Kem Cho, Readers! 🙏
As we wished each other a Happy New Year, it’s not yet a happy one for one of the segment in our society.
I’ve often heard family members say to my parents, "Kismat wale ho ki aapke 2 bete hai," and while this used to upset me as a kid, wishing I had a sister, I’ve come to realize as I grew older that it’s okay not to have one.
You might think of me as old-fashioned, but this is the reality in India. According to the NCRB report, around 100 rapes are reported every day in India. And keep in mind, these are just the cases that get reported. In Indian society, many families are reluctant to speak up about the sexual violence their daughters face. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicates that approximately 90% of sexual violence cases remain unreported and if that’s true then India maybe witnessing 1000 rapes a day!!!
India sadly has one of the highest rapes in the world. Every year, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) records tens of thousands of rape cases. The conviction rate in these cases remains low, hovering around 25-30%, and as they say, justice delayed is justice denied. 😞🚨
This harsh reality is one that deeply affects me, and it’s a reminder of the challenges our society still faces when it comes to protecting women.
Stop Cribbing Start Acting !!!🚨
This blog isn't about just pointing out the problems; it's about finding solutions. So let’s focus on the platforms, products or services that are making a real impact in women’s safety and how they are tackling the issue.
Every time something wrong happens to a woman, we often hear people say, “Arey, itna toh chalta hai.” It's time we change that mindset to “Ab nahi chalega!” A few weeks ago, two young boys—just 15-17 years old—catcalled my friend as she was walking alone to buy vegetables. This behavior comes from the lack of fear because they know they can get away with it. We need to act now and start calling out such behavior in our societies, communities, and groups. People need to realize that every woman is someone’s daughter, sister, wife, girlfriend, or friend. If it's not someone you know today, it could very well be someone close to you tomorrow. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—take action as soon as you see an opportunity. ✊🚺
Turning the Tide: Women’s Safety, One Solution at a Time🚺
In the past few months I have been speaking to some startups in the women safety space and I am listing down 5 most innovative and useful platforms which can be used.
Safetipin - A very close friend of mine lives in an area with poor lighting, complete silence, and an almost empty road. So, whenever we hang out past 10 pm, it's been my responsibility to take her home. Over time, we’ve realized that there’s a safer, longer route through a market area that can be taken instead. These small adjustments are incredibly useful. If we can guide every woman to take safer routes home, it could make a big difference.
Safetipin 🌟, a social enterprise, is working to improve women’s safety in India. They provide a mobile app 📱 that helps women assess the safety of various areas in cities using real-time data. The app allows users to rate the safety of their surroundings based on factors like lighting 💡, visibility 👀, and the presence of police 👮♀️ or people. By crowdsourcing data, Safetipin creates a safety map 🗺️, empowering women to make informed decisions about which areas are safer to visit or avoid.
FightHer - One of my very close friends, in Delhi, had to follow US office timings, which meant leaving work at 4 AM. Unfortunately, just a month later, she was robbed—her purse and phone were stolen. After this incident, her parents insisted she leave the job. But instead of being discouraged, she took matters into her own hands. Two months later, she learned self-defense, Karate, and the art of fighting. As a woman, I understand how tough it is for you, but the reality is that until the problem is solved, women need to fight for themselves. 💪
This is where FightHer comes in. Founded by Silvy Kalra, FightHer is dedicated to training women in self-defense and empowering them to protect themselves. Silvy plans to expand FightHer across India, Till Silvy’s FightHer reaches your town there are self-defense classes available in every part of the country. (Get Ready to Fight🥋👊)
Chilla - Chilla is a groundbreaking safety app in India, designed to protect women by detecting distress through vocal cues. 📢 If a woman screams, the app instantly triggers an SOS alert—even if the phone is locked or tucked away. 🔒📱
No need for manual activation! 🚨 Chilla discreetly sends an alert with the user's location to emergency contacts, ensuring quick assistance. 📍👩💼 Using smart voice recognition tech, it offers a hands-free, life-saving solution for women in danger. 💡💪
Suraksha - It is a Pepper Spray which is a compact and effective self-defense tool empowering women in India to stay safe. 💪🌟 Legal to carry, it provides quick protection in emergencies by releasing a powerful irritant that incapacitates attackers, affecting their eyes, nose, and skin. 🚨👀
With its lightweight design and easy availability on online platforms, Suraksha Pepper Spray ensures women can carry safety in their pocket wherever they go. 👜✔️ Perfect for quick, reliable protection when it’s needed most. 🔒💥
Stay Unprotected and Safehouse - Both of these startups help women find verified, safe accommodations 🏨, ensuring secure and trusted stays in cities. They offer features like verified hosts, real-time emergency alerts, and location sharing 📍, providing holistic protection during emergencies.
