Crime rates against women have increased significantly in India “during a five-year period 9.2 percent in 2009 to 11.2 percent in 2013”. This article mentioned that rural areas tend to have a large number of unreported cases, but cities are more vulnerable to crimes against women. Most homes in India (particularly in rural areas) don’t have access to toilets so people usually have to walk into fields at weird hours. This places women high at risk for being victims of sexual crimes. I can only imagine the number of women that become sexually assaulted because of the absence of a toilet in their home.
Although rural areas don’t have much access to technology like people in the city do, better access to internet has helped women feel empowered to report rapes. Through social media and awareness campaigns, women have gotten together to help raise awareness on the issue. The Delhi police and the home minister recently launched a mobile app called ‘Himmat’ or courage, that is supposed to allow women to contact the Police Control Room in the case of an emergency when traveling alone at night.
Many technological advancements have been made in the cities to help stop sexual violence in India, but what do you guys think can be done to help those women who live in rural areas?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/india-sexual-violence_n_6478742.html