Sexual harassment in local trains of Mumbai_PUKAR Study 2016-17

Sexual Harassment in Local Trains A Research Study done by Youth fellows in 2016-2017

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Acknowledgement Firstly we would like to thank our college Guru Nanak Khalsa College for giving us the opportunity to do our research work. We would specially like to thank Ms. Manisha Saindane and Dr. Siby Abraham for letting us know about this one year fellowship.

We would also like to thank PUKAR (Partners for Urban Knowledge, Action and Research) for giving us the opportunity to do this research.

We are also thankful to our facilitator Sunil Gangavane and Sarika Yadav, Payal Tiwari, Rohan Chavan and all those that helped and guided us during our research work.

We would like to thank Gunvati J. Kapoor Medical Relief Charitable Foundation for providing us with funds and helping us.

We would also like to thank our parents for being with us and supporting us when we needed them the most and also allowing us to go for workshops on Sundays.

We would also like to thank the previous fellowship students for helping us and letting us know how useful this research is in our life.

And most of all we would like to thank our respondents for giving their valuable time for us and letting us know about their life.

And those who helped us in our work we thank you all.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL!

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Index  Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5  Literature review………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7  History  Relationship of women and local train  Problems  Sexual harassment  Reason  Suggestion/strategy  Research methodology………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....11  Objectives  Data collection method  Data Process  Ethical consideration  Limitations  Data Analysis and Results………………………………………………………………………………………………………….13  Kaha ho raha hai? (Unsafe stations/places)  Kaise ho raha hai? (Types of harassment)  Kya asar ho raha hai? (Effects)  Kya kadam utha rahe hai? Kaise kadam utha rahe hai?  koi Q nahi kadam utha raha hai? (Action)  Sahara kiska mila? kiska nahi mila? (Support/non-support)  Other difficulties  Suggestion  Case studies………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….37  Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………42

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    

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...46 Recommendation…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….47 References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….49 Group journey and Group Members Learning ……………………………………………………………………………………..52 Appendices…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….62  Permission Letter  Consent Letter (Mapping)  Questioner (Mapping)  Consent Letter (Interview)  Questioner (Interview)

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“इथून

धक्का तिथून धक्का, दे िोस काय ?

तनयि िेरी अच्छी नही,येडा समजिोस काय ? “

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Chapter One: INTRODUCTION

“Ai dil hai mushakil jeena yahan Zara hat ke zara bach ke Ye hai bambai meri jaan�

Mumbai city is known as the heart of Maharashtra. It is a dreamland for lot of people. People migrate from rural area or different places in search of job, new lifestyle, to achieve their dreams. In Mumbai speed is the most important thing. Everyone is running in search of something. To keep up with the running Mumbai railway networks play very significant role. The rail network is the life line of Mumbai as they are well connected with the city.

According to the study by Tata institute (TISS) 2016. The relationship between women and trains has been strong. Mumbai has the highest number of working women in the country with the total figure 18%. Not only this but women also use the train to drop children to school or pick them up. Young women use trains to reach their colleges, tuitions, shopping etc. The market around stations continues to drop women who do their household shopping for vegetables, groceries, clothes etc. traveling by train is very affordable than other mode of transport. This is the reason why population using train is increasing every year. This place should be safe but is it? This is question which arises lot of time.

In our group, we are 8 girls and 2 boys out of whom 6 girls have experienced misbehaving which means all women in the group have experienced it. This was the reason we took this study.

Hey this is Yashashree Malekar a member of this group. This is my story I was 17 years old. When I was first travelling alone from Ambivali to Matunga alone at 5:30 am that time the station was empty and hardly any commuters were at the platform I noticed a boy was constantly

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staring at me but I was not sure over the next few days, I noticed it had become a routine that he would stare at me. It made me uncomfortable and I did not understand why he would be looking at me. My dad came to drop me at the station on bike every day that person never tried to talk in front of my dad and as soon as my dad would leave he would try to come closer to me where I was standing. After few days, he realized that I noticed him and I was trying to ignore him. One day he sat beside me and started talking to me. I was scared as that person had even tried to talk to my friend about me. After this incident, I changed my timing. But still he tried to contact me.

After he repeatedly tried to talk to me, I reported the incidents to my dad and my dad would wait with me at the Platform, till my train left.

One day I was sitting on the platform and waiting for the train, I don’t know from where he suddenly appealed and touched me. I shouted at him, “I am not interested in knowing you so please are away from me”. After that I never saw him again…

Years since and I ask myself there are lot of girls who travel by train early morning at odd timings. When such kinds of stations are empty, how do they deal with similar problems?

The railway for women is easy and cheap from rest mode of transport but the issue of safety is frequently creating a buzz. There are lot of cases which go unreported because people are not aware how the system works. to understand about the problem faced by women in local trains of Mumbai our group decided to research on it.

While doing this research we came across lots of problems which women face while travelling in train. Travelling is important and they have no other option. Women start ignoring the problem few women think about complaining but they are unaware about correct helpline number.

The most disturbing thing was that even in ladies compartment they do not feel safe and even they are ladies who comment on outfit inappropriately.

When people face such things, they know the solutions as how such things can come under control. We got lots of suggestions like increase the number of RPF. There should be women police in ladies’ compartment and not just male police. These are some recommendation.

Maybe you are lucky enough to have never encountered an unpleasant incident but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. We need collective strength to fight this nuisance. We need to make women feel safe and live in an environment where they can freely talk to people about the bad experiences.

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Chapter Two: Literature review

After selecting this topic women safety while travelling in trains in Mumbai we read articles, reports, and through internet we got lot of information. We were clear about what aspect of safety we are talking about which is - sexual harassment. We didn’t know the real meaning of sexual harassment but after reading we got to know it. We also understood why this topic is important. In this research we are talking about the sexual safety issues women face while travelling in train.

Importance of train transportThe momentous first train journey took place on 16th April in 1853.This was along 34 km route. It was between Thane to Bori Bunder station, built by British government. It was the first railway network to be built in whole of Asia.

Currently, Mumbai is a well-connected city. It has 3 suburban lines that are western line, central line, harbour line. There are 36, 51 and 22 stations respectively on Western, Central and Harbour lines. Total length of railway line that forms the local railway network is over 400 kms.

That is why Mumbai suburban railway applies 2300 train services. Mumbai local is busy with doing activities every second of the day and has proven to be more than just a means of transport in this city. Every citizen of this city, regardless of caste, creed, economic stature, is connected in one way or another by the Mumbai local (15 Incredible Facts about Mumbai Local Trains, cleartrip).

Andheri station on western line is the most crowded station, there are 6 lakhs people that travel daily followed with Dadar station which is joining station between central and western railway has 5.8 lakhs people travelers daily (city truths 2017). There are other stations like Thane etc. But current research is focusing on 5 stations which are close to 4 selected colleges. Those are Dadar, King’s Circle, Wadala, Matunga and Matunga road.

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Local trains are our lifeline they are not just a means of transport but also way of life. Those familiar faces you see every morning comforts you. The peace at which you jump into a moving train and the skill of making your way out in one piece with all your belongings is an art.

Women in this city have somehow made peace with this choice. The relationship between women and trains has been strong from the start (The better India, 2017).

As few women use it for their personal work like picking up children from school, shopping, job, etc. but also few women earn their living from train by selling things in train. Young women use these facilities for their daily important educational activities like reaching college, school, tuition, etc.

Problems faced by daily commutersWhile travelling in train we don’t know what all will be faced by us. Sometimes while looking at the crowd itself we feel scared that how will we enter the train and suppose we enter what will happen in that compartment.

The gap between the platform and foot boards can cause several accidents which may result in commuters losing both life and limb. A 16year-old college girl lost her arms after falling into that gap in a platform at Ghatkopar station. An action should be taken immediately after knowing that such things are happening on the platform (Indian express, 2015).

The gap should be done properly because it is not just affecting us but also affecting the handicapped people who don’t even know that such thing is there until anyone comes and help them.

Also when the train is overcrowded no space to stand and people are standing almost out of the train they too can fall. Some go top just because the compartments are fully packed as there is no place to even stand in. this has caused their death of life. Also, many of times urgent medical support is not available. Medical facilities in platforms after such incidents take place are available but not provided. A lady, who fell on the tracks, didn’t get any medical treatment as there was no emergency facility at the railway station. (Need to find permanent solution for commuters’ problems, HC tells railways, HT 2015) A case study was taken up by students regarding public toilets at Dadar station it was found out that a large number of people found it difficult to use the public facility because of bad hygiene and odour resulting out of inadequate number of urinals, non-working flush, wet and unclean floor and poor maintenance. Not only just Dadar station but rest other toilets at platform are not clean therefore people don’t like using them (Times of India, 2013).

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Among 1000 women being interviewed 68% women commuters don’t have seat during peak hours and 54% during off peak hours in which commuters face shortage of seat, little leg room and. poor lighting.(one in four women harassed HT, 2016). Also one nurse was molested early morning between Mahalaxmi and Charni-road (Mumbai mirror 2017).

Sexual harassmentOut of these problems the most important problem is sexual harassment. The word sexual harassment has a deep meaning which is very dangerous. According to Akshara, DNA 2015, 61 per cent of the women surveyed said that they had faced harassment at railway stations.

There are different types of sexual harassment which takes place. Most of them have faced sexual harassment while few have not. They have faced it in trains, platforms, footbridges and elsewhere.

According to TISS survey one in four women is harassed during local train commute, reveals out of 1000 women interviewed 23.5% of women are been harassed in local trains and train stations, 76.3% said they have never faced any kind of harassment and is also stated that 75% of women are unaware of railway helpline number.

According to the study conducted by Shabana Ansari, 60% of the women admitted to being harassed while commuting by train which mean that more than half women have faced it. (80% women in Mumbai face sexual harassment, DNA India, 2013). Sometimes the fear of drunkards and beggars that enter ladies compartment and prevent them from alighting the train it happens in Byculla and Sandhurst road stations. (Akshara HT, 2015). Study by Akshara, an NGO in Mumbai, states that harassment takes place mostly in Dadar and Kurla station.

According to Akshara HT 2015 out of 522 women being interviewed the problems like staring was 56.13%, receiving comments was 51.34% and unwanted touch was 61%. In this unwanted touch that means touching anywhere is the highest. Girls feel unsafe even if a woman is touching her. Staring is such a thing that even if someone is staring at a distance you will get to know. Some people also face sexual harassment like stalking, flashing, groping while they travel by train. Also the study found that overcrowded trains, congested platforms, tapering staircases and narrow footbridges are more dangerous for women as they provide opportunities for men to molest and harass them.

Also maximum cases of verbal and physical harassment takes place in crowded areas such as trains, railway platforms and narrow streets (Mid-day 2015).

There are women who are harassed so badly that they don’t understand what to do. They start ignoring the fact that they are harassed by someone. Instead of taking action they are afraid that after complaining what will happen, they fear the consequences.

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ReasonsMost of us feel that the need for women safety is primary in local train because if the authorities of railway do not take any action. The cases of molestation &eve-teasing cannot be stopped. It can change a lot if we adopt few steps or ways to keep our-self safe while travelling in local trains (Economic times 2015). The Bombay high court (HC) asked the railways to upgrade its system as to prevent crime against women in local trains, platforms and along with this to form an expert committee to study about the technologies in railways. According to N.H. Patil and S.B. Shukre they said that The CCTV’s on platforms are not good. It does not help to stop or prevent crime.

According to Akshara HT, 2015 the study revealed that, there are huge tendency among women who don’t report instances of sexual harassment; 42% of those interviewed said that they prefer to ignore this harassment and other resulted into fear. Women who travel have more danger in overcrowded trains, congested platforms, tapering staircases and narrow footbridges this makes it easy for men to molest and harass them. It is also found that women are not aware of railway police help line numbers. It was also founded that there was few policemen and policewomen at station and that women’s toilets are bad shape, with broken windows and doors too.

Patriarchal mindsets and gender discrimination is at the root of such incidents in the society.

Suggestion & strategiesAccording to panic button - Panic Alarm system provided in ladies compartments of Mumbai local trains Central Railway CPRO Central Railway May 29, 2016. Central Railway had earlier come up with a plan to install CCTV cameras in ladies compartments, but had to abandon it after opposition from women activists who said that the move would interrupt the privacy of women, Asian Age reported. According to one in four women harassed during local train commute, HT 2016 reveals survey that Prabhat Sahai, chairman and managing director of MRVC said that they will share their findings with both zonal and suggested that We will work on the infrastructure to make commuting safer and more convenient for women. Dr. Sharada, director of Population First suggested that: - These statistics are disturbing. Apart from increasing policing in women’s compartments and stations, the railways should use CCTV cameras technology at crowded locations to instill or capture some fear in offenders. Activists also demanded for a centralized complaint system for women and stringent action against offenders.

Suggesting with related to this demand The police force should deal with complaints about women being harassed RPF and GRPF should work and coordinate with each other when dealing with such things. This was suggested by Nandita Shah, co-director of Akshara, a resource center for women. According to gang rape at RPF women should always board general compartment if the ladies compartment is empty. It is always safe to be in group rather being alone. We should always board the compartment that is next to the drivers coach late at night. If the train is overcrowded we should skip that train and wait for the next one. Jewellery should be handled with care while travelling. Should

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always watch our surrounding if we find any suspicious person we should make others aware. Mumbai being popular city has less manpower.

As the report of Akshara HT, 2015 they have compiled the results and are co-coordinating with GRP, RPF and the railways to ensure that infrastructure and security are made to correct the situation, said Velkar.

Akshara conducted a campaign called ‘Aapne kya kiya?’ (‘What have you done?’) . As per this campaign, volunteers and policemen are spread across three railway stations – CST, Dadar and Thane giving placards to spread awareness about sexual harassment. The main aim was to make women commuters come forward and report their cases of sexual harassment in some way –with the help of police complaint, social media post, or by talking with other women, said Snehal Velkar, resource person from Akshara HT 2015.

