Aftermath of Kolkata Rape: A Ripple of Fear Across Hostels, Parents
Hyderabad: The rape-murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, and several incidents following it, is leading to significant behavioural shifts.
Many women in the city, residing in hostels and PGs, especially around the IT corridor, Ameerpet and Begumpet, battling feelings of heightened insecurity, are looking for private accommodation, believing that they might offer better safety.
Rupa Sharma, a student in Hyderabad, saying, "My parents are insisting I move out of the hostel and into a private flat with a close friend. They no longer trust the security in hostels after what happened in Kolkata. At least three of my friends, two from Nalgonda, have returned to their hometown, and one to their relatives home here in the city."
There has been a significant surge in the download of safety apps designed to offer women protection and emergency assistance. These apps, offering features like real-time location sharing, panic buttons, and quick alerts to nearby police stations and emergency contacts, have seen a spike in users.
Apps like the Hawk Eye and 112 by the Ministry of Home Affairs are being discussed about and downloaded by many women in the last two week. "It’s a clear sign of the growing anxiety among women," said Kiran Gulati, a software professional from Gujarat residing in Madhapur, told Deccan Chronicle.
The ripple effects are evident in the reluctance of parents to send their daughters to other cities for higher studies. Many parents are reconsidering their decisions, with some even choosing to keep their daughters closer to home. "I completed my degree in psychology and wanted to pursue my specialisation in clinical psychology, with the only two good institutions being in Gujarat and Bengaluru. My parents, who were earlier onboard with this idea, are now hesitant, forcing me to stay back and resort to opting for a mediocre PGDM here," said a city-based student.
Rekha Bandi, a mother to two daughters, shared her distress, saying, "I was planning to send my daughter to Delhi for her Master’s, but now I’m having second thoughts. Her safety is my top priority, even if it means compromising on her education."
The fear has also sparked a counter-movement among young women, with a marked increase in the number of them enrolling in self-defence classes. Martial arts and self-defence academies are seeing a significant rise in female participants, with many women keen on learning how to protect themselves in case of an emergency.
"We're promoting self-defence classes, not at the cost of this incident, but after we realised many are keen on learning self-defence," said Ravi Kumar, an instructor at a gymnasium in Hyderabad. "There’s a new determination among them, they want to feel empowered and not live in constant fear."
