Few women venture in night in State capital: Study

Thiruvanthapuram: Lack of adequate safety measures and absence of street lights and proper walk-paths in many parts in Thiruvananthapuram prevent women from going out during night, according to a recent study.

Very few women are seen on the main roads, major junctions, markets and public transport after dark and women avoid many areas in the city in the late hours because of safety issues, the study conducted by Sakhi Womens' Resource Centre, a pro-women group here, said.

"The capital city does not have the presence of enough women in public places after dark. Very few visible security personnel (private and public) in the city, and no proper walk paths in most of the areas," the study "A Safetypin for Our Cities 2014", said.

Those who go out after dark are mostly accompanied by men, it said, adding, the element of fear created by the society also prevent them from going out in the night, it said.

The "Safetypin" initiative is a follow up of the project "Safe City Free of Violence against Women and Girls", conducted by the outfit in 2009-13.

Though main hubs of city have good walk-paths, outer ring paths are in pathetic condition and visibility in many areas are also low after dark, it said, adding, many street lights are either not functioning properly or broken.

"Lack of proper walk paths makes the mobility of women inconvenient," it said.

Though the capital city is well connected with public transport, especially state transport buses and autorikshaws, very few buses are available after 8pm and those are reported unsafe, it said.

The study urged to set up more gender friendly parks, hangout places and city squares in the city.

Stating that women's only spaces will not be a solution to the violence experienced by them in the public space, the study said there is a need for more gender-friendly and open spaces in the city.

Gender sensitive urban planning, which states that women and men experience and use urban spaces differently, are to be drawn up, it added.