Pramesh S Jain
I
n an effort to create awareness against sexual harassment at public place,Durga Foundation,a city based NGO with the collaboration of NLSIU and city police launched active bystanders initiative to help the victims of sexual harassment in distress .
As part of the program,a team of Durga foundation visit public places in 112 police stations across the city to crate awareness,sensitize,duties and action and create attitude shift towards the incident .
The program started in August this year covered around 2,000 people from all walks of life and planned to cover a total of 5,600 members with 50 people from each station,Priya Varadarajan,head of the foundation told reporters.Elaborating on the program,Ms.Priya said that the program including combination of things including proactive approach and boosting confidence and empowerment among the volunteers.
The teams rope in street vendors,Pourakarmikas,and autorickshaw drivers,who working on the streets and can extend help .
Public places like bus stops,market places and even BMTC,Metro trains and other places of public gathering are being covered by the volunteers to create awareness through street plays and door to door campaign.This program also helps to identify the Volunteers as Heroes , to train and motive them.
Its an ongoing process where the volunteers target them through street play, door to door campaign seeking support.
Once they are agreed a training will be provided on how to handle situation and the measures to be taken if they come across such situation and on how to resolve amiably.
After completion of the session,the signed up volunteers will be awarded with certificates and medals as “Durga” real heroes everywhere,to encourage them for their contribution .
The training program under the banner “D.A.R.E.TO CARE:say no to sexual harassment would taught four ways in which you can intervene,Ms.Priya said .
If anyone who confront such situation and notice women being harassed,the first step to help to intervene is Distract,Ms.Priya,said.The distraction to be created to interrupt the situation.
The second step is Address,where people can approach the victim and ask them directly if they are okay and need help.This would deter the harasser and make them step back.
The third step is Rally-to bring in others to join and support from passers-by or from the police to contain the situation.
The fourth step will be Extend Support -where volunteers offer to walk them home or call a ride to instil confidence and ensure safety .
The idea is to Step up,speak out,dare to care,which is the need of the hour, where efforts to change public response from apathy to action.
This is going to be a step forward for safe city program which helps to fight harassment against women in effective way and create safe atmosphere for women .
The city police have extended all help and the police station across the city have been roped in to make the program a success
