Vijayawada: Cases of eve-teasing may be on the rise, but its treatment, counselled by the police of Vijayawada, is gradually proving to be effective. Most of these eve-teasers are in the age group of 18-30 years. 50 per cent of them are students. Social media is their main source of inspiration. Eve teasing at public places has reduced considerably thanks to the efforts of the Mahila Rakshak and monitoring by the Vijayawada Police. They patrol around the bus stands, city bus stops, railway stations, colleges and parks. After zeroing in ob the misbehaviour of the boys or men, they immediately take them to the counselling centres. The difference is now the police do not wait for the complaints of the girls. They identify the eve teasers by their monitoring and surveillance network.
The cops’ strategy of taking them into custody and immediately counselling them, has produced results to change the youth, who thought eve-teasing was an art or fashion. The cops have also been scanning their iris and thumbnails. If they are identified again, there would be severe punishment for them. So because of the fear factor, youth do not dare to repeat their offence.
The social media, which has become available to youth through mobiles at a cheaper cost, is the main cause of polluting their minds and distorting their attitude. It has replaced cinema in this respect. The porn videos or porn pictures are readily available to them on their mobiles. The prank videos of girls getting into love traps have tempted them, they thought they were original videos. Their attitude towards girls has been changing drastically after watching social media, the majority of eve teasers told counsellors.
ACP V.V.Naidu has told DC that the counselling has been giving better results than punishment. He said, “We have formed Mahila Mitra groups to involve girls and boys in the campaign against eve teasing. These groups have been helping us to get complaints and information easily”. Almost 1000 Mahila Mitra groups have been formed in Vijayawada City. Every week they have been conducting counselling with the help of Vasavya Mahila Mandals to the eve teasers, girls and their parents.