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Chapter THREE: RESEARCH METHODology Our research topic is women’s safety while travelling in local train in Mumbai.

The main objectives of our research process are1) To understand at what places do you feel unsafe? (Platform, subways, public bridge, public toilets, platforms and compartments) 2) To study about at what time and at which situation do you feel unsafe?

3) To understand Reasons behind feeling unsafe?

4) To identify what would be their suggestions regarding women safety while travelling in train?

For achieving our objectives, we came to our topic women’s safety while travelling in local trains in Mumbai with such a big topic. We have chosen the four colleges which are nearest to our college. From that we had taken five nearest stations which girls travel daily. We had asked them and came to know what problems they are facing.

Methods of Data CollectionWe had done our mapping in four different colleges i.e. Khalsa College, Ruia College, SIWS College, and SNDT College. And after that we had taken the interviews. Why we had done participatory mapping because from that we have got more information rather than taking only interviews we didn’t have get much information. From doing Participatory Mapping we came to know the different incidents that happened with girls while travelling in train. They have their own experience also. They had marked their places, time, reasons where they feel unsafe.

Our interview questions were close ended and open ended questions. We had done survey in colleges. And after that we had taken one to one interview and came to know their problems. We had done 33 interviews from four different colleges.

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ProcessWe had done mapping in four different colleges. Firstly, we had taken permission and then we had started doing our mapping work. After doing participatory mapping we have ensure them to mark in yes and no ways. And from January on wards we had started taking interviews and had done documenting all interviews till the end of February we had finish all are documentations.

Ethical ConsiderationsWhile taking interview we gave them consent letter and asked them to sign on it. We took permission for doing audio recording. It was made sure that their identity would be confidential and assured them that their names would not be revealed. We did not force anyone for the interview. Every interview data used in this report has been collected with the informed consent of the respondents.

Limitations – Our limitations of girls age were 18 and above. It was from four different colleges only and that of the five nearest stations. We had collected their experiences only. We have not taken any other outside experiences. We had taken only certain college student interview what if we had taken working women, old women interview. Like that only if we had taken out of Mumbai we would have got more information and experiences.

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Chapter Four: Analysis of data

Our research topic is women’s safety while travelling in local trains of Mumbai. The main objectives of this research were to a) understand that at which places do girls feel unsafe, b) what makes them feel uncomfortable, c) To examine what time and at which situations do girls feel unsafe, d) how does it impact on their life choices in their daily routine and we were also interested to know what are the reasons behind feeling unsafe while travelling in train.

We are a group of 10 members, where there are 8 girls and 2 boys; we all travel from home to college regularly by train. We have experienced many negative incidences. Those common experiences shaped our research topic.

We had chosen this topic because we have been experiencing these in our daily routine. To understand our topic more clearly and getting overall % of the unsafety issues (sexually and physically) faced by the girls who travel by train daily to their colleges, we had conducted a Participatory Mapping in 4 different colleges i.e. Khalsa College, Ruia College, SNDT College, and SIWS College. All these 4 colleges are near to the selected 5 stations i.e. Dadar, Matunga, Matunga Road, Wadala, and King’s circle.

It is not that only these 5 stations are the most unsafe station for travelling there are many stations where they feel unsafe while travelling.

Due to our limitations, we have findings related to these stations. We had asked the girls to mark the unsafe places, unsafe time and the reason because of which they feel unsafe. We have done participating mapping and face to face interview with 33 respondents.

After collecting data by participatory mapping and face to face interview, we had started analyzing those data to find out the issues that girls face while travelling in train.

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, the term analysis means, “The process of breaking a complex topic or a substance into smaller parts to gain better understanding for it”. With the help of this definition we have made our research simpler to understand the unsafety of harassment from our respondents.

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WOMEN SAFETYWHILE TRAVELING IN TRAIN

Staion

Types of Harrassment

Place

Effect

Said causes

Action

Supportive

No supportive

(A) after seeking support

Ladies spacial train

Boys eggo/revenge

Crowd (sexual harrassment

gap कम करना चाहिये

Police

Fear of police

Fighting

Family

Missinformation

Crowd

Fear of family

Bridges

Stocking

Changing roots

Well dress

Shouting

Family

Kurla

Compartments

Staring

Education

Drunken

Share with parents and friends

Friends

Help line number

King circle

Platforms

Teasing

Started traveling by bus

Women commenting

Fear of sharing

Police

Matunga

Slums

Commenting

Safety equepment

Vine shope

Right time action

RPF

Wadala

Railway track

Unwanted touch

Fear

Slums

Drugs

Flying kiss

Outfit

Dirty action

Trancegender

(B) not seeking support

Boys brushing

The above table explains our codes which we used to analyze and explain our findings.

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Suggestion

Groupism

Dadar

Pushing

Other difficulties

We started this process by reading the documentation of 4 colleges. While reading we noted important points from the documentation on the chart paper. There were lots of common factors so we bought them together and made them into 8 categories. The categories were: a) station/places, b) Types of harassment, c) Effects, d) Causes, e) Action, f) Support/non-support, e) Other difficulties, and f) Suggestions.

After keeping them in a proper sequence we also framed questions for each category. Let us understand our thematic chapters.

A)

Understanding safety:

Every day there are some young girls, mothers, or single women who are being assaulted, molested, and violated at some or the other places.

Places such as streets, public transport, public spaces, have become a territory of danger for them to move freely and with no regrets. Girls who have already faced some situations either speak up or just stay in silence.

Every individual has their own way of feeling unsafe and safe because feeling safe is also a psychological concept. One feels “safe” at home but while other may feel uncomfortable at home. Thus, before starting to understand where and how girls are feeling unsafe we wanted to explore their understanding of safety. We came to know that there are different reasons of feeling unsafe i.e. crowd, stalking, unwanted touch, staring, and taking revenge etc.

Our respondents say that if she experiences such kinds of misbehavior then she starts feeling unsafe or harassed.

There were some respondents who have stated about their views of unsafety and harassment, three of our respondents said that, “जब हमको कोई फॉलो करिा है कन्टिन्यू सली. िो यह मे रे तलए unsafe है ”.

“सामने वाले का intention दे ख कर पिा चलिा है की हा​ां अभी यह हाथ लगाएगा या धक्का मारके जाएगा. िो unsafe

लगिा है ”.

“Boys लोग जब अपने बॉडी पे हाथ लगािे है िब unsafe लगिा है .” ("{O}n the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women ... (76/207/EEC)", Council of the European Economic Communities, 9 February 1976. Amended 23 September 2002.) “Harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature”. After interacting with the girls, we can say that crowd, unwanted touch, staring etc. are all parts of sexual harassment from their understanding we want to conclude that our research topic is women safety while

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travelling in trains of Mumbai. After understanding the meaning of unsafety through girls point of view in different situation our first question which we kept in front of them was, “Do they feel safe while travelling in local trains of Mumbai?”

It is shocking to know that; 65% girls don’t feel safe while travelling in train. 30% girls feel safe as one of our respondent said, might be because she ignores what is going on or happening around her. This is alarming because this reveals real face of Mumbai’s transport system it’s unsafe and scaring.

Do you feel safe while travelling in train?

BOTH 5%

YES 30%

Our next question to them was at which stations did they feel unsafe and the places on the stations that were felt unsafe by them.

NO 65%

कहा​ाँ हो रहा है? (Where it is happening) Unsafe stations:In our research, we had taken 5 stations i.e. Dadar, Matunga, Matunga Road, Kings circle, and Wadala. But during Participatory Mapping there were also some stations which are added by our respondent because they feel unsafe at that station also.

Through Participatory Mapping, we came to know some stations and places where they were feeling unsafe because of different reasons.

NERUL 2%

At which stations do you feel unsafe?

SION 2%

Z- BRIDGE MATUNGA 5%

KURLA 17% KING'S CIRCLE 12% WADALA 17%

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DADAR 26%

MATUNGA 19%

Dadar station:

Dadar being a very vast station, occupies lots of commuters coming from different parts of Mumbai city and the Suburban areas. 26% of girls feel unsafe to travel from Dadar station, because of unwanted touch or push by the people.

This is very difficult for the victim to make out who might have done this. Dadar is one of the biggest junction that has two routes joined i.e. Central line and Western line, also the station has extended platform wherein there are commuters who travel to their villages. Sexual harassment mostly take place in Kurla and Dadar (Akshra’s survey of Hindustan times 2015).

Matunga station: At Matunga station, 19% girls feel unsafe because there is not much crowd and absence of the police. Even the Z-Bridge that connects Matunga station i.e. central line and Matunga road is western line which is been experienced unsafe for the girls to travel at any time.

One of our respondent says that, “माटां गा स्टे शन की एक रे लवे टर ै क पे एक ऐसी पटरी है . टर ै न आिी जािी नहीां है . एक आदमी खड़ा था टर ै न में, िो वह बोहि गन्दी हरकिें कर रहा था खड़े होक. अगर आदमी आिे थे िो तबलकल भी नहीां करिा था लेतकन जब लड़तकयोां की नज़र पड़िी थी िब वह करिा था गन्दी हरकिें .”.

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Kurla stationComparing to Dadar, the size of Kurla station is small but the number of commuters who travel is the same. Kurla station is joined with two routes i.e. Central line and Harbour line. This also creates lots of issues because of the crowd.

One of my respondent had mentioned that, “The incident like unwanted touch, touching anywhere mostly happens in Kurla. log jaan buch ke karte hai touch not only rush off but touch karte hai. Waha ka crowd bohatzyadaganda hai.Aisa ek baar bhi nahi hua ke hum cross kar rahe hai aurkisi ne hume touch nahi kiya”.

Wadala stationWadala station is a Harbour line station. Incidence like eve-teasing, commenting, touching, which we came to know from one of our respondent, “jab humlog platform pe train ka wait karte hai. Toh basically ladke train ke bahar latke hote hai.Jaisehee train start hoti hai so they start commenting. No one can raise voice against them because they are in the running train”.

Kings circle station

While having a discussion during the mapping session we had moved on to Kings Circle station and asked them about what problems do they face while travelling from that station. The problems which came in front was like that of Wadala station, mentioned by our one of the respondent was that,

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“there is drug addicted on the station and sometimes even on the platform that makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable” Andheri stationOne of our respondent shared her experience which she had faced at Andheri Station, “there were lot of people a man just rushed pass by me, he tried touching my private parts and then when I turned back like might be accidental or whatever but I turned back he showed me a kissing sort of face. So, it was not at all accident it was purposely”.

From the above data, we came to know that all the chosen stations are unsafe to travel for girls. Majority issues of harassment are seen in Dadar, Matunga and Kurla. ‘Crowd’ serves significant purpose. If station is crowded it becomes an ‘opportunity’ and when it is empty it becomes an easy way to tease/harass a girl.

Unsafe placesTo get more details about their problems we had asked the respondent to mark the unsafe places, where do they feel unsafe on the stations. Mostly the places the respondent felt unsafe were, bridges, compartment, platform.

Public bridge-

At which places do you feel unsafe while travelling from tarin? NO COMPARTM ENT 13%

OTHER EXPERIENCE 3% 2%

SUBWAY 7%

Through the process of questionnaire session, we had a large count on bridges or the pool that are on the stations. Mostly girls feel unsafe on the public bridges due to crowd. One respondent had shared her experience of harassment that she felt at Dadar station,

“दादरकडून सेंटरल वेस्टनन तिजआहे तिकडे पणअसा खूपदा होिां तिकडे कसां

PLATFORM 31%

PUBLIC BRIDGE 34%

PUBLIC TOILET 10%

लोकांअशी जाणारीपणअसिाि आतण येणारीपण असिाि आतण वेगवेगळ्या तिजेसवर येणारे पण त्यामळे खूप गदी होिे . तिकडे परि वेगवेगळ्या सेलर असिाि त्या​ां च्यामळे अजून गदी होिे .

म्हणून तिकडे पण धक्का मारणे वगैरे प्रकार खूप होिाि . िसांच आमच्यासोबि असा झालांय

बऱ्याचदा”.

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Another respondent shared her experience that, “माटां ग्याचा झेड तिज अतिशय घाणेरडा आहे कारण तिथे लोक असे पत्ते खेळि बसलेले असिाि.

आतण िो तिज असा दोन्ही बाजूनी पत्रे असल्यामळे जर काही झालां

िर कोणाला काही समजणार पण नाही”.

Platform: The second highest place which girls feel unsafe is 31% i.e on platform. While the girls are standing on the platfrom waiting for the train to arrive there are some men around who keep on staring them, men while passing by touch at girls private parts, women start commenting on their outfits, these things also makes girls feel unsafe. There was also another experience on the platform saying that, “At the ticket counter when you stand in the queue you could see litreally feel somebody rubbing of their genetals onto your back. So it becomes awkward to travel around”.\ CompartmentGeneral compartmentIf a girl climbs into a general compartment the issues of unwanted touch and wrong facial expressions are seen there. And she being alone can’t raise voice towards these kind of harasmment.

Ladies compartment-

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There are girls who feel unsafe when there are beggers and sellers coming in the train compartment.they have mentioned it by saying that it cannot be said when what is going to happen,and it is very difficult to act in the train.they feel unsafe by the unwanted touch by the sellers.the sellers come in the compartment with their heavy things in the compartment even it is crowded or full.and if they touch us we can’t say anything to them because the seller have excuse of their heavy things.

Public toiletsPublic toilets on the station is also a place where girls feel unsafe because of the staring of the man sitting outside the toilets to collectmoney from everyone. In the above chart we can see that 10% girls feel unsafe in the public tiolets.

Most unsafe places that we have found from the respondents after interviewing and mapping they are platforms, bridges, and compartment.

Public toilets are a place which is meant for privacy still there are some cases where a girl feels unsafe and she gets harassed through various facial expressions.

Now we have come to know the unsafe stations and places where they feel unsafe. We will now move to the different types of harassment faced by girls while travelling in train and study about their incidence. कै से हो रहा है ? (how its happening?)

