NGO seeks President's intervention for women's safety in public transport

New Delhi: In order to ensure the safety of the women using public transportation, a prominent NGO in the city has written to President Ram Nath Kovind, urging him to make mandatory the installation of panic buttons in public transport vehicles across the nation.

The letter was written by Dr Kamal Soi, chairman of Raahat, in which he stated that there should be a close coordination between the central and state governments to finalise the modalities, with respect to the procedures and guidelines for the states, "so that our women are safe while in transportation."

"Our women – naari shakti – has to be safe while commuting, and our respected Prime Minister's commitment to 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' should be fulfilled and respected by one and all. Please issue necessary directions and instructions for immediate implementation of this VTS/GPS/panic button in public vehicles," said Soi in the letter to President.

"The barbaric and ghastly rape-murder of the Kathua rape victim has shamed our mother nation. It has shocked the entire country and our country is weeping again," wrote Soi.

Several preventive steps were planned and taken, in the wake of the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape. However, official figures state, to the utter dismay and disbelief of several citizens, that over 40,000 rape cases were reported in India in the year 2016 – up by 40 per cent in comparison to 2012.

Soi said the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case should have been an eye-opener for the concerned authorities to taking immediate remedial steps for implementation of readily available technology in use to lessen the chances of such a recurrence.

"In the aftermath of Nirbhiya case, I suggested and advocated various steps to be taken for ensuring safe transport environment for women. But, to my utter shock, even after six years of the incident, those steps have not been taken. Although paperwork has been done, no action what so ever on the ground," Soi stated in his letter..