KURNOOL: Women students of KVR Degree College created a record of sorts by coming out in the open and standing firm against sexual violence against women and children.
Taking forward the Metoo moment with the slogan “Shame to Supp-ort”, the students joined the rape survivors in the country and expressed solidarity to the cause taken up by Dignity March by the Mumbai based Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan.
Mr Ashif Shaikh, convenor, Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan, said that most women don’t end up reporting sexual violence because they don't receive support from their families and friends and because they fear social stigma. “We want the survivors to talk to people, share their stories in the hope that it would help other people open up about their experience, and initiate legal action if necessary against those who had wronged them.
Rashtriya Garima Abhiyan started the Dignity March in Mumbai on December 20, 2018 and will cover 19 states and 200 districts before concluding in New Delhi on February 22, 2019.
It is coordinating with 300 other non-governmental organisations acr-oss the country for the march. Ashif Shaikh said, “In Andhra Pradesh we have covered Tirupati, Kadapa and Kurnool bringing self assertiveness among the rape survivors by giving a platform to share their stories without any fear. About 100 rape survivors are travelling with us, sharing their side of the story to stand against the evils of society.”
Kurnool Mahila DSP Venkatadri said, “Kurn-ool police is the friendliest police giving rape survivors all the support they need. We are providing skill development training and coaching for them to appear in competitive examinati-ons and training them to be absorbed in the police force if suitable.” He said already a batch of victims were undergoing coaching to become police personnel.
Mr Venkatadri further said that SHE teams in Kurnool had initiated a 2,100 km long Cycle Yatra to provide awareness am-ong the women against child trafficking, abuses against women and self sustenance programs to destitute women.
The students of KVR Women's college took an oath to shame the perpetrators and pