Let's make Mumbai a safer city: Students

Collegians are among the first to take the lead after any disaster or untoward incident. After the gang rape of the 23-year-old photojournalist on Thursday evening, many college students decided to take up her cause and do their bit to ensure Mumbai becomes a safer city. Students of St Andrew’s College, Bandra, are organising an awareness campaign about spousal abuse. “It is important to address the safety of women, but it is also important to understand that abuse does not happen at the hands of strangers. It also takes place within the four walls of your house,” said Sahil Das of St Andrews College, who is part of a 12-member team working on the campaign.

The campaign will include creating awareness on husband abuse or abuse in a homosexual relationship. The students have organised a charity concert at the Carter Road promenade on September 8, the proceeds of which will be given to Aasra, a suicide prevention helpline and Bharatiye Muslim Mahila Andolan.

Some have decided to take it beyond awareness. Students of SIES College under the banner of the college’s Rotaract club and other clubs in the city will conduct workshops to equip women with skills to defend themselves. “Trying to change mindsets through awareness drives will take time. So, we will train women how to defend themselves. We will do this with the help of the police and karate instructors. If women are trained to protect themselves, it will discourage anti-social elements from committing such crimes,” said Ketki Mehta, third year student of SIES college.

The students will conduct the first  workshop on September 1, at Pant Nagar, a slum in Ghatkopar and extend the project to other parts of the city soon after.