daughter equal. Daughter is killed to save honour when it comes to inter-caste marriage, while son is protected for doing the same thing. This clearly shows what sort of respect we have for females,” he adds.

Crime against women has become such a crucial issue in Haryana that the Congress has been raising it prominently to corner the BJP government in the state. It has also included it in its poll manifesto.

“Women are neither safe in public nor at work. We invited suggestions from people to incorporate them in our poll manifesto. A large number of people have described crime as a major issue in Haryana. Several women have also shared shocking crime incidents with us,” said Geeta Bhukkal, Jhajjar MLA and chairperson of the Haryana Congress Manifesto Committee.

Inspector Suman, in charge, Women Police Station, Jhajjar, defends the police, stating awareness among women towards laws and rights has led to the reporting of crime cases. Earlier, these were not reported due to social pressure.

“The police have introduced Dial 112 (women helpline service) to provide succor to women in emergency within seven minutes and also launched safe journey initiative to remain in constant contact with the woman until she reaches her destination safely. School students too are being made aware of “good touch and bad touch”, while cops are deployed at sensitive points to ensure the safety of women at public places,” she added.