A Tale of Two Cities: Why Delhi will never be safe for women?

I was surfing the telly few days ago and I was shocked to hear how a girl was
shot in broad daylight and nobody came forward to identify the killer let alone
catch him. It’s a proven fact now that Delhi is unsafe for women. Every day we
get to hear some news about a girl getting molested, raped, tortured or killed.
Surprisingly!!! Only a few cases get reported from Mumbai. Why is it that a
city much bigger in size than Delhi and with far more people living in Mumbai
there is less crime against women???

I did some thinking and here’s what I feel about it:

1. Delhi is geographically located in an area where women are treated either as

sex objects or someone to be dominated upon. Haryana has the worst sex ratio
in the country and women are relegated to the confines of the kitchen. They
are not allowed to put forth their opinions and neither are they considered
equals. North Indian men have this strange habit where they get some sort of
an ego boost when they trample over women and are hell bent on seeing them
always on their knees and begging for equality. But why are we debating upon
this topic if educated people can kill their daughters and sisters for false pride,
what’s life and a women’s dignity to them???

2. Delhi has always been associated with power, politics and prestige. Even a
small incident such as a minor altercation can lead to people killing for pride
and not feeling guilty about it. Mumbai on the other hand has always been the
city of dreams. Movies, Money and Masti that’s how one of my female friends
described Mumbai. Moreover, if we look into its past, we get to see how
Mumbai never stops and gets back on its feet. Whether it is the Mumbai riots,
bomb blasts or the recurring terrorist attacks, Mumbai as a city due to the
spirit of its citizens has always stood up and became stronger. Majority of the
working population in Mumbai are women who juggle jobs and homes with
great élan. Not only women in general but majority of the population swears
by its nightlife and are pretty comfortable venturing out late night. Think twice
about doing that in Delhi where major markets are force shut after 10:00pm.
3. The greatest irony is the fact that with a female CM, a female President and
a women Chairperson of the ruling party Delhi is still unsafe for women. Every
time an incident against a women happens Delhi CM comes up with the lamest
and weirdest excuses for it. Delhi Police started an initiative after the recent
Dhaula Kuan rape case where they started a helpline for women who are
stranded or are returning late night from work. They can call Delhi Police and
drop to their residence will be arranged. Well the results are yet to be seen,
but the general response to it is indifferent due to lack of faith in the system.
Delhi Police Commissioner said he wants more force on street for policing. The
general law and order situation tells another story. There are always less men
on the streets policing than are needed.

The problems are abundant but the solutions are few and far. It is high time
some concrete steps are taken to solve the problem.

But is it enough to lay the blame fair and square on the police and
governments, crime against will not stop until there is a major mindset shift in
the people who live in Delhi or immigrate in hordes every passing day. Delhi is
a melting pot of various cultures and people from all over the country. It is
adjoined by two states that have the worst sex ratio in the country and female
literacy rate is in dire straits. A major mindset shift will only occur when steps
are taken for women education and their social upliftment