Data from helpline shows city not as safe for women

In February 2008,when the helpline 103 was launched,control room officers used to receive two street sexual harassment calls per day. But since then,the number has gradually increased to over 20 calls per day.

The police attribute this increase to the awareness of the helpline number among women. The officers said every month they get 500 calls on an average from women in distress of which 150-200 women call to report street sexual harassment incidents. “In a month,we receive about 20,000 calls from women,senior citizens and children of which 10,000 are fake or assumptions. Of the remaining 10,000 calls,maximum are from women in distress,” said an officer incharge of the helpline.

The officer added,“Even though distress calls have increased gradually due to public awareness campaigns,the awareness about the helpline is still less compared to the rate of sexual harassment incidents in the city.”

Officers said the Keenan-Reuben murders jolted the police and they have increased patrols and are also getting tougher with offenders. While offenders would be let off after a warning in the past,the police are now filing cases against them and currently have about 60-70 such offenders in custody in the West zone alone.

Meanwhile,Minister of State (Home) Satej Patil held a meeting on Monday to take stock of the measures to tackle rising harassment cases in the state,especially Mumbai. It was attended by Mumbai and state police officers along with home and social justice department officials.

Patil announced that women constables will be deployed in plain clothes to keep an eye out for such cases in the city. He also said two new mobile numbers and an e-mail id will be dedicated to complaints related to eve-teasing and harassment.

The decision comes after the Keenen-Reuben murders,which were followed by widespread public outrage with even the CM seeking death sentence for the killers.

Patil said colleges in the state had been asked to form anti-harassment committees by January. He also discussed measures to ensure that Maharashtra’s demand for increasing the punishment and making the offence under IPC Section 354,which deals with assault or use of criminal force on women with the intent of outraging their modesty,a non-bailable offence.