A failure to protect women

Recent reports in The Hindu of minor girls being molested and assaulted (September 22, 24, 25 and 28), along with other reported incidents, raise deeply troubling concerns about the continuing insecurity faced by women and girls in modern India. It is noteworthy that the top court has taken suo motu cognisance of grave cases of assault in the National Capital Region (Page 1, September 29). Women’s safety must never be compromised. It is a matter of national dignity and a basic test of democracy. This is not merely about criticising one government or turning individual incidents into political arguments. It reflects a wider failure of society, which takes pride in its culture and traditions but still struggles to ensure women’s safety. There ought to be a dedicated women’s safety police force across India, with strong representation of women officers, whose primary responsibility would be to protect women.

Lavindar Singh,

Purkal, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Women and children should be able to move freely without fear in public places. Poor lighting, inadequate CCTV coverage and insufficient patrolling can increase safety risks. I appreciate the Supreme Court’s intervention.

Albin Thekkethala,

Kallur, Thrissur, Keralam

Women should not have to calculate the safety of every road, park or journey before stepping outside. Authorities must move beyond statements of concern and ensure visible, preventive action. Better lighting, regular patrolling, functional CCTV systems and prompt responses to complaints must become basic safeguards, rather than measures introduced only after a tragedy.

Shruti Dutta,

Bengaluru

Food loss and waste

In India, food grains worth several crores are lost annually due to poor storage and transport. Ironically, the food we waste is enough to feed everyone. We must adopt a national mission to conserve food and food grains. With climate change a reality, we must also adopt sustainable practices in managing water and soil.

H.N. Ramakrishna,

Bengaluru