‘1 in 3 teens fears sexual assault in public places’

New Delhi: A recent survey on the perception of girls’ safety in public places has found out that one in three adolescent girls in India is concerned about sexual harassment in public places while one in five fears physical assault, even rape.

According to the survey — WINGS 2018: World of India’s Girls — nearly two out of five girls said that if their parents found out about an incident of harassment in a public space, they would restrict their movement outside of home.

The study was conducted by an NGO, ‘Save the Children,’ to assess the perception of girls’ safety in public places. It also said more than two-third of adolescent girls from urban and rural areas would confide in their mother if they face harassment in a public space.

The study included surveys done on more than 4,000 adolescent girls and boys in India as well as 800 parents of adolescent girls, which was conducted across six states, 30 cities, and 84 villages in 12 districts of Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched the report of the survey on Tuesday and said, “Women and girls must be at the heart of policies that guide urban development. The processes should not be prescriptive. Hence, it is important that from policies to its execution, it has participation by girls and women.”

“The philosophy of new India 2022 has to be routed through the Sarvodaya and Antodaya, which means ‘the last first.’ So, let us begin from the most marginalised girls and women,” he added.

The Union women and child development minister, Maneka Gandhi, pointed out that the rights of women and girls and their perception of safety are of utmost importance in achieving an inclusive and equitable society.

“The Indian government has enabled progressive laws like the POCSO Act, 2012, and the Criminal Amendments Act, 2013. However, a part of the onus lies with families and communities towards ensuring a girl’s safety,” she said.