Akshara Centre collaborates with Railway Protection Force

Street Sexual harassment is not a new issue but it is, no doubt, the most ignored one. We have to work continuously for a change. It gives us pleasure to a launch of our public awareness campaign named “Main Hoon Na” with the support of Railway Protection Force- Central Railways, student leaders from over 25 colleges and the International One Billion Rising Movement. 

Campaign reached out to nearly 1000 commuters, 486 pledge were signed by commuters promising that they would play an active role as a bystander to stop sexual harassment in public places. More 100 Bystanders gave their insights on what would they do to combat sexual harassment in public places. Women/Girls commuters expressed that they have faced sexual harassment in public places many at times.

They stated and pointed out which of their body part was pin-pointed by the perpetrators in form of comments and touch. Not to our surprise, most common body part which were breast, chest, hip and waist. Whilst they expressed this, they even expressed out their feeling about the same, many had felt disgusted, angry, helpless, sad when these incidents took place with them. Bystanders showed their support by expressing that what will they do if a women/girl needs help? They will call police helpline and report, they will intervene and be with the girl, comfort her if required, confront the perpetrator and so on.

A Story:

Yasmin, began college with enthusiasm after the covid 19 pandemic but on the first day of reaching college, she missed her station and was followed by two guys making comments and following her. She was scared, upset and fearful. She was afraid to tell her parents who would have asked her to drop out. She was angry that she felt so helpless.

This is a story of about more than 80% of young women who have experienced staring, catcalling, touching, pinching, being followed and it dampens their self-confidence and spirit. We as a society do not take enough actions against it and then make a noise when a woman gets raped or killed in domestic violence. We, at Akshara Centre, believe that sexual harassment in public places is the initial experience of power that men get familiar with and we need to counter it.

Akshara Centre in collaboration with Railway Protection Force- Central Railway and One Billion Rising – Rise for Freedom have taken a campaign to engage commuters to play an interventionist role. “Main Hoon na” should be the spirit in which each commuter needs to stand up and use multiple strategies to recognise, name the act, interrupt, intervene and report sexual harassment. We have taken a pledge in this coming new year – Let us act against street sexual harassment and make our cities safe, accessible for all. We want to build a momentum to create a wall of supporters against street harassment, that has directly affected 1 in 3 women. Together let us build a society where women can experience public spaces with confidence and enjoy the city in the same way as men.

Adding to this, Snehal Velkar, of Akshara Centre, adds that while we work towards empowerment of women, it is critical that men understand their few minutes of fun affects women permanently and that together we have to work towards stopping street sexual harassment and become “Main Hoon Na” for each survivor.

We hope this campaign will bring about positive change and help us combat sexual harassment in public places and together we reclaim public spaces.