Women’s Safety Needs CHANGE In Social Attitudes: OU V-C
Women’s safety cannot be ensured through laws and policing alone: Osmania University (OU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram
HYDERABAD: Respect for women must become a social value rather than a response to the fear of punishment, Osmania University (OU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram said on Thursday, calling for changes in everyday behaviour and greater participation by young men to make campuses safer.
“Women’s safety cannot be ensured through laws and policing alone,” he said, addressing the inaugural session of the two-day #StandWithHer Training of Trainers programme organised by the Telangana police women safety wing (WSW) at the UGC–Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre on the university campus.
He also said nearly 40 per cent of OU’s faculty members were women and referred to proposed high-rise hostel facilities for 1,500 women students as part of efforts to provide a safe and supportive academic environment.
Director General, CID, ACB and WSW, Charu Sinha urged students to challenge harmful stereotypes, respect personal boundaries and speak up against harassment and discrimination instead of remaining silent spectators.
Asiya Shervani, head of training and content development at WSW, said participants would learn practical skills in gender sensitisation, communication, empathy, consent and responsible intervention.
The programme, being held on until Friday under the theme “Awareness – Sensitisation– Action,” will train more than 250 participants in four batches. They will then conduct awareness sessions at their respective institutions.
The initiative aims to reach more than 2,000 students and faculty members across Telangana over six months. Faculty members and students from degree colleges across the state are participating.