Marginal dip in crimes against women in 2011
COIMBATORE: Is Coimbatore a safe city for women? Though a sizable section of women in the city continue to suffer dowry-related harassments and many of them opt to end their lives by consuming banned products like cow dung powder, law enforcers say there is a considerable decline in the number of crimes against women in the city. Major crimes against women like rape, molestation, abduction and dowry-related deaths are in the decline if the statics available with city police is anything to go by.
As per police records, only nine rape cases were reported in the city in the last 12 months while there were 15 cases in 2010. Police have registered 30 cases of molestation this year while there were 35 such cases reported in 2010. There were nine abductions in the last 12 months while it was 10 in 2010. Only two dowry related deaths were reported in 2011, while five such cases were reported last year.
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"Strict police surveillance across the city coupled with quick arrest and conviction of those who harass women, have created an atmosphere that make women feel safe and secure in Coimbatore considerably. Unlike other cities, women who travel alone in buses and trains seldom make complaints of sexual harassment. Cases of harassment at work places are also very negligible in the city though Coimbatore has a sizable population of working women,'' says Hema Karunakaran, deputy police commissioner.
Early this year, police have ensured constitution of anti-sexual harassment committees in all offices and industrial units in the city. "We are regularly monitoring whether the institutions and entrepreneurs are effectively operating their anti-harassment committees,'' said Hema.
"While comparing with other cities with similar population of Coimbatore, women are almost safe here. Travelling alone after 10pm may be troublesome for women in the city. But during the rest of the time, nobody feel insecure here. Women seldom face harassment in public places and the involvement of women in public sphere is high in Coimbatore,'' says Vanitha Mohan, managing trustee of Siruthuli, an NGO. She also cites high educational level and living standards of Coimbatore residents as the reason for safety of women in the city.
According to police sources, the rape and murder of two school children last year and the encounter death of the prime accused in the case have played a significant role in dispiriting a number of habitual offenders known for crimes against women. Even the general crime rate started diminishing since then, claims the city police.
According to Bindu Rajiv, a city-based women rights activist, women in Coimbatore are facing more domestic violence than public harassments. "The media often reports suicide of a number of women by consuming cow dung powder. In most of such cases, the reason may be dowry or cruelty on the part of husband and family. It is the duty of police to give a satisfying explanation on how poor housewives easily get cow dung powder for suicide though it is officially banned,'' she asks.
"While sexual harassments and abuses often gets reported and the responsible persons are being subjected to quick police action, most domestic violence cases often gets unreported in the city. Family pressures are preventing women from even approaching helplines. But the number of women finding treatment for mental trouble are on the increase in the city,'' she points out.
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