Bengaluru: Have you been to a public park which has a separate area for women to exercise? Then visit Cole’s Park, also known as Freedom Fighters’ Park in Pulakeshi Nagar, where women can walk and exercise without worrying about men ogling at them.
Around six months ago, area corporator A.R. Zakir, along with BBMP officials, ensured that women have their own space in the park and designated an area where men are not allowed. The step was taken after women who visit the park daily complained that they feel uncomfortable when men sit and stare at them, which prevented them from going on walks and exercising.
The park opens for the public from 6 am to 11 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm. The area is also manned by private security guards.
Suzanne D’ Souza, a resident of Coles Park and a blogger, who goes for a morning walk every day at the park, said, “It was a nightmare for women to visit the park without the company of their male friends as men just sat there and kept looking at women exercising and making them uncomfortable. These men also indulged in eve-teasing. We had complained to the security guards of the park, but in vain. We had also informed the jurisdictional police. They used to patrol the area, but were never there all the time.”
Several women walked up to the corporator and requested him to stop the menace. Zakir said, “We received several complaints of men trying to misbehave with women at the park. I immediately met the BBMP officials concerned and gave them the idea of designating a separate space for women inside the park and they agreed to it. We got basic exercising equipment, installed them and cordoned off the area. We also appointed a few security guards to ensure that no men entered the space or misbehaved with women.”
Mayor Sampath Raj said, “It is the need of the hour and we are planning to implement the idea at all parks falling under the BBMP jurisdiction. Women should have their freedom to enjoy their walk without worrying about men trying to misbehave. There are more than 350 parks in the city and we will designate separate area for women at all parks at the earliest.”