While designed for both short-term stays and distress situations, their major drawback is limited availability, with a presence primarily in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. 🌆
Rapes are common, So what can I do?😞
12-15 women in my circle responded to a question about what can help in a situation where they feel threatened by a man, and their answer was simple: 'Keep men indoors.' 🤦♀️
It’s clear that the same men who make harmful comments like "She was asking for it by dressing that way.", "She shouldn't have gone out so late.", “Why go out without a Man”, are just as wrong as those committing serious crimes like rape. 🚫👎
I know I can't change everyone at once, but today, through this platform, I want every man to reflect and take action for a better tomorrow. 💪 I’m sharing 5 things you can do daily to drive the change we all want to see. I can’t promise it’ll change everything, but I can guarantee that me and my closest circles will be acting on this. 🔄👊
Respect the Boundaries and Embrace them - Respecting personal space and boundaries is key, whether at work, in public, or with friends. 🚶♂️👥 Be mindful of others' comfort zones—some may love hugs, others may not. 🤗💫 If you're unsure, just ask! A simple "Is it okay?" goes a long way. Always avoid unwanted touch and watch for non-verbal cues. 👍 If it's a "no," respect it and move on. Personally I only hug close friends, knowing they’re comfortable with it based on clear signals. 💬👀 Always prioritize comfort and consent!
Speak Up Against comments/actions - If you notice a woman/girl feeling uncomfortable with someone, speak up and call it out! 🚨 At a recent party, a guy got too touchy with a girl after drinking, and one of our friends noticed. He checked with her if she was okay, and after confirming, he alerted club authorities. The guy was kicked out after reviewing the CCTV. 👀💥
A simple "That's not okay" can make a huge difference. If someone can’t speak up, be their voice! 💪👩⚖️ You might not even know the girl but standing up for her is never the wrong choice.
Redefine Masculinity - Rape culture thrives when we equate violence and dominance with "strength" and "masculinity," and when women and girls are devalued. 👎 As mentioned earlier a friend of mine was catcalled by boys as young as 15—proves that we've passed down the wrong ideas of masculinity. 🧑🤝🧑 These kids think harassing women makes them manly, but it doesn't. Real men would never even think of such behavior. 🚫👊
Stop Victim Blaming 🚫 - Culturally, we’ve been quick to blame the victim for incidents. Bollywood songs like “Sheila Jawaan,” “Munni Badnaam,” “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai?” and "I Know You Want It" may seem fun, but they go deep into our culture. These lyrics normalize the objectification of women and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. What a woman wears, drinks, or where she is doesn’t give anyone the right to harm her. It's time to stop blaming the victim and start calling out the rapists. 🚫👎
Educate the Generations Ahead - Explain to kids that women often face challenges, and it’s important to understand consent—it means saying "yes" clearly and freely, without pressure. A person's "no" is always to be respected. 🛑💬 Teach them to question the messages in movies, songs, and ads that might promote disrespect, objectification, or unrealistic views of relationships. 📺🚫 Create a space where they feel safe to talk about uncomfortable topics, without fear of judgment. 🗣️💖 Remember, kids learn by watching adults, so model respect in your actions and words. Respect for others starts with you! 🙌
STOP CRYING, START ACTING! 🚨
This blog isn’t here to blame the judicial system or Parliament, nor does it whine like some Instagram posts. As a descendant of Rajputs, I believe our forefathers wouldn’t be proud of us joining candle marches for justice. Instead, let's understand that while the judicial system has flaws, why not challenge ourselves to make 1% progress every day? 💪
We can't just wait for change; we need to start making it ourselves. By changing small things in our daily lives, we can avoid more tragedies like Nirbhaya’s. 🙅♀️
Use social media to call out societal flaws, expose hate and misogynistic comments, and make those who spread them uncomfortable in public. 🗣️🔥
Show the world we can do more than just hold candles. STOP CRYING, START ACTING! 🚨
Till we meet again—Aavjo! And don’t forget, phir padhaar jo!
Join the Profits and Punches broadcast for receiving my blogs every Friday.