Population First, Mumbai : Newsletter for February 2008

College youth discuss Mumbai’s mean streets

Launch of discussion forum under Madhyam Youth for Change

Population First launched its Discussion Forum under the Madhyam- Youth for Change program in collaboration with K.J Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Vidyavihar, Mumbai on February 1, 2008.

Background

Earlier interactions with students during the ongoing Laadli campaign had revealed that many students regretted not having any avenue to engage in discussions among peers on social development issues. The discussion forum initiated as part of the youth initiative of Laadli tries to address this gap – to provide a platform for young people to discuss, debate, question and examine their own biases and condition and in the processes be more gender sensitive and socially aware individuals.

The process

Program officers and students of NSS units were brought on board, and encouraged to take initiative and arrange the launch (and thereafter the forum every month) in their respective colleges. The first discussion forum, held at K.J.Somaiya College dealt with the theme of ‘Sexual harassment in public places ‘ in the wake of the disturbing molestation incident on New Years Eve at Juhu in suburban Mumbai outside a 5-star hotel. It was an inter-collegiate event attended by about 80 students of various colleges.

Feedback

The students were very charged up about the issue and the discussion, which was planned for two hours, continued way beyond that up to 5.30 p.m. Sagar Shinde, student from S.K. Somaiya College, Vidyavihar, said, Sexual harassment is a subject that is always brushed under the carpet and women have to suffer silently. PF has done a great job in encouraging an open discussion on the subject. It helped me to understand the female point of view. I did not feel at all awkward in discussing a taboo subject even of rape. This is the only way we can remove this evil from its roots. Rohini Fadte, Lecturer from Dept. of Sociology, K.J.Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce said, The Discussion Forum has initiated interaction. Hopefully this will start a chain reaction.

The discussion was facilitated by Ms. Geeta Seshu, an independent journalist and researcher on media and media issues, Ms. Sweta Ramanujan, principal correspondent of Hindustan Times (the newspaper which broke the molestation incident and whose follow-up created public outcry and compelled the authorities to take action) and Dr. A.L.Sharada, programme director of Population First. Also present from HSBC Bank which is supporting Madhyam, were Ms. Jhoomer Tikoo, Associate Vice-President and Mr. Harshad. Sweta Ramanujan said that sexual harassment of women is both morally and socially a serious issue, and hoped that the students to take the opportunity of this forum to explore the issue of sexual harassment and how they can be instruments of change.

Students shared their personal experiences of indulging in teasing, as well as being sexually harassed. Bhavika described how men touched every part of her body on the overcrowded foot over bridge on Dombivili station. Another girl narrated her experience on a lonely unlit dark road in Thane where a man attempted to rape her. In all these, case the girls did not lodge a complaint with the police, because they were afraid that people would talk badly of them and the police was unlikely to take them seriously. A boy narrated his experience of helping a woman from eve teasers, only to be grilled by the police as a suspect!

Their experiences included indifference on the part of onlookers, lack of support from parents and community, and difficulty in lodging a police complaint or convincing the victim to lodge a complaint. Other reasons included:

Fear of losing ones reputation in society
Fear of not finding a match for marriage
Long drawn out legal procedures
Lack of knowledge about laws governing sexual harassment
Indifferent attitude of police towards such complaints
Trivialization of complaints by community and authorities

Other issues raised included the recent judgments that allowed rapists to go scot-free when they offered marriage to victims, virginity, and over-emphasis on marriage as the ultimate goal of a womans life. Students also voiced their concern about women being blamed in cases of rape or molestation. Geeta Seshu stressed on the fact that irrespective of age, marital status, education or class, women get molested. Sweta Ramanujan added that acquainting oneself with the penal provisions under IPC would boost ones confidence and make one better equipped to handle the police effectively. Women have to empower themselves to be in a position to fight back.

Some reasons that emerged for the existence of sexual harassment or eve-teasing included:

Irresponsible media coverage: It only reports the event and covers irrelevant and peripheral details but does not show or elaborate the repercussions and consequences on the victim and the perpetrator and his family or educate the public on the legal options available
Peer pressure – It is considered a macho/ masculine thing to do. The sexuality of those who dont is suspect.
Women are just objects/commodity to be used / enjoyed
It’s just good fun
As a means to take revenge
To counter their own low self-esteem

The group work that followed allowed students to discuss the issue among themselves, and make their presentations on topics like:

Peer pressure
Isolation how to help women in distress
Have things changed in Mumbai why? What has changed? How?
How to get family/friends/social groups involved?
Strategies to deal with sexual harassment?
Role of media
How to develop equal and respectful relationships?

Madiha Sheikh, a student from A.E.Kalsekar College, Mumbra stated, The best part about the forum was that both boys and girls were equally represented. It gave us an opportunity to interact with each other freely on this sensitive topic and understand what the boys think. If any change has to be brought about it cannot be successful without both men and women working at it together.

The outcome

The presentations exhibited a greater sensitivity to the issue and a commitment to make a change at least in ones own life and their home and college by educating and empowering themselves and the community with information and knowledge. The groups resolved to take positive action and undertook the following activities as a follow-up on the discussion:

Conduct a survey in their respective colleges on views about eve-teasing. The questionnaire to be devised by students in consultation with Population First
Design a pamphlet with all the legal provisions and tips on how a woman can protect herself (Click here to view the pamphlet. **You are welcome to support the Laadli campaign by printing or emailing this pamphlet to create awareness about these issues. Contact us** for a high-resolution version if you would like to print it for distribution.)
Campaign to make the college a eve-teasing free zone
Organize workshops for parents/community
Start an anti eve-teasing cell in the college
Analysis of media reports of Juhu case good and bad
Development of posters/cartoons depicting typical vs. ideal husband-wife relationships.

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