Are You Mending It?

Rosalyn D’mello

On March 27,2011, a friend was molested on the yellow line of the Delhi metro. A week later, three women passengers had another sordid experience when they tried to get a metro official to penalise men who had parked themselves in the compartment "reserved" for women. They were held for questioning until 1 a.m, with no woman police official in sight and were harassed for having taken a stand. A few days ago, some of our agents surveyed the scene in the women's chair car at night and it seemed much the same: men were all over the women's compartment, women were left standing and had to demand for space. Other agents have narrated experiences about getting into the general compartment and being told by men that they should use the 'women's only' car instead.

There's something disturbing about the fact that most of us refer to the general compartment as the "men's compartment". It's troubling that most women do not feel safe traveling in that compartment. Women who do, even to make a statement, have been on the receiving end of men's ire.

We did not ask for a 'women's only' compartment. But since it was assigned to us, it's been a constant battle warding men off, defending our space while also trying to navigate between getting to office or getting back home from somewhere.

The metro is a form of public transport. There's no reason why women should be victims of harassment by way of lewd comments, staring, indifference, apathy and physical abuse.

Perhaps when the women's only car was instituted, systems should have been put in place to tackle delinquents. None exist. Yes, there is a supposed penalty of Rs 200, but that doesn't dither anyone since there are no authorities to keep tabs on offenders.

We're not asking for reservation. We're asking for respect. We are asking for understanding

Please Mend The Gap (PMTG) is a citizen led initiative to demand safer public spaces for all (especially women) and they are starting with the Delhi Metro, since it is India' showcase transport project. A bunch of people (twelve to be precise) came together to form a group to do something about public safety in Delhi. So far they have organized three flash mobs to attract public attention on how unsafe Delhi Metro is for women, got almost 1000 members on their FB page and managed coverage in Delhi times & HT City. The have also done public consultations and sent a list of suggestions with DMRC to make Delhi Metro safer for all. And you can help. By signing this petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/MendNow/petition.html Remember, this is just the beginning. 

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