A Curphew of relief?

The city of pubs had a respite for some years with  youngsters rejoicing the extension of their nightlife. Now, a change is in the offing. As after a brief haitus, this extension has raised questions on women and children safety, and an experts committee that works on the prevention of crimes against women and children has recommended that this extended nightlife poses safety issues for women and children. The committee has recommended that pubs, restaurants and eateries should shut by 11 pm. Will such a move solve the problem of women safety? We explore.

IT professional Ashutosh Singh feels that when it comes to women safety, it is a grave matter, “The city is better than the north in terms of women safety. But the ground reality is that support and protection from law is not possible all the time.

On December 31, there was so much security yet a girl was molested. It’s not right to put the entire blame on the system. We all know the effects of intoxication. It is better to nip the problem in the bud. Pubs shutting down by 11 means people will not get a chance to get drunk and out of control. It will reduce crime rates too.”

For senior software engineer Alka Rani, this recommendation will solve the problem to an extent. She adds, “Crimes against women may reduce, but that is not a solution. Our streets are more dangerous, instead of focusing on pubs, the innumerable liquor shops operating late at night should be looked into. There are two near my house; I have seen people drinking there. They should also be closed at a reasonable hour.”

The entire responsibility of women’s safety needs to be addressed by society. Software engineer Rishi Kumar feels, “People harass women only because they know that there is no law enforcement. I feel that pubs need to ensure that its patrons drink responsibly. It is great step forward to make women safe”.
From a sociological perspective, Sudeshna Mukherjee, a sociologist, feels, “Rather than encroaching on other people’s freedom, security needs to beefed up where pubs are situated. Although, it is good that the committee has recommended this, there will always be other places where people can drink.

This is a one dimensional short-cut to a problem which is huge. It does not ensure that women will be safe if pubs close at 11 pm. To ensure women safety, general vigilance and surveillance needs to be tightened.” 

Owner of a city-based restaurant Aditya Rao say, “Restaurants opening late means more income, and also adds a vibe to the city. In terms of women and children, if women are responsible then there should be no issue. It’s a good thing that the government is concerned about women safety, but harassment can happen anywhere.”