BOTH 5%

Do you feel safe while travelling in train?

When we asked the girls that do they feel safe while travelling in train? It can be seen that maximum number of girls feel unsafe while travelling in trian. We asked them our next question which was why do they feel unsafe in local trains of mumbai? Different reasons they gave for their unsafety i.e.

YES 30%

Why do you feel unsafe while travelling in train?

EVE TEASING 11%

NO 65%

The reasons stated by our respondent were unwanted

CROWD 26% UNWANTED TOUCH 37%

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STARING 26%

touch which is 37%. This is more because might be some people must be taking wrong advantage of the crowd and misbehave with the girls.

Staring and Crowd holds same percentage i.e. 26%.

After asking them the reasons because of which they were feeling unsafe, we asked them about their personal experiences or they might have seen somewhere?

Have you seen or experienced any incident related to you?

NO 38% YES 62%

The above chat revealed that 62% girls have experienced the problem of harassment while travelling in trains due to different reasons which disturbs their whole day and mind. Another 38% girls said they never faced any kind of issues. Most of the girls travel alone and from a very far distance so they do not feel safe to travel, but they have to travel and fight with those problems every day to reach their college.

Have you experienced any kind of misbehaviour related to you?

Types of harassmentThe definition of sexual harassment includes lots of unwanted behavior from the commuters around them at different stations and places of the station. After giving them the questionnaire to fill we had come to know that these are the reasons because of which the girls feel unsafe or they are been harassed in such a manner.

NO OTHER EXPERIENCE TEASING 6% 11% 9% STOCKING 7% BAD TOUCH 32% COMMENTIN G 35%

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Commenting-These statics is little disturbing, if we see commenting there are the highest ratio of girls who face problem of unsafety.

Commenting in such like “maal”, “item”, “pataka”, when heard by our respondents keeps them in a disturbing mood. Commenting on some person is not a very nice thing. Especially negative comments and that too when it’s not needed. Commenting a girl on her clothes, her beauty should not be done. One of our respondent says that,

“अनजान लोग बोहि ही कमैंट्स करिे है . अगर कोई भी लो अर बैक या बैकलेस्स पहनके आया हो िो. Even if a girl is with her brother the people in around start judging and commenting”.

TeasingTeasing is experienced by 9% girls. Teasing a person is not a very nice thing. Especially negative comments. It is not necessary that only men do eve- teasing it is also seen that even the women start creating issues in the train and tease a girl mostly when she is alone. One of our respondent says that, “Eve-teasing pehle itna nahi tha but abi zyada hogaya hai. Eve-teasing can lead to mental issues”. Also, the boy’s ego or the revenge that, “if a girl can be with him then why not me”?

Unwanted touchIf its unwanted its harassment. 32% girls have noticed unwanted touch while travelling in train. When at the stations there are lots of crowd at that time unwanted touch takes place. Even one of our respondent has said that, “whenever men see a girl they touch their private parts, Kurla station is very crowded the incident like unwanted touch touching anywhere mostly happens in Kurla” Another incident of our respondent was when she said that, “मी तिकीट काउां टर मध्ये लाईन मध्ये उभी होिी आतण तिथे एक माणूस होिा जो माझ्या मागे उभा होिा िर िो माणूस मला touch करिहोिा. म्हणजे िो continuously मला पाठीला pinch करि होिा आतण माझां लक्ष नव्हिा म्हणजे मी लहान होिे त्यामळे मला कळलां नाही तक िो काय करिो. मद्दाम गदी आहे असा करून हाि लावि होिा”.

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PushingWhile a person pushes, us we can’t understand what push is it. Sometimes it is by mistake. But being a girl we come to know that it is accidental or purposely. People just for fun they push even while entering ladies compartment they don’t wait to enter in they just rush to get their seat they don’t even notice that they dropped someone down.

StarringStaring is something that every girl feels unsafe of. Seeing a person looking at you is such an irritating thing. According to one of our respondent she said that, “handicapped compartment rehta hai usme bhi aadmi chadte hai. Toh ek aadmi thaa woh stare kar raha tha. Ladkiyon ko aur koi kuch bol bhi nahi rah tha. Sabko pata hai ki woh stare kar raha hai”.

Even the girl who regularly travel by train from Wadala station. That girl told us about one incident that every day one man was starring her from past 7 day continuously. First day that man stare at her then second day he started clicking her pictures then she shouted and called the crowd after which the crowd told that man not to do this all”. Why is it always that a person should be corrected even after it’s an important thing that we should respect girls not stare or do what so ever.

One more experience of staring that came forward was in the 1st class ladies compartment. It is said that when you travel in 1st class ladies so next compartment is the general compartment and we can see the general and ladies compartment. Our respondent said that, “there was an old man who was sitting in front of me and it went on for like 3-4 days”.

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Verbal harassment

Verbally making someone uncomfortable is also is part of sexual harassment. A group of boys talking about any sexual activity loudly on purpose to make her feel uncomfortable. At that point she feels unsafe because she alone and boys in group. “ककग्स सर्ककल स्टेश है न उसके ननचे जो slums रहते है न उसमे कु छ लड़के रहते है जो after 5clock दुपहर के time पे कोई वाहा से pass होग न तो group में बाते करते है like गन्दी गन्दी बाते जब कोई लड़की pass होगी तब उनलोग बाते करते रहते है के हा​ां आज तूने यह ककया था न like तूने वह ककया था न वह लड़क के साथ तूने वह ककया था न like जैसे!”

Other difficulties- Other difficulties that our respondent faced while travelling from the local trains of Mumbai. Some girls have experienced that there are men who do dirty actions, Other problem faced by girls i.e. boys brushing, following, harming, etc. “sometimes they use smart phones to remove our pictures” Along with technologies becoming smarter, there are men also who have become smarter to harass girls. They use their smart phones to click picture of girls. This is another way where a girl is harassed and molested by remaking her nude pictures. Some people think that it must be that girls fault but actually after looking into the story we came to know the real facts but now need to understand what were the effects of these faced by them.

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क्या असर हो रहा है? (What effects are happening?)

Effects EFFECT word itself defines change which is result of anykind of action or cases.

Women who have been harassed repeatedly report that their behavior and confidence is affected and they experience distress and anxiety, yet society continues to focus on the actions of victims and not on the accused.

As per the data we got from our Participatory Mapping we came to know many girls had similar effects which had created problems for women while travelling in train. Many of them had changed their daily routes of coming to college, few girls even changed their colleges due to such harassment and also lost confidence to travel alone. Harassment also disturb their full day routine. Most of the girls are not always protective towards themselves so, they prefer to change their timing of travelling in train which creates fear among themselves.

Participatory Mapping and personal face to face interview with the four colleges has given us information about various effects and consequences after facing problem while travelling in train on their daily bases for their college.

MobilityIt was revealed that girl’s mobility affected the most. Some girls change their time, few change their train’s one of the girl while sharing her experience with all of us told that “she travels from Wadala, she said that,

“एक आदमी रोज़ हमें दे खिा था वह भी लगािार ७ तदन से पहले तदन उसने घरा और दू सरे तदन उसने pictures लेनास्टाटन तकया. में पूरी िरह से डर गयी थी. मेने यह बाि घर में बिाया िो उन्होांने मेरी सनी और पतलस स्टे शन में कांप्लेंट भी तकया लेतकन कछ फायदा नहीां हुआ”.

According to her mobility was stopped and now she changed her full route like before she was travelling by train but because of this incident she started using bus from CBD Belapur to King circle and she clearly mentioned that the reason behind her reduced mobility was that man only.

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After listening to all these experiences, it is concluded that because of these incidences their mobility really gets restricted, like mentioned before few may stop travelling by train, few girls may start travelling with their parents or few parents might keep some time boundaries on their daughters.

Fear of travelling in general compartmentEvery girl has some other reason for feeling unsafe in local trains of Mumbai. They are scared about various issue they face while travelling like they cannot travel in general compartment because of the fear of the crowd, misbehavior and unwanted touch. While discussing about the issues in mapping session one of the girl shared her experience, telling us about the reason which made her scared after this incident, “When I was travelling in train from Mahim, a group of boys started commenting on me and they were misbehaving with me.

Because of the fear of those boys I thought of getting out of the train at that time I fell from the train and it badly was hurt me on my forehead so, that time my friends took me to the nearby hospital but there I lied to them that I was just fallen, so that there should be no Police complaint”.

This example shows us how these experiences can affect our physical safety. Girls are scared to inform their experiences to others due to disapproval.

Girls fear travelling in general compartment just because of men who start commenting, touching, staring and even fighting. Even if the general compartment is for every person and even girls can travel in this compartment but then too they don’t like to travel in this compartment. Even few men start blaming them. When we had asked, our respondents would they prefer general compartment, one of our respondent replied that,

“ना मझे अपना मूड खरब नहीां करना है ,में तदन के शरुवाि में मारा मारी नहीां करना चाहिी, अगर टर ै न तमस होरी है में वेट करु​ुँगी दू सरे टर ै न का. टर ै न में जो ग्रप होिे है िो झगडे होिे है और झगडे में मझे लगिा है कोली लोग होिे है वो डायरे क्ट झगड़ा करने आिे है वो मझे लगिा है भट ररसक्की है ”.

Fear of police-

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Police are considered as a safeguard for girls in public places. Most of girls are not comfortable sharing their incident faced while travelling.

Also, few of girls who don’t go to police for filing their complaint is just because they are afraid of answering the questions of police. Girls were also getting blamed for such incidents.

One of our respondent told us that, “Whenever women go to complaint about such things, the one sitting on the chair front of us will always questioned … our personality and our character will always be judged by them who has come to register their complaint”.

While the other respondent also mentioned that they fear police in the train compartment because staring, they start checking out girls from top to bottom, judging our character we can identify this by our own senses. She told us that,

“जो टर ै न में पतलस होिे है उनसे डर भी लगिाहै . जैसे हम टर ै न में चढ़ गए िो दे खिे रहिे है ”.

Also, girls fear to launch complaint against harassment as no parents would like police coming to their house.

Fear of parentsGirls are not comfortable in sharing issues with their parents. There is a fear within them. Among 33 girls few girls who have issues while travelling in trains, first they preferred to share it with their friends and after that shared with their parents. Girls are afraid of their mobility to get stopped. If they share their incidents with parents.

The other respondent was not comfortable sharing it with her parents just because, “they would have asked me to always go with my friends don’t even go alone because my sister my elder sister whenever her best friend was remain absent she also was supposed to be at home”.

Fear of revengeThe word “REVENGE” itself it is a scaring thing. It is said that boys get hurt when girls fight back for their rights and have taken aby action to stop harassment with them. Their ego gets hurt very quickly. Girls get scared from boy’s ego. Many girls cannot react or take any action just because of fear of revenge.

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One of the respondent expressed that,

“when you are alone िम्हालातह करायला तहम्मि पातहजे मला​ां च्या इगोचा लगेच त्रास होिो. िे काय करिील मातहि नाही आतण एकटा असले तक भीिी असिे की िे करू की नाही करू. तक जाऊ दे .. पण जाऊ दे अस म्हण्टलां िर का जाऊदे . मजा चूक काय आहे ?”.

Effects on educationFew girls are so much scared about all this issues that they cannot come out of these incidents for few days even for years. According to some girls’ incident while travelling creates more fear in their mind which affect their life opportunities or as we have mentioned before about education, girls due to all such incidents they prefer to change their college and take any college nearby to them. To this issue one of our respondent said us that,

“है ना एक दो तदन मेरे तदमाग से गया नहीां था. क्यू की ऐसा इां तसडें ट दे खा नहीां था, वह मेरे तदमाग में कभी भी अकेले थी िो वही ध्यान में आिा था”.

Due to all these issues, it created fear among them which turned into stress. They found it difficult to concentrate on their studies and other curriculum activity. Because they face so many issues of harassment there are some sort of negativity developed in their mind for all boys.

They have a mindset that all boys are similar so they also step back to make friendship with boys.

While the other was saying that,

“जर सकाळी असा काही घडला िर पूणन तदवस वाईट feeling येि, असा काही incidence जर घडला िर पूणन studies वर पररणाम होिो, but आपण त्या​ां चा ego मळे

काही करू शकि नाही”.

Changing routes due to fearFew girls even change their daily routes of travelling but at the end without raising their voice and reacting over the issue they opt to change their routes. Related to this one of the girl shared her experience saying that,

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“मी बोररवनल ला राह्ते. मी 8 नांबर प्लाटफोममला उतरते तर नतकडु न घरी जायला मला 15-20 ममट लागता. ते माझा रोजचा रास्ता आहे. आणी नतकडे जास्त माणसे नसतात. Main रास्ता आहे. मी नतकडु न जात होनत एक मुलगा होता 28-30 वर्ामच्या होता मी फोन वर बोलत होती stare करत होता घरी पहोचला होता stare करत होता. एकटी होती ना भीती वाट्त होता. 2/3 कदवशी परत आला परत कदसला मी रस्ताच बद्लला”.

There are so many issues with girls that they have to even change their routes. They can’t move freely anywhere at any time. After interviewing with our respondent and understanding that what was the effects while travelling from local trains of Mumbai. We had asked them whether they had taken any action or no for solving their problems. The actions taken by them are as follows: कै से, कोई, क्या, कदम उथाये ?

There are many girls who have not taken any action if they have faced any kind of harassment in train. The girls have tried their best to react over their problems i.e.

ActionIf we focus towards this chart this also gives us negative vibes, only 46% girls have acted or stood for themselves or fight for their rights. Where else 54% girls haven’t done anything to stop such kind of misbehavior. This is because they fear the egoistic boys, their revenge, the mobility of girls getting effected after sharing with the parents.

It also happens when girls try to act and goes for the complaining she has a fear of disclosing her identity. This makes her weak and encourage the boys to commit the same mistake with other girls.

Have you taken any action?

NO 54%

YES 46%

1) Sharing with family and friendsSometimes parents are supportive, some of them share with their parents what has happened with them, while some don’t, as their parents are not supportive. Those parents who are supportive these make their child understand that you can fight and not be scared. Our one respondent had full faith on their parents.

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2) Fear of sharing with parents-

“अगर टर ै न में टर ै वेतलांग करिे है . गर्ल्न पर अगर ईव teasing हुआ िो घर पे हम जाके बोल नहीां सकिे. अगर तहम्मि वाली लड़की होगी िो direct एक्शन लेगी और पतलस में कांप्लेंट भी करे गी”.

The girls mostly don’t share with their parent because they are afraid. One respondent said while travelling by train, if someone comments or does eve-teasing, the girl does not report, doesn’t share with her parents. Most of the girls are scared to share with parents because they feel that if I tell my parents what will they say? Will they think bad about me? Will they tell me to leave my college and my outings? It can also affect her mobility. Girls don’t complaint to police too because of the fear if I complain they may come home and create problem. There is also the fear of sharing with parent, they will blame on us only that you must have done something wrong because of which we have to face the society. And this will affect her mobility that will stop her from perceiving her education, and following her dreams. For this reason, girls are afraid of sharing their problem with their parents.

Mostly girls have taken actions like sharing their problems with friends and family Majority girls have shared their experience with their friends instead of their parents. This is because they fear that, if they tell their problems to their parents, they might restrict them i.e. stop their education, stop them from going out alone, stop them to be with their friends etc.

As we came to know that action over their harassment would affect girls in many ways due to lack of support. So, we had asked our respondent that did they get any support from anyone to fight back. सहारा मिलना, नही मिलना, और क्यूं ? (Support getting, not getting and why?)

Whenever there is support of anyone that time girls can react over their problems. There are girls who need some moral support to take a step forward and raise their voice.

Supportive and non- supportive Support

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Have you shared it with anyone?

POLICE SIBLING 2% 8%

NO EXPERINCE 8%

According to our survey, 51% girls are comfortable sharing their problems only with friends and 31% are comfortable to share with parents. Many girls are not sharing their problems with parents because of the fear of non – support from their family and their mobility to get stopped.

1) Family

-

It is not necessary that majority family is supportive. As we mentioned that only 31% girls are sharing their problems with family or parents. There are some girls who still hesitate to FRIEND 51% share with their problems in front of their parents. One of our respondent she travels from Wadala to CBD Belapur, there was a man at Wadala station who was continuously misbehaving and started capturing her images in his cell phone. The respondent was scared still she stood up for herself, and shared her problem with her parents immediately. Her parents had registered complaint in the police station and action was taken on the right time. some respondents also mentioned that “if we share our problem with our parents then they will act on the right time and our problem could be solved”.

PARENTS 31%

2) Friends

-

This statistic is very interesting that 51% girls share their problem with their friends. They feel that if they will share it to their friends there will be some moral support for them from their side.

3) Police

–

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From the survey, we came to know that only 8% girls have reported about their problems in the police station. And we are happy to know that still there are some police who support girls in their problems. We came to know this situation from one of the respondent that,

“क्यूकी मेरे साथ एक इांनसडेंट हुआ था कु लाम में. हररोज़ होता है न तो कदन खराब होता है. सुबह सुबह आते वक़्त होता है तो. मेने उस लड़के को मारा था litreally और उसको पकड़के पुनलस के पास लेके गयी और वहा​ाँ पुनलस होते है हमेशा होते है तो मेने उनको कदया वह लेके गए पुनलस स्टेशन. ऐसा हमेशा नही होता उन्होंने मुझे कु छ बोला नही नसफम बोला ठीक है बच्चा जाओ आप”.

RPF (Railway protection Force)RPF (RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE) which police force which is appointed at station for the security. They also help many girls in solving their problems.

Do you know the helpline number in train?

NO 19%

YES 81%

AFTER SEEKING SUPPORT

-

We also asked them if they know about any helpline number.

Helpline

–

81% knows about helpline number for women safety while travelling in train. But the question is, are they aware with the correct helpline number? And if they have tried the incorrect number then there is possibility where the issues go unreported due to misinformation. Our respondent shared her experience by explaining that,

“आम्ही लोक एकदा आमच्या कडे सामान होि म्हणून सामानाच्या बोरोबर luggage डब्याि चढलेलो आतण रात्री ११/१२ वाजलेले आतण

काही २ माणसां होिी आमच्या सोबि मले पण होिी. आम्ही या side ला बसलेलो समोर. िो stare करि होिा नांिर िो मोबाईल काढू न काय

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िरी करायला लागला. So माझ्या मम्मीने त्याला तवचारले काय करिो म्हणून िर त्याच्या वर िो आम्हाला बडबडि लागला. िर आमचा एक friend होिा त्या​ां नी त्या नांबर वर कॉल केला आतण सा​ां तगिलां आम्ही या डब्ब्ब्याि आहो ही टर े न पकडली आहे िरी तिकडे कोणीही आला नाही

कोणत्याही पोलीस आला नाही त्यावेळी आम्ही काय करायचा?”

1) Police

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Only 8% girls have made complaint about harassment issues related to them to the cops. This percentage is less because they have the fear of the police, they say that, if we go and complaint about our problems the police first asks about our identity and our parents detail which is sure that this matter will be reaching to our parents which makes us step back and this indicates that there are sign of effecting our mobility.

2) Family At times, there are family who are very protective towards their children. So, if the girl goes and complaint or share about her problem while travelling in train to the family instead of taking any action over the issue they stop the girl’s mobility. There were such cases which came during the discussion in Mapping session from one of the respondent that, “see घर पे बिाना मेने कभी try नही तकया क्यूकी एक बार मेरे साथ हुआ था बचपन में 5thor6th िभी में लोकल टर ै न में टर े वल करने में इिना उसेद िूनही थी बट उसके बाद मेने घर पे बिाया िो 12th िक मेरे माुँ ने मेरा लोकल train में टर े वल करनाही बांद कर तदया था. So, I didn’t want to take a risk की अभी मेरी कॉलेज की पढाई बांद हो जाये ”.

NOT-SEEKING SUPPORT In this we are talking about the girls who don’t share their problems with anyone due to the fear of the following: -

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1) Fear of boy’s ego/revenge

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Some of the girls have mentioned the fear of boys makes them more unsafe. They have heard many times boys saying on the station, platform, bridges etc. that, “if she can travel with that boy, why can’t she travel with us?”. And if a girl tries to fight back then there are chances where a boy is eagerly to take revenge with same girl.

2) Fear of police Girls don’t register complaint to the police because of fear that if they go to them they will ask for their identity and might reach their house. The police should deal with the complaints about women being harassed with more sensitivity.

3) Fear of family There are girls who are afraid of saying about their issues to their parents. We came to know from our respondent that,

“अगर कछ incident हो भी जािा है िो society और फॅतमली के view match नहीां होिे सोसाइटी के लोग कहिे है की आपने ही कछ तकया होगा और तफर फॅतमली वाले भी यही कहिे है ”.

Misinformation of helpline

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While taking face to face interview when we asked them that whether they knew about the helpline number or the RPF (railway protection force) that time we had got various incorrect information. Some didn’t know about the helpline number and some didn’t know about the RPF. After asking them about the government policy that is been provided by the government for the women while travelling in train, there were many respondents who are unaware about such policy.

Mostly there are no moral support from others, therefore girls don’t even try registering complaint in the police due to fear of various factors that we read above.

We had taken face to face interviews of 33 respondents. Through which we come to know that other than physical or sexual safety there are girls who face other types of difficulties. They have mentioned some kinds of misbehavior i.e. groupism of men and women, smart phones etc.

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Other difficulties Groupism: According to our respondent they have experience lots of other difficulties in the train while travelling. Groupism is one of those kinds. They have experienced groupism in such a manner that, in the ladies’ compartment there are some ladies who don’t allow other ladies to sit. As they occupy those seats for their friends or other person. And if we try to ask them then there are chances that they start fighting in the train.

The boys touch the girls out of the running trains. And, they pass comments from the running train. Many boys try to touch the private part of those girls they try to take advantage of the crowd. Like they try to give flying kiss from the running train to the girls standing on the platforms.

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Suggestion After other difficulties faced by women while travelling in train of Mumbai we came across the various suggestion given by 33 respondents in Participatory Mapping and Interview that we have conducted in different colleges like G.N Khalsa College, Ruia College, SNDT College and SIWS colleges. Respondents that given effective suggestions on travelling travel daily by train. While they travel by local trains of Mumbai they face many unsafety issues like harassment, unwanted touch on Platform, compartment, bridges and many other places because of overloaded crowd who travels daily by train which lead to crowd fear and many suggestions…. that they wanted to give through this we made many categories that is ladies compartment, self-defense, self-awareness and unsafety.

Ladies Compartment – “जहा​ां पर gents रहते है वहा​ां पर लेडीज होने चानहए, पूरे कदन होने चानहए because कोई गारां टी नही कभी भी कु छ भी हो सकता है तो थोड़ा बहोत तो होना चानहए । उनको फोन करना चानहए “suggested by one of our respondent. Another respondent said that “लेनडस पुनलस होना चानहए नजससे हम अपना problems खुलकर बोल सकें गे शेयर कर सकते है । gents पुनलस से उतना comfortable नही होता । we got this suggestion from most our respondent that there should be a ladies constable in ladies compartment for our safety on talking of our problems. some women gets late for job who travel by train in ladies compartment wear buraqa in ladies compartment can feel uncomforted while wearing in front of gents constable.so there should ladies constable for their comfort was the . ककसी भी लड़की को problems हो तो वो directly वहा​ाँ पे जाकर रे नजस्टर करा दे और खुद ऑक्शन लेना चानहए। इनको पता होना चानहए कक ऐसे situation पर क्या करना चानहए और हेल्प करना चानहए। means there should be a platform for women voice when feel unsafe while travelling by train in Mumbai”

SELF-AWARENESS –

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When we ask on government policy to our respondent they suggested that “Government policy जो है RPF and All उन लोगों को अपनी जगह पर होना चानहए और हर एक जगह पर CCTV होना चानहए। after that another respondent added a reflecting point that “RPF वालों का जो uniform होता है तो उससे डर लगता है। वो अगर formal पहेने तो हम अपना problem खुलकर बोल पाएांगे ।” according to respondent point of view they are not sure on RPF no. that given our government that may be the reason when asked they said that they don’t take immediate action and some said not sure this no. Works or not.

UNSAFETY – When we asked on problems like eve-teasing and comment they said that “Feel मतलब जो ये eve-teasing और comment पास करते ह ,इसपे भी punishment नमलना चानहए तो वो डर के मारे कु छ कर नही पाएांगे और वो भी है ना सेफ होजाएांगे , गल्सम के नलए और जो भी crime हो रहा है , वो भी इतना नही होना चानहए ऐसा कु छ हो government ऑक्शन ले रही है। मतलब government है ना at least society को कु छ करना चानहए safety के नलए ।” “mentality should be changed” said one of the respondent. “Unwanted touch mostly happens due to seller and blind that should be stopped” said by the respondent. Respondent also said that there should be a special train for ladies for their safety लड़ककयों को खुद सुरक्षा खुद करनी होगी हम हर वक़्त government को गलत नही कहे सकते । said by one of the respondent SELF –DEFENCE – when we asked for the self-defense respondent strongly suggested that I think NGO वगैरा में भी थी बहोत उनके through भी थोड़ा बहोत NGO through भी हम जो लेनडस रहती उनको मतलब self-defense का कु छ सीख सकते है। उनको अगर suppose luck by chance कभी कु छ हो गया तो at least वो अपनी safety के नलए कु छ करते वगैरा । कफर कु छ नमची का पाउडर हो गया nail cutter वगैरा रखना चानहए। तो वो सब रखना चानहए ...I think .

Through various suggestions from our respondent we came to know that most of the girls were suggesting that there should be a female constable in the ladies compartment early morning and late at night. So that they can feel safe and few girls suggesting that they should themselves carry safety equipment. Many safety measures have to be applied to the government for women safety while travelling in train or on platform, compartment, bridges and another place. there is also a need for self-awareness and self-defense among women who travel daily by train.

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VIDYA’S UNFORGETTABLE INCIDENT My name is Vidya I study in TYBA and my special subject is psychology. I am doing my graduation now from SNDT College (Matunga). To come at Kurla station I take auto from my place and then from Kurla station I travel to Matunga station and after that i take taxi from Matunga station to my college. I prefer taxi more than travelling in train because I really don’t like ladies gossips and noise. I like to travel by train because I have proper knowledge about trains, that’s the reason why I prefer mostly travelling by train.

I leave my house at 6:30am and I catch 7 clock train because I need to reach my college by 7:30 am afternoon I come back home. I regularly travel in ladies compartment I don’t like to travelling in general compartment because of gents. I feel uncomfortable because some men talk anything among themselves and their touch is something that I don’t like. Mostly I travel alone but sometimes my friend joins me. Three years back when I was in junior college, at Matunga station I noticed an unused train which was there and there was no one inside it. Once I was standing on the platform I suddenly saw a man who was standing alone. I noticed that whenever a girl passed from that side he would do dirty actions or behave badly. But if a man passed he would not do anything like this. Not just that day I noticed him for a week he would always be there I thought of ignoring it before but then I thought about other girls how will they take it or if anything happens then? And one day I shouted at him I shared this incident with my friends. I thought of informing the police but that time I could not see any police there. Full station was empty. I mostly used to catch last ladies compartment. Matunga station is mostly empty finally just ignored it.

There are no police at Matunga station. Boys just do what they want and harass girls. I have seen incidents like boys touching girls from moving train or commenting on them. I feel unsafe in trains because of unwanted touch. Matunga station is the most unsafe station for me. In evening, after 5:30 or 6 clock I feel unsafe. Firstly I shared this incident with my friends they all told me that I should have taken any kind of action on that man. But I was scared I even shared it with my mom she also told me the same thing. My parents are very supportive. Because of which this incidents didn’t affect my mobility and education. For some day I was just thinking about this incident I couldn’t forget it but slowly I forgot it. Girls should always use safety equipment. There should be lady police because girls feel comfortable with them rather than male police. Government should try to understand our problems and try to find solution through these problems.

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PLATFORM नांबर ८ माझ नाव स्पृहा आहे आनण मी degree च्या second year ला आहे आनण मी BA करतेय त्याचबरोबर मी घरी क्लासेस घेते.कॉलेज activities like skit आनण dance competition मध्ये participate करते.मी बोरीवलीला राहते आनण रोज कॉलेजला येताना मी ट्रेन ने येते.रोज मला यायला ३५ नमननट्स लागतात फास्ट ट्रेनने आनण slow ट्रेनने ५० नमननट्स लागतात.माझे पप्पा मला स्टेशन पयंत bikeने सोडायला येतात.मी रोज घरातून ६.२०-६.२५ ला ननघते. मला ट्रेनने प्रवास करायला आवडत कारण कक quick transport. मी एकटीच प्रवास करते. मी जास्त करून ladies डब्बाच prefer करते.माझ्याबरोबर कोणताही मुलगा असला तरीही मी ladies डब्ब्यातूनच जाते.मी बोरीवली वरून ८ नांबर platform वरून ट्रेन पकडते.पण mostly जास्त लोक त्या platform वरून प्रवास करत नाहीत करण त्याच्या बाजूला slum area आहे आनण ट्रेन नेहमीच नतथे था​ांबते.जास्त करून थांडीच्या कदवसा​ांमध्ये जेव्हा रात्री ट्रेन था​ांबते ना तेव्हा जास्त भीती वाटते.त्याच्या आजूबाजूची locality चा​ांगली नाहीये.आता तरी cameras वैगेरे लावले आहेत त्यामुळे सेफ वाटत.नतथले ticket counter सुद्धा ६.४५ ला उघडतात.platform number ८ वर कोणी नसल्यामुळे खूप unsafe वाटत.नतथे सगळे बेगर वैगेरे असतात. मला दादर स्टेशनला सवामत जास्त unsafe वाटत.पनहली गोष्ट तर ट्रेन मधून उतरल्याबरोबर खूप गदी होऊन जाते.मी ३ number platform वर उतरते नजथे फास्ट ट्रेन असते.नतथे bridge वर चढताना खूप प्रोब्लेम होतो.गदीचा फायदा घेऊन खूप लोक तौच करायला स्ततम करतात.मागे मुल जरी असतील तरी त्याचां इकडे-नतकडे हात लावण वैगेरे चालू होऊन जात.वरून भा​ांडणही करतात कक,तुला कदसत नाही का?वैगेरे. स्टेशन वर जे कु ली असतात ते पण खूप वाईट नजरे ने बघतात असतात. smokers वैगेरे असतील तर ते वाईट नजरे ने बघतात.आनण beggars च तर जस काही ते घरच आहे.मुला​ांची भीती तर आहेच पण आता बायका​ां पण पागल सारख्या करतात आनण वाईट नजेरेने बघतात.एकदा मी माझ्या पप्पा​ांबरोबर general compartment मधून प्रवास करत होते.स्टेशन आल आनण उतरायचां होत तेव्हा सगळे धक्का मारत होते आनण फायदा घेण्यासाठी इकडे-नतकडे हात लावत होते. चालू ट्रेन मध्ये सुद्धा खूप वेळा मुल नशट्या मारतात,डोळा मारतात.ड्रेस वरून comments वैगेरे करतातत्यामुळे खूप unsafe वाटत.सवामत जास्त तरी मला crowd मुळेच unsafe वाटत.मी असे प्रसांग आधी नमत्र मैनत्रणींसोबत मग आईबरोबर share करते.friends चा​ांगल्या प्रकरे समजून घेऊ शकतात कारण आपण एका age चे असतो.त्यामुळे मी सवामत आधी नमत्र मैनत्रणींसोबतsharing करते.पण माझी family सुद्धा मला खूप support करते.ह्या

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सगळ्यामुळे माझ्या नात्या​ांवर खूप पररणाम होतो.माझा boy friend मलाच blame करतो.तुझ्यामुळेच होत,तूच chance देतेस बाकीच्या​ांना हे सगळ करायला त्याच बोलण असत. मला helpline number १८२ हा मानहतीये आनण मी गावाला राहते रत्नानगरीला नतथेही women helpline number आहे १९०२.मला अस वाटत कक प्रत्येक compartment मध्ये रात्री ८ वाजल्यानांतर women police राहायला पानहजे.मुलीनी strong असल पानहजे,confident असल पानहजे,असे प्रकार झाल्यानांतर मुलीनी fight back के ल पानहजे.sellers वर बांदी आणली पानहजे. Helpline number useful असला पानहजे.

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श्रुनष्ट कक दृष्टी Hi , मेरा नाम श्रति है । मैं मतहम में रहिी हां ।मैं सेंटरल लाइन के एक कॉलेज में SYBA की पढ़ाई कर रही हां ।कॉलेज आने के तलए मझे western से central माटां गा का over तिज क्रॉस करना पड़िा है ।मैं कॉलेज के साथ-साथ डरामा प्रैन्टक्टस के तलए भी जािी हुँ । तजसकी वजह से मझे कई बार टर ै न से टर े वल करना पड़िा है । मेरा सपना है तक लोग मझे मेरी कला से पहचाने और मैं अपने तज़न्दगी में कछ बनाना चाहिी हां । अपने जकड़े हुए परोां को खोलकर उन आसमानो को छना चाहिी हां पर वो Z-Bridge मझे बहोि ही सन-सान और डरावना लगिा है ।वो Z-Bridge दोनो िरफ से cover है । अगर उसमे कछ होजाए िो तकसी को कानो-कान ख़बर भी नही होगी। मेरे कॉलेज में लेक्चर होजाने के िरां ि बाद मैं डरामा practice के तलए माटां गा स्टे शन से CST के तलए टर ै न पकडिी हुँ । तफर वहा​ां से अपने घर पर जाने के तलए मझे CST से Dadar तफर वहा​ां से Mahim के तलए टर ै न पकड़नी पडिी है । अपने घर से रोज़ 8 बजे तनकलिी हुँ और दे र राि 10 या 10.30 को घर पहोचिी हुँ ।इसतलए घर Late पहोचिी हुँ क्योांतक जै से तक मैंने कॉलेज का पहे ले बिाया था तक मझे की मझे िरां ि कॉलेज का lecture खत्म होजाने के बाद मझे डरामा क्लासेस के तलए जाना होिा है । मैं ज़्यादा िर लेडीज़ 2nd क्लास से टर े वल करना पसांद करिी हां । क्योांतक मझे लेडीज compartment , जनरल compartment के मकाबले काफी safe लगिा है । इसतलए safe नही लगिा क्योांतक लेडीज compartment में नही होिे बन्टि इस वजह से safe नही लगिा क्योांतक लोग गांदी नज़र से दे खिे है ।यही वजह है तजसकी वजह से मेरे पै र कापिे है जनरल compartment में चढ़ने से । बहोि भीड़ होजाने की वजह से भी तभड़ में खदको unsafe feel करिी हुँ । इसी बीच मेरा दम बहोि घटिा है ।मानो मझे चकर आएगा और मैं तगर जाउां गी।इस भीड़ का फायदा उठाकर लोग लड़तकयोां के साथ गलि बरिाव करिे है ।अगर वो लड़की अकेले हो िो और भी करिे हैं ।मानो जैसे तकसी ने ये सब करने का

उनको Licence दे तदया है । ये सब चीज़े मैन ज़्यादा िर दादर स्टे श

सब चीज़े मैन ज़्यादा िर दादर स्टे शन के पन्टिक bridge पर दे खा है जो वे स्टनन से सेंटरल को जोड़िा है ।unwanted,pushing जैसे हरकिे िो हमेसा होिी है ।वहा यहा िक तक ये चीज़ मेरे साथ भी हुई है ।एक बार मैं अपने दोस्ोां के साथ उस तिज पर चल रही थी।उस वक़्त हमेसा की िरह तिज पर over-loaded crowd था। उस भीड़ में एक आदमी मझे पीछ से continously push करे जा

रहा था ।

मैंने पीछे घू मकर उसे बहोि तचलाया । इिना तहम्मि इस वजह से जटा पाई क्योांतक मेरे दोस् मेरे साथ मौजूद थे । मझे support करने के तलए मझे ऐसा लगिा है अगर मैं अकेली होिी िो शायद उस आदमी को मोड़कर इस िरीके से चीला नही पािी । इसतलए मझे

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कभी-कभी खराब महसूस होिा है उन लड़तकयोां के तलए को अकेले टर े वल करिी है । अकेले travel करना गलि नही पर उसी चीज़ का लोग गलि फायदा उठाकर उस बेचारी लड़की के साथ गलि बरिाव करिे है । इसी िरह एक तदन मैं Public bridge से जा रही थी मैंने crop-top और jeans पहे ने हुई थी। suddenly एक आदमी पीछ से मेरे कमर पर pinched तकया ।

ये चीज़ मझे इिना

uncomfortable कर तदया , जो तक मैं मैंने कभी सोचा भी नही था। मैं िरां ि पीछे पीछे घमी

और उसके मांह पर थापड़ जड़ दी उस वक़्त मेरी माुँ मेरे साथ थी। उन्होांने भी उसे बहोि तचलाया । ऐसा incident मेरे साथ पहे ली बार हुआ था। िो मैं बहोि डर गई थी । अगर मैं उस वक़्त अपनी आवाज़ नही उठािी या तफर उसका सही समय पर थपड़ से जवाब नही दे िी िो ऐसा लगिा है तक मैं अपने साथ ही ना इां साफी कर बैठिी । मै एक ऐसी लड़की हु जो बहोि emotional हुँ , मैं अगर तकसी के साथ गलि या सही के तलए fight करिी हां , िो मैं automatically रोने लगिी हुँ । मेरा परा शरीर कापने लगिा है । तफर भी मैं पलटकर ऐसे लोगो को जवाब दे ना जानिी हां । ऐसे ही एक बार मैं मेरी फैतमली और friends एक program attend करके घर लौट रहे थे। program दे र से खत्म होजाने की वजह से हम काफी late हो चके थे। िो हम सबने कूदकर luggage compartment में चढ़ गए । उसके अांदर दो लड़के बैठे थे । वो दो लड़के just मेरे सामने वाली seat पर बैठे थे । िभी दोनो लड़के में से एक लड़के ने अचानक से अपने जे ब से Mobile तनकली। जब ये सब हो रहा था िब मेरी नज़र उस लड़के पर ही थी । मझे doubt हुआ उनपर और मैंने इशारो से अपने माुँ और friends को बिा तदया तक ये दोनोां लड़के मझे मोबाइल से दे ख रहे हैं । मेरे दोस् और मेरी माुँ ने उन दोनोां को बहोि तचलाया । एक मेरे दोस् ने िभी िरां ि अपने मोबाइल से RPF वालोां को कॉल लगाया और उनको यहा​ां की सारी जानकारी दी और उन RPF वालोां ने

कहा​ां की हम

अगले स्टे शन पर रहे है , पर अगले स्टे शन पर कोई भी नही था । मैं पूछिी हां कैसे कोई भरोसा करे कोई RPF के no. पर या उनके लोगो पर । हमारी तजम्मे दारी सरक्षा की तजम्मेदारी कौन लेगा । ऐसा नही है तक मेरी फैतमली मझे support नही करिी but मैं इन सब चीज़ोां के वजह से अपना self-confidence खोिे जा रही हुँ । इिने सारे government policy जो government ने बनाया है । उन्हें सधारना चातहए। उसके तलए उन्हें awareness camp करना चातहए। मेरे खयाल से खदकी सरक्षा के तलए लड़तकयोां को self-defense सीखना होगा । और साथ-साथ मे उन्हें Sex education भी दे ना होगा। तजसकी वजह से उसके में good touch और bad touch की समझ आ सके । सोच बदलने की उम्मीद जो हम अक्सर society से रखिे है वो बदलने की सोच पहे ले हमे खदके घर से सरू करनी होगी ।

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मझे मालूम है की मझे society को हर रोज़ face करना है । इसतलए मझे खदकी िरफ दे खने का सोच बदलना होगा। अगर मैं तबिल वैसा ही करू जै सा की society चाहिी है िो ऐसा हो सकिा है तक मैं अपने ही self-confidence खो दू ुँ ।

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Discussing our results

Train is considered to be the cheapest transport in India. It is also said that it is the fastest among all transport. Girls prefer to travel only by train to reach faster and it consume less time. Mostly there are only girls or women’s commuter who travel by train on their daily basis either for work or for their studies.

Sexual Harassment Thinking that harassment don’t take place in local train .This is not true which we experiences through this research. There are many girls who face different type of harassment in train while they travel. Like stocking, teasing, commenting, unwanted touch, staring, etc. these all comes under sexual harassment .Making a girl feel unsafe verbally is also counted sexual harassment. Crowd is a sign of unsafe feeling which every girl experiences .On one hand when the station is crowded she feels unsafe even when stations are empty the feeling is the same. This is because while you are in crowded place you can’t blame as you don't know who did it. This gets totally opposite when there is no crowed as no one can see or help her if something happens .And it would be very easy for a person to misbehave with her in the absence of crowed. Therefore, we are not surprised when girls continuously mentioned they experience fear all the time while traveling by train.

FearOnce a girl goes through any kind of sexual harassment, she mentally starts feeling weak and there is a sort of fear she feels all the time. This keeps on increasing with every passing day. Fear that she is not safe is a very strong instinct. It is a negative emotion which controls her behavior and which cannot be explained to anyone except someone like her who has gone through similar experiences.

Obviously, some fears are linked with real life events which have happened to them or happened to other girls. However, some fears are influenced by our notions or assumptions about certain groups or communities. Not necessarily all our assumptions are right.

Choice or Majboori?

Traveling is closely linked with mobility and access to opportunities for all. Transport system becomes an engine for growth; it increases speed and connects people faster. Our respondents who are all students access their college education by traveling in train.

Education is undoubtedly an important opportunity, but we have realized that experiences of harassments create barriers in this opportunity.

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Our research has revealed that many of the girls travel by train because they don’t have any better option. Even if they wish to stop travelling by trains their studies might stop. That is why they start adjusting with situation through avoiding, ignoring or tolerating it.

They have fear of facing people which create more problems. Girls are so afraid of losing their mobility that they don’t even think of sharing all this incidence with their family and friends. Some girls feel helpless where some girls don’t know what to do. Support is very important by family, which very few girls get. It's very hurting when a girl never sees her family or friends by her side. Her support system should be strong and understanding where she feels comfortable to share her experiences

Culture of SilenceAs a society, we notice that no people talk openly about these daily common experiences. Somehow we have cultivated culture of silence or taboo around sexual harassment issues. In fact when girl try sharing something, she is easily judged by all people which results in further repressing these feelings deep down inside by girls.

Silence is the biggest effect on girls after facing all such harassment on their daily routes. Reason behind their silence is fear. Fear makes girls not to share their problems with any one. Girls think if they will breakout their silence then the opposite person may take revenge. They can’t even share it with their friends or parents. This is because we always think about what people think about us. Girls have fear if we share all these things with anyone then her character will be judge. People don’t try to understand situation rather then they just start commenting on their problem which is blaming girls. We can’t judge anyone’s character but people do it. Due to this it may affect our relationships with our friends, parents, relatives and even with our in laws. Parents might stop our outings, relatives start blaming us as well as our parents. This is embarrassing for every girls when her parents are blamed because of her.

JustificationThe correct reasons for harassment are not yet known to girls. People are only justifying their own reasons or thoughts on reasons of harassments. Various reasons which are said to be causes for harassment in our research are in fact are not real reasons; they are only judgments which are shaped by our misbelief.

For an example, outfit. People think if a girl is not well dressed then she will definitely face harassment. According to our society a girls should be completely dressed from top to bottom but it is proved that a girls even when she is well dressed she is been harassed.

Whether it is shalwar-kamiz, jeans-top, shorts, or even bhurakha a girls are molested in local trains. If a girl tries to justify her situation then it is said that she is characterless and she needs attention from men. Character of a girl is always blamed without knowing the actual cause of harassment. People consider other castes, class of people or religious people the reason behind all this 48

issues, Like slums, bhaiya people, Muslim boys and other religious groups. These are all stereotyped notions which do not have evidence base.

Assumptions against communityThere are few communities which are blamed by people. Lot of people have heard about these communities and tend to have fear towards them. As we discussed early in verbal harassment analysis part, when girl tried connecting her harassment experience with slums. For an instance, she said“स्टे शन के बाजूमें जो स्लम्स है ना वहा​ां के कछ लड़के टर े न जब आिी है िब गन्दी- गन्दी बािे करिे हैं ,

उससे बहोि अनसेफ फील होिा हैं ” We wonder- What problem will she have from slums? The word slums mean poor people? Do they create problems as they have no money, no job, no education etc.?

The problem is - Just because they don’t have these things we assume that they must be criminals. People often have a tendency to mark a place safe or unsafe in their mind based on notion influence by media, articles reports etc. Negative remarks our made on slums which create a fear in minds of people. When we hear stories or incidents about a particular place or community we established an image or a judgment which might not be true. It can be in a positive or negative way. In our data, such discrimination we have noticed against Muslim and Transgender community.

One of the respondent said that- “Kurla is unsafe as Muslim community exist there”.

Is Kurla really unsafe because of Muslim community? In our data we did not find any evidence to support this statement. We can’t generalize what a particular person has done to the whole of his community. As this notion creates a fear towards a particular community. This notion has spread so far that even mobile safety apps uses it. For example: our group member notice that in safety app slum area a marked as unsafe place without evidence. This marking has long lasting effect on a particular community. This is also the case with Transgender. People have lot of questions about Transgender which indeed makes them a suspicious community. Hence, it has become crucial that we start understanding roots of our fears.

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When a girl goes through such experiences she might stop travelling by train and opt for any other mode of transport. This can cost her extra time as well as extra money. Moreover, this might restrict her mobility and freedom. This will also impact negatively on her opportunities like education and job.

Hence, we need to create an environment where she feels safe. Action should be taken at the right time. When we delay action on such things we are encouraging the one who is doing it. This is an urgent and important task for all of us because She is also an equal citizen of this city!

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Conclusion From our data we came to know the problems of women while traveling in Mumbai’s local train. And the data also helped us understand the distinct problems that are faced by women while traveling in local train.

After going through this data we saw that there are different reasons for girls to feel unsafe. There are girls who have their own meaning for what is safe and unsafe for them. While collecting the data we came to know that lots of girls didn’t know what the meaning of safety for them was. Most of our respondents ignored it as they didn’t really know who to approach and how to handle the problem. And if they would confront the person they would only get blamed for their cloths, for the way they look in a very inappropriate manner. The condition of women is not getting better but getting worst as there are majority of people who travel by train. Because of this, there are more issues related to crowd. Incidents like starring, stocking, touching, commenting were commonly told by the girls. After facings this issue mostly they change their routes or opt for other public transport just because of fear. There are different types of fears such as fear of revenge, fear of no support from family, fear from police etc., fear of restrictions in mobility, the dignity of a women is always played according to the convenience of others sometimes she is called innocent sometimes called us slut in second.

How judgmental society could be? Just like there are problems we may also have solutions. There are no single suggestions to solve the problems. There were lots of suggestions which came regarding RPF, the help line number, increasing use of CCTV, ladies special trains should be more etc. still we believe in law and order they said. It’s not like we didn’t get positive response but the number is very less. Huge population in Mumbai depends on local trains for their daily routing (ups and downs). The government has taken lot of efforts to introduce different policies but why are they still feeling unsafe? How we can make future better and safe for them?

As per our research, government should give awareness about women safety on the stations. And government should ensure better safety for women while they traveling and using public transport. Railway government should increase the number of security forces inside train compartments, in trains stations and stations areas. There should always be awareness about the helpline number through which women can file their complains which is our most important recommendation. Lots of cases go unreported because of misinformation. This can lead a negative remark on the system. Women should raise their voice at the right time even when no one is with her but also at the time take care of own safety.

Other than these suggestions some suggestions were documented during the literature review. These suggestions are: 1. Centralized complaint system for women and strict action against offenders and RPF and GRPF should work and coordinate with each other when dealing with cases like sexual harassment as RPF comes under GRPF. 51

Recommendations of the research Through are research we came to know that girls are feeling unsafe. There are many places where girls feel unsafe. And also there are some problems in government services which our group noticed. We have some recommendation such as improved train services, effective security system, awareness of people and girls, self-protection.

Improved train services

Selfprotection

Recommendation

Awareness - of people and girls

1 Improved train services-

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Effective security system

a) There should be more ladies special trains during peak hours. There is less space in ladies compartment as compare to general compartment. Which create a problem during peak hours. b) Availability of more public bridges. We notice that there are very less public bridges on the stations which is the reason for overcrowding. c) Toilets on platforms should not be near general compartment. Girls feel unsafe because of toilets nearby general compartment. Because men’s stare. If there are toilets nearby general compartment it should be cover by wall or something else. Care taker of the toilet should be female as the male person stares at the women while they use toilets. d) Strict action should be taken on those men who do such unwanted things. There should be law by railway government. If any incident happens they can take imitate action on that person?

2 Effectiveness of securitya) RPF should be well trained. The number of female RPF should increase as woman a comfortable in sharing their experience with them. b) There should be 1 lady n 1 men constable in ladies compartment because they don't feel safe to share problem with male constable. If there is one ladies constable with one men constable so they can easily share what feeling. c) RPF and GRPF should coordinate well. When dealing with such cases as RPF comes under GRPF. 3 Awareness- of people and girlsa) The railway authority should create awareness amongst women commuters about the helpline numbers. This can be done by displaying the number at several places inside the ladies compartment ensuring that no advertisement stickers are stuck above such critical information. Awareness can be spread using street plays, posters, songs, etc. b) Girls should know who and how RPF works. As RPF is Railway Protection Force girls should know how RPF help them. It is very important because lot of cases go unreported as girls assume RPF to police which is not true.

4 Self-protectiona) Ladies should protect themselves because we can't hope that men will change or there will always be someone to help. They should be confident on them self that I can protect myself.

Reference 53

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Walmiki, Arvind Gangrape at rpf chowky in Diva: Four personnel suspended Hindustan Times 2016 (available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/gangrape-at-rpf-chowky-in-diva-four-personnel-suspended/storyHdiD8X9BDYUsird5thas4L.html ) Accessed on: 22/14/17

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Akshara survey on sexual harassment Hindustan Times 2015 (available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/sexualharassment-rampant-at-train-stations-in-mumbai-reveals-akshara-survey/story-6yds843CPjcrfC29NBjtyK.html) Accessed on: 23/04/17

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Dawood, Ayub Mumbai local trains will now have panic button for women safety 2016 (available at https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Mumbai-Local-Trains-Will-Now-Have-Panic-Buttons-For-Womens-Safety/#.c7yhxovfj) Accessed on : 22/04/17

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Rane Kunal Prajakta One in four women harassed during local train commute,reveals survey 2016 (available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/one-in-four-women-harassed-during-local-train-commute-revealssurvey/story-J3iLx9T7MjtkZNrRWuhpmN.html ) Accessed on :22/04/17

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Mishra, Kamal Ladies talk back for women safety on trains 2017 (available at http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/ladies-talk-back-for-your-safety-on-trains/articleshow/57402517.cms) Accessed on: 22/04/17

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Deshpande Roy Rituparna Is the Mumbai local train safe for women? 2012 (available at http://www.idiva.com/news-worklife/is-the-mumbai-local-train-safe-for-women/18190) Accessed on: 22/04/17

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“{O}n the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women…(76/207/EEC)”,Council pf the European Economic Communities,9 February 1976.Amended 23 September 2002 (available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_harassment#cite_note-eur-lex.europa.eu-2) Accessed on: 28/04/17

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Beaney, Michael (Summer 2102). “Analysis” . The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analysis#cite_note-1) Accessed on: 28/04/17

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Maskeri, Anju Mumbai railway stations are sexual harassment hotspots Mid-day 2015 (available at http://www.midday.com/articles/mumbai-railway-stations-are-sexual-harassment-hotspots/16787188) Accessed on: 3/05/17

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Ansari, Shabana 80% women in Mumbai face sexual harassment DNA 2012 (available http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-80-women-in-mumbai-face-sexual-harassment-1657755) Accessed on: 3/05/17

at

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Upgrade system for safety of women in trains: HC The economics times 2015 (available http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/upgrade-system-for-safety-of-women-in-trainsbombay-hc-to-railways/articleshow/47897079.cms) Accessed on: 5/5/17

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15 Incredible facts about Mumbai local trains (available at https://www.cleartrip.com/collections/15-incredible-facts-aboutmumbai-local-trains/) Accessed on: 1/05/17

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61% women commuters on Mumbai’s central line felt unwanted touching ,says NGO safety audit DNA 2015 (available at http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-61-women-commuters-on-mumbai-s-central-line-felt-unwanted-touching-says-ngosafety-audit-2151723) Accessed on: 3/05/17

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HC raps rlys for not reducing gap between train footboards,platform iecities 2013 (available at http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/hc-raps-rlys-for-not-reducing-gap-between-train-footboards-platforms/) Accessed on : 3/05/17

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Need to find permanent solution for commuters’ problems, HC tell railways HT 2015 (available at http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/need-to-find-permanent-solution-for-commuters-problems-hc-tells-railways/storyGsMDA8HMvT4aYJnZOrUC3M.html) Accessed on: 3/05/17

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Bhandary, Shreya IT students design simple solutions to problems of train commuters TOI 2013 (available at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/IT-students-design-simple-solutions-to-problems-of-traincommuters/articleshow/26667863.cms) Accessed on: 3/05/17

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Kochar, Pooja a daily commuter in Mumbai’s local trains has a few tips to make them safer for women The Better India (available at http://www.thebetterindia.com/96647/mumbai-local-trains-women-safety/) Accesed on: 1/05/17

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Gupta, Ashish most crowded station in Mumbai city. truth 2017 (available at http://citytruths.com/most-crowded-stationin-mumbai/) Accessed on: 5/05/17

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Journey Our group name is Peace. The word ‘peace’ means “freedom from disturbance”. Everyone expect to lead a peaceful life. In our group we are 10 members, where there are 8 girls and 2 boys. Our research topic is women safety while travelling in local trains of Mumbai.

Through this research, we want to know that what are the problems faced by the girls while travelling from train? We all members are students of Guru Nanak Khalsa College studying in SYBA. Every member in our group has different thoughts, interests and experiences. Initially there were multiple topics that came to our mind for doing our research. But after considering each person’s thoughts and experiences we had come up with this topic.

It was not possible for everyone to be present at the same time, but in our team, everyone was responsible person who were up to date with their work that was assigned to them. We had completed our research with the support of Gunwanti J Kapoor foundation, PUKAR, and our own college i.e. Khalsa College. Throughout the year there were 25 workshops that were held in Goregaon and Bandra every Sunday. After Sundays, we also had meetings with our mentor in our college or at our team member’s house.

Camp/work shopWe had 3 days residential camp in Kharghar. There were many other students from different colleges, some people were through NGOs. There we played many games like ‘Sola Sola Tambola’. This game helped us to recognize the other fellows present there. In the starting of the camp we were in our own group we weren’t comfortable with other fellows but this game made us to talk to each other and we all became friends. We were made to cook dinner this made us learn how to work in a team with understanding and good co-ordination. Our workshops throughout the year were divided into 4 types. They are as follows: 57

Self- awarenessSelf-awareness workshop was held so that we can try understanding our own self in the first place. What are our dreams? What are we passionate about? What are the hidden talents with in us? What role are we playing in this big world? We were asked to write our own biography and try to understand our self. Through this activity, we were made aware about our self.

Group WorkEven though we all know each other from a very long time but still we were confused in choosing our topic for research. Through different workshop that we attended we were now able to keep our viewpoints in front of others. Later after understanding everybody’s view we had all together choose one topic. During the time of analysis, it was fun while working in a group.

ResearchAs we were moving towards our research journey, it seemed to be a bit difficult for us as we all were doing research for the first time. No one was aware about how to do a research, how will a year pass working with PUKAR, and many more curiosity were going through our mind. Before starting our research and after choosing our topic we were taught all the research ethics and a systematic process for finding qualitative and quantitative data.

Documentation, data analysis, writing skillsWe were very happy when we completed our data collection. But we didn’t know that the most important and a hectic work are still waiting for us. After finishing our data collection, we had come to the process of data transcription. It was very difficult to listen to the audio and then do the transcription.

We had faced many problems at times while jotting down the point’s reason being the audios wasn’t audible due to the chaos outside.

Once while taking the interview after completing it then we had realized that the audio was not properly recorded. We had interviewed 33 respondents (girls). So, we had distributed all the transcription work among everyone equally. Data analysis is like reading the findings again and again to get more understanding. With the help of writing skill work shop we were able to write our analysis in a systematic process.

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Group meetingsWe had our group meetings with our mentor i.e. Sunil. During our group meetings, we were discussing about our research topic, give updates of our work, clear any misunderstanding which were created in between anyone of us. Initially we had a fear of speaking in front of anyone. After keeping our points related to our fear in front of the group, we understood that the perception of fear is different for everyone.

Our group was held at different places like sometimes in the college, at our team member’s house. For e.g. at Fareen’s or Mrunali’s house. We used to have lunch together. During our analysis, we had lot of work to do but we were enjoying it doing with fun and lovingly. Group meetings has made us learn how to work in a group and understand each other’s point of view. Our way of looking at the situation has changed. All 10 peoples had different way of judging the situation.

Meeting with facilitatorOur group’s facilitator was Sunil. Whenever we face any problems during our research he was always there to help us in the process. He had always taught us how to complete our research in a systematic way. It was very interesting experience to sit and listen to him when he explains us anything. The best example is that Sunil had once done a discussion with us regarding the difference between gender and sex. He made us understand through a very interesting activity. He asked us to get any 2 things present there, that represent a man and women. This ultimately made us understand the difference between gender and sex. This was important to understand because our research topic is related to it.

Participatory MappingWe had done participatory mapping in 4 colleges. We have asked our respondents to mark unsafe places, unsafe time, and what are the reasons for feeling unsafe? It was our first experience to conduct mapping so we had no idea how to complete it. But still we had 59

managed it to complete it very easily and nicely. We also distributed a questionnaire that contained close ended and open ended questions in it. After that we also had a small discussion with the girls about their way of feeling unsafe in trains.

Face to face interviewWe had conducted interview according to our respondent’s convenience of place and time. So, this was little challenging that we had to take 17 interview in one day from 2 different colleges. But for god sake we also managed completing this task. While taking interview we were afraid that we will be able to cover all points or no? Are we going to finish our interview on time?

Before taking our interview our perception of feeling unsafe was different. But after completing mapping and interview there were many new things that came forward. We came to know many new things from the respondents.

Through this fellowship of YLCM (youth leaders as change makers) we have seen quite changes within us. Our family was not allowing to come for the Sunday’s session, after convincing them a lot and even they saw the changes within us then they were ready to send us to this fellowship.

We had different workshops for understanding gender, sex, religion, caste, and reservation system etc. The most brilliant day was the day when we had our LGBT session. A day before the session we had gone for the Pride March, where there were many LGBTQ community people who had come for the sake of their rights. It was very much enjoying event we were all dancing with those LGBTQ people. We understood the meaning of reservation whether it is beneficial or no?

In our society, there are men and women who are given equal position. But still there are some male who are dominating over women. Tie up the men get more in society similarly women should receive the same tie up. But our male dominated society of women doesn’t get the advantage of the same treaty. This is why it’s important to reservation for women.

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Our learning

 Farru - Hi this is Fareen. It’s glad that I was with PUKAR for a year. Through this fellowship program I have learned many things. PUKAR had helped me identify myself. I have also found many new friends who are very supportive and helpful. I have learned to be presentable in front of anyone.

Initially I was having phobia from speaking in front of the crowd. But this 1 year experience had taught me to present our work in front of the people. My research work had taught me how to work in a systematic process.

I have improved my communication skills. Many hidden talents were brought up by PUKAR. Before I kept my self aside and first taught for other people. But now before other people I am much more important person. First I need to look at myself weather the situation is giving me happiness or no? I have learned to say “NO”. If anything is leading to live a stressful life. I can now back off myself.

I have understood the difference between Quantitative and Qualitative data, the process of taking interview, FGD, Participatory Mapping, data analyzing etc. This will surely help me build a bright future ahead and my research had also helped me to get closer to the society. The problems faced by someone is not related to that related to that person only, it s connected to each one of us. Through the process of the youth fellowship I have realized that the society has many discrimination problems that is being faced by people like us.  Candy My name is Candida Fernandes. I am a student of G. N Khalsa College studying in SY.BA.I had a wish to join a place where people help others but as I got to know about Pukar I thought of enrolling myself.

My aim was to make new friends and to know myself in what I lack in and what I'm good in. As I spoke to people I got to know that it's not me only that has problem but there are others who have faced much more problems than me. I was not open while talking to people. I had a fear within me that if I talk what will they think about me. But afterwards I got to know that I must not be concerned what others think 61

about me "as long as I'm happy I’ll do what I like". I learnt to be independent as I was always dependent that this person will help me but I learnt to do it myself. I’m so grateful that I joined Pukar. Thank you (my way)  Mru

Hi …. My name is Mrunali Babar. I am student of G.N. Khalsa College applied for SYBA. From my school time I use to always say my mumma about, I have a dream of working with an NGO and wanted to help women’s and small children’s. During my SY I was attending a lecture that time our history miss said our class about PUKAR. No one was applying for this so she recommended our group to join this. I thought I have this opportunity to do and then I applied for this PUKAR and went for interview.

Shehazade took my interview and I got selected. Throughout thing year I had many changes in my own self. I started taking responsibility of doing work by my own. Before I use to do things what my friends use to do and what they use to like. But now I can do anything what I like and what I want to do. I had very few friends before but even I lost many of them but I have very special ones in my life. Pukar made me to set in a group and helped me to work in a group. Before I use to think that in a group many people speak and there is no need of me to talk in between but now I think there is a need of m to speak in a group and to make my point clear. This had helped me in my studies also I can understand very quickly b reading anything continuously. Research had made my further studies quite simpler. This research is going to help me when I complete my graduation and go for higher studies. This has helped me to observe every small-small things around us. Thought me to stand for my own rights. I would thank PUKAR for making me change in such a manner that I can present myself in front of any one with confident. And really thanks for always helping during studies time. Thank you.  Nagin Hi, my name is Nagma Kalu. I study in GN Khalsa college SYBA. So fast these days have gone I didn’t understand only. Pukar has taught me lot of things and I have gain a lot of information and knowledge from it. After completing our interview work, we had gone to kharghar for our orientation camp for 3 days. Where we met different researchers from different groups. We came to know each other; we spend a time with one and another. I learned from Pukar that never interrupt when someone is talking. How to talk with new people. First I used to get scared while talking with unknown people but know I don’t get that much scared while talking with someone. Always keep our point of view whether it is right or wrong. Never judge a people or blame him/her for any reason. I learn how to be in a group and how to work in a group together. While working in a group we should understand each other rather than fighting or blaming each other. Before I would never say anything in a group 62

and talk with anyone. However, know I keep my point of view and talk freely with anyone. But sometime I feel sacred to talk.

When we would have any kind of problem our facilitator, ex fellowship, and other pukar fellowship members used to help us. I enjoyed activities, workshops, etc in pukar. I had learned lot of things from this research. Before I was not knowing what is research and how to do research on any topic. But know I know everything that what is research and how to do research. i thank sunil Gangavane for helping me every time whenever I used to have problem. I thank Pukar from my heart for giving all this knowledge and new learning’s from it.  Sallu

मेरा नाम सलमान सलाउतद्दन खान है ! मै अपने आपको बहोि ही खशनतसब मानिा ह तक इस Pukar Youth Fellowship का तहस्सा बन पाया! मैंने इस fellowship मे ऐसे कई workshop हुये इन सभी का मै एक तहस्सा रहा! इस सफर मे मैंने अपने आपको पहचाना तक असल मे मै क्या सोचिा ह और क्या किान ह! सच का सामना करना तसखा और यह तकस िरह से अपने आपको दसरो के सामने पेश मै अपनी

करना और उस्को समझना! मैंने यह तसखा तक

तज़ांदतग का change maker मै खद ह!

अपने आपको पहचानना यह सबसे बडी जरूरि है ऐसा मै समझिा ह! इस fellowship मे कई िरह के तसख तमतल! मै तसफन तकिाबो मे क्य तलखा है उस पर ही तवस्वास करिा था! लेतकन अब मै हतककि क्या है उस पर ही तवस्वास करने लागा हु! तकसी ने क्या खब तलखा है : “ तगरना तभ अछा है औकाि का पिा चलिा है ! बड् िे है हाथ उठाने को अपनो का पिा चलिा है ! तसख रहा हु अब मै तभ इां सानो को पड् ने का हुनर, सना है चेहरे पे तकिाबो से ज्यादा तलखा होिा है !” मैने यह जाना तक research कोइ तभ करसकिा है ! मझे यह कह्िे हुये बडी खशी हो राही है तक मैंने बहोि कछ हातसल तकया इज नये सफर मे! हा! यह research करिे समय मझे बहोि से परे शातनया आई लेतकन उन परे शातनयो से लडना तसखा! क्योतक मेरा मनना है तक यह परे शातनया इां सान को और मजबि बनािी है ! इस सफर के दौरान मैंने बहोि कछ खोया! कह्िे हैं तक कछ पाने के तलये कछ खोना पड् िा है ! लेतकन मैंने तजिना खोया नतह उिना पाया है !

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इस सफर के दौरान मैंने एक सबसे मल्यवान तचज पाया और वह है मेरे दोस्ो का एक पररवार! इस पररवार मे कई problems आइ लेतकन वह कहे िे हैं ना तक “खशनतसब हैं वे लोग तजनकी family है !” मै अपने आप को खशनतसब मानिा हु तक मझे ऐसे दोस् तमले! मैने पहे ले कतभ इिना proud feel नही तकया जो मे इस वक्त कर रहा हु! तक मैने समाज से जडी समस्या पर एक research तकया जो तक आगे चल कर मेरे और मेरे समाज के तलये बहोि ही useful है ! अब कोई तभ problems हो उस पर मै सोच- तवचार करके अपना फैसला कर सकिा ह! इस परे साल जो मैने research तकय और जो समय मैने youth fellow के साथ गजारे यह मेरे इस साल तक सबसे बेह्िरीन समय था! और ध्नन्यवाद किान ह मै उन सतभ का तजनके तबना यह सफर सफल हो पाया! तजन्होने इस परे साल मेरा ख्याल रखा और मझे समझ के तलया! सतभको धन्य्वाद!  Shiv

माझ नाव नशवानी मपपळीकर आहे. आनण मी या peace group ची सदस्य आहे.मी khalsa college ची student आहे.आमच्या college through माझी या fellowship ची ओळख झाली. मला YLCM(youth leader as change maker ) या fellowship मधून खूप काही नशकायला नमळालां. माझ्या मध्ये या वर्मभराच्या fellowship मुळे खूप चा​ांगले बदल झाले. माझ्यामध्ये पनहले stage daring अनजबातच नव्हती म्हणजे मी लोका​ांसमोर उभां राहून बोलायची खूप भीती वाटायची पण आता मी माझे मत खूप चा​ांगल्या पद्धतीने मा​ांडता यायला लागली.मी माझ्या मतावर ठाम राहायला लागले.माझे मत समोरच्या व्यक्तीसमोर कसे मा​ांडायचे ते सुद्धा समोरच्या व्यक्तीला न दुखावता हा खूप चा​ांगला बदल माझ्यामध्ये घडू न आला.त्याचप्रकारे एखाद्या गोष्टीचा दोन्ही बाजूांनी कसा नवचार करायचा हे कळल,पनहल्या​ांदा एखाद्या गोष्टीची एकच बाजू धरून मी बोलायचे पण आता दोन्ही बाजू समजून घेऊन त्यावर नवचार करायला लागली आहे.छोयात छोटी गोष्ट आपण कशी observe करायची,फोटो कसे काढायचे हे कळल,त्याचप्रकारे मुद्दस े ूद कस नलहायचां हे देखील समजल.ह्या fellowship मध्ये पूणम वर्मभर आम्ही ग्रुप मध्ये काम के ल त्यामुळे team work कस करायचां,त्यासाठी आपण काय के ल पानहजे म्हणजे समोरच्याच बोलण सांपल्यावरच आपण बोलाव नह सगळ्यात मोठी नशकवण मला नमळाली.यानशवाय सगळ्यात चा​ांगली गोष्ट म्हणजे समाजात कस वावरायचां जर आपल्यासमोर एखादा प्रोब्लेम घडला असेल तर आपण त्यावर काय के ल पानहजे हे ह्यामु ळे मला समजल. कामाच ननयोजन करून काम वेळेत पूणम करण नह नशकवण मला या fellowship ने कदल.

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 Stellu My name is Stella Fernandes. I am from Khalsa College SYBA student. My learning from Pukar hmmm. Pukar just made me realize that no one is perfect in life. You just need to know what work are you good in. I have learned lot of things like patient, gain confidence, more thoughtful and focused in life. Before Pukar I would think that I could not do anything alone but now I am opposite. I can do my work on my own. There is total change in me which everyone can see. Curiosity is a new thing which I learn here. I just want to know new-new things which is the best part. I have even learned to say no which was very hard for me but I did it.

Through this proses I came to know may self which I Love now. How to use words and how effective your words can be I learned here. Now I use my words very carefully which is good thing. I Love to write. I improved it with Pukar. Payal (facilitator) told me “nothing is wrong you just write” which I always remember. Sunil (facilitator) showed me my mistake without telling which is the best part of Pukar.

This one year was the best experience of my life because I found me. I accepted me the way I am and I Love me even more. I fell in Love with my life with change my personality. Thank you sunil and payal and thank you everyone for been a part of my group. Love Love

 Yami माझे नाव यानमनी आहे.मी khalsa college मध्ये नशकत असून स्​्बा ची student आहे.मला आधीपासूनच समाजासाठी काहीतरी करायचां होत.या fellowship मुळे मला समाजाच एक structure आनण thinking चा अांदाज आला.छोया छोया गोष्टींचा सांबांध मोठ्या मोठ्या गोष्टीची कसा असतो हे कळल.प्रत्येक गोष्टीचा दोन्ही बाजूांनी नवचार करायला लावणारी fellowship होती नह,aaअस मला वाटत.आरक्षणावर माझा जे दुहरे ी मत होत ते पूणमपणे बदलून गेल.मी fellowship मुळे माझ्या मनातल्या गोष्टी दुसऱ्यासमोर मा​ांडायला नशकले.आत्मनवश्वास वाढला,नलहण्याची,बोलण्याची आनण वागण्याची एक वेगळी पद्धत मला नशकायला नमळाली.दुसऱ्याला समजेल अश्या भार्ेत present करण हा मोठा धडा होता माझ्यासाठी.कामच ननयोजन करून काम वेळेत कस पूणम करायचां हे मी नशकले.जरी मी रोज travelling करत असले तरी मला सगळ्या गोष्टींची मानहती नव्हती research मुळे मला नह मानहती नमळाली आनण या मुळे माझ्या ज्ञानातदेखील खूप भर पडली.

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 Yashu माझ नाव यशश्री मालेकर आहे आनण मी khalsa college ची student असून SYBA करते आहे.या पूणम वर्मभरात आमचे खुप workshop झाले आनण त्यातून मला खूप गोष्टी नशकायला नमळाल्या.आपला समाज,समाजातील माणस ह्या​ांच्याकडे बघण्याचा दृष्टीकोनच बदलून गेला आहे.स्वतःमध्ये होणारे बदल जसे स्वतःला जाणवू लागले तसे ते समोरच्यालाही जाणवू लागले.confidence level वाढला,एकमेका​ांशी सांवाद कसा करायचा ते समजू लागले.एखाद्याला न दुखावता एखादी गोष्ट कशी समजवता येईल हे समजल.एखाद्या गोष्टीच्या खोलात कस जायचां हे समजल.माझ्या overall developed झाल्या.personality develop झाली as मी नक्कीच म्हणू शकते.या resaerch मुळे मला खूप नवीन गोष्टी मानहत पडल्या.सगळ्या​ांचे मत जसे वेगवेगळे असतात तर या सगळ्या​ांमधून एका ननणमयावर कस यायचां हे कळल.ज्या गोष्टी मानहत देखील नव्हत्या अश्या गोष्टी या fellowship मुळे समोर यायला लागल्या.



Manu

Mera naam Manoj Kumar Gupta hai.mai G.N Khalsa college ka student hu. Mai is college me Arts ke field se apna graduation complete kar RHA hu. Pichle saal jab mai 2nd year me tha tab mujhe is process k baare me pta chala. Ye jankari mujhe apne dosto se pta chali. Jis process se mai juda Us sanstha ka naam Gunvanti J kapoor PUKAR hai.Jab mai is is sanstha se juda toh mujhe Jada kuch is process ke baare Me pta nhi tha.Bus itna pta tha ki Hume ek topic ke upar pur saal research karna hoga,par WO research kaise karna hoga ,uske liye Kya krna hoga uski mujhe zra bhi jaankari nhi thi.

Is process se judne se pahele mera interview liya gya. Is interview me kayi sawal puche gaye Jo mere liye ek behad accha anubhav tha.Interview lene ke baad humara do din ka CAMP hua Jo Khar ghar me tha.Humne us do din me bahot kuch sikha , Jo mai kabhi nhi bhul sakta . Is camp ke dauran Maine bahot saare activities me participate kiye.Jise mai kabhi mila bhi mila bhi nhi tha.Un ajnabi fellows se Maine baat ki Jo ki mere liye bahot muskil tha par namumkin nhi , Is Pukar ne mujhe do din ke camp me sikhaya.Us do din ke camp se Judi yaade aaj bhi mai yaad karta hu.Mai jaise hi is process se 66

juda kayi dher saarre workshops hue jinse Maine bahot kuch sikha,har chiz jise pahele upar hi upar dekha karta tha,aaj koi chiz dekhta hu ya sunta hu toh use gaherai se sochne aur samjhne lagta hu,Jo mujhe zindagi ki kadwi sacchai se waakif karata hai.

Ajj mai behad khus hu ki jin chizo se mai pareshan aur hairan raheta tha un chizo ko shi mayne se dekhne aur sochne ki samjh aagyi hai mujhme. Is process k dauran humne ek Topic chuna tha jis par Hume pure saal research karna tha, is topic par research karne ke liye 10 logo ka group bnaya gya . Jisme 8 ladkiyo aur 2 ladke the,jiska mai bhi ek hisa tha. Ladkiyo se baat krne me pahele mujhe bahot uncomfortable feel hota tha , par ab mai baat aachese kar lete hu. Ab mujhe Zara sa bhi uncomfortable feel nhi hota. Hume group me kis tarah se mil-jul kar kaam karna cahiye aur kaise ek dusre ko samjhkr chalna cahiye ye mujhe is process ke dauran pta chala,Jo ki ek barefoot researcher k liye behad zaruri hota hai , ek process ko anjam dene me .

Maine is process se kaafi kuch Jana aur logo ke taklifo se baat krne ka anubhav baaki Sabse kaafi alg RHA . Photograph,Interview , Ethics jaise workshop se Maine bahot kuch nayi chize jani. Jo aaj bhi mai apni zindagi me apne apnane ki kosis karta hu.Mujhme kaafi kuch pahele k muqkable bdlao aya hai. Jiske dekhte hue mai itna hi kahena cahunga ke Jab dena ho apne soch ko akaar Jab na karna ho apna wqt bekar Toh join karo sirf aur sirf Pukar

Appendices Permission Letter To, The Principal, ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________

Subject:- Permission for conducting participatory mapping with college students.

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Respected Madam/Sir, We are student of Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga. As a part of Youth Leader as Change makers Fellowship program we are conducting research on the topic of women safety while travelling in train.

In this research we want to study the problem faced by girls and women who travel by train regarding their safety issues. For this we are going to ask questions related to this topic. We are going to use two research methods- Participatory Mapping and Interview.

I, Ms.________________________________________, student of Guru Nanak Khalsa College studying in S.Y.B.A. I am doing this research along with my research fellows with an organization named PUKAR (Partner for Urban Knowledge and Action and Research). As a part of our research project we are supposed to talk to the women about their safety issues. Hence we are planning to conduct one participatory mapping and interview with the same students as per the convenience of students.

I, on behalf of my group request you to please grant us the permission to conduct session with girls in your college.

Thanking you.

Yours sincerely,

CONSENT LETTER We are students from Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga. This year with the help of PUKAR and Gunvati J. Kapoor medical relief charitable foundation we are conducting a small research on the topic of Women Safety While Travelling in Trains of Mumbai.

We want to study the problem faced by women who travel by train regarding their safety issues. For this we are going to ask questions related to this topic. We are going to use two important research methods i.e. Participatory mapping and Interview. In this meeting we are going to ask you few questions and also ask you to mark places on the map given to you where you feel unsafe while travelling anywhere by train. The meeting for participatory mapping will be held in your college. Later the interview will be conducted according to your convenience. Participant have to be present in the both the methods of the research.

The information given by you will be confidential and your personal information won’t be known to anyone that it would create any problem for you. The information given by you is only used for finding the solution of the problem.

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If you don’t feel comfortable in answering any questions or don’t feel like sharing your personal experience about you feeling unsafe you can immediately stop us from taking your interview, we assure you that there would be no problem for you created by us, nor we will force you for anything.

We also assure you that any photographs taken by us wouldn’t be shown to anybody or use by us for our further procedure without your consent.

We promise you to keep all your opinions and sharing of information confidential.

We would be glad if you share your opinion and help us to find out the solution for this problem.

Thank you!

SAFETY WHILE TRAVELLING BY TRAIN (PARTICIPATORY MAPPING) Team member name:-_______________________________ Name of the respondent:-_______________________________________ Age:-________________ Contact no:-_______________________ College name:-_________________________________________ From which station you travel:-________________to_______________ Date:-____/____/2016

Q1. Do you feel safe while travelling in train? - a) YES

b) NO

Q2. From which route do you travel? a) Harbor b) central c) western d) other___________________.

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c) Other

Q3. Do you travel alone or in group by train? – a) YES

b) NO

Why –

Q4. At which places do you feel unsafe while travelling by train? a) Platform b) subway c) public bridges d) public toilets e) train compartments f) other.

Q5. At what time of the day you feel unsafe while travelling from train? a) Morning b) afternoon c) evening d) night Q6. Why do you feel unsafe while travelling in train? a) Crowd b) snatcher c) eve teaser d) unwanted touch e) other ___________ Q7. Have you experienced any kind of misbehavior related to your safety in last six months?

Q8. Have you ever seen any incident related to women’s physical or sexual safety while travelling in train? Please share.

Q9. what did you do after that incident? Please share.

Q10. Did you take any action? Which?

INTERVIEW CONSENT LETTER We are students from Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Matunga. This year with the help of PUKAR and Gunvati J. Kapoor medical relief charitable foundation we are conducting a small research on the topic of Women Safety While Travelling in Trains of Mumbai.

We want to study the problem faced by women who travel by train regarding their safety issues. For this we are going to conduct a face to face interview in which we are going to ask questions related to this topic. The interview will be conducted according to your convenience.

The information given by you will be confidential and your personal information won’t be known to anyone that it would create any problem for you. The information given by you is only used for finding the solution of the problem.

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If you don’t feel comfortable in answering any questions or don’t feel like sharing your personal experience about you feeling unsafe you can immediately stop us from taking your interview, we assure you that there would be no problem for you created by us, nor we will force you for anything.

We promise you that all your opinions and sharing of information will remain confidential We would be glad if you share your opinion and help us to find out the solution for this problem.  PERMISSION

I grant you my permission, for  

Photographs (for proof) Audio Recording

Researcher Name

Researcher signature

…………………..

…………………….

Participant Name

Participant signature

………………….

……………………..

Interview Questions Q1. Where do you stay?

Q2. From where to where do you travel?

Q3. How do you come to that particular station from your house?

Q4. What time do you travel by train?

Q5. Do you come alone, in group or someone from your house drops you to the station?

Q6. After leaving from house till reaching to the station have you felt uncomfortable / unsafe?

Q7. After reaching to the station do you feel unsafe?

Q8. Where on the station do you feel unsafe?

Q9. In which compartment do you travel?

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Q10. After reaching your destination do you feel unsafe?

Q11. Have you faced any such experience which has affected your mobility in anyway?

Q12. Have you shared it with someone or have you asked someone regarding your problem?

Q13. Did you get any support or was your problem solved?

Q14. Do you know any helpline number? Have you asked any RTO to help you in your problem?

Q15. Any suggestion which you think will help?

Back cover आगाज़ एक सफर का

जहाूं भीड़-भाड़ है डर का दबाव है िेरे पहेलय िें कहाूं एक पल का छा​ाँव है

सुनो सुनो सुनो गौर से सुनो रे ल के सफर िें लड़मकयोूं को सुनो

कोई हो ना हो मफर भी डरती है वो

िुम्बई िहानगर की यात्रा कमिन है

घुरेरते है सब मफर भी चलती है वो

ये यात्रा कमिन कहे रही ूं है कुछ लडमकया

िन ही िन खुदको सिझाते हुए

डर का स्वभाव है िन का ये घाव है

दोस्त यारोूं से ये सब बताते हुए,

असुरमित कहाूं जब हो रहा सवाल है

उनकी बातोूं से खुदको बहेलाती है वो

कम्पार्ट िेंर्,मिज मिल रहा जवाब है

घरवालो से ये सब छु पाती है वो 72

हिें सभी को ये बात बताना होगा

क्यूं छु पाती है वो ?

हि सबको ये िुमहि चलाना होगा उसे डर है कही कुछ ना हो जाए उसके िूंमज़ल की सीढ़ी ना र्य र् जाए िेरी सरपर् पढ़ाई ना रूक जाए लोूंगो को सोच अब बदलना होगा इस ख़ािोशी को अपने उगलना होगा

सुर सुरिा का अब ना लगाना भाई कोई पयछे तो इतना ही बताना भाई फयलोूं सी नाज़ुक ना सिझे हिें बूंमदशो का घेरा ना घेरे हिें हिें लाचार-बेचार कहेने वालोूं अपना मसस्टि तुि थोड़ा सुधारो भाई हर प्लेर्फािट पर सुरिा की मसस्टि हो मजनसे झर्-पर् एक्शन की उिीद हो लेडीज़ बोगी िें दो लेडी कॉन्स्टे बल हो बात करने िें मजनसे कोई मदक्कत ना हो िेरे सपनोूं का स्टे शन ऐसा होगा मजसका हर एक कोना सुरमित होगा चलो आओ एक ऐसी तस्वीर बनाए अपने र्र ै न के पर्री को पार लगाए मजसपर सपनोूं का र्र ै न चलाना होगा मजसिे बदलाव का इूं जन लगाना होगा 73