Women’s safety is society’s moral onus

In response to ‘Minimum security in maximum city?’ (Speak Up, June 17)
There is no study that can be foolproof in concluding that a woman in a particular city is safer as compared to the one in any other Indian city or town. It all depends on various factors. Firstly, the data will not give a correct picture unless all the incidents of crime are duly reported.
Many go unreported because of the stigma attached to the victim. Secondly, the safety of a woman depends entirely on the outlook and the feelings of the opposite sex. A woman is safe so long as the man she is confronted with keeps up with his moral standard. A man’s upbringing and culture have a lot to do with the safety of a woman. Thirdly, insecurity is a state of mind and may therefore differ from woman to woman, depending upon the circumstances, as well as her confidence. It is her will power in tackling the situation that plays a crucial role.
Lastly, a crime against a woman could be prevented, provided she gets timely help from the people around. It therefore becomes the moral responsibility of the people to come to the rescue of the woman in distress. A woman’s security and safety largely rest on the society’s discipline and duty.
All cities in the country therefore, are equally safe or unsafe. As such, it will not be right to proclaim that Chennai is safer than Mumbai or Delhi is more unsafe than Bengaluru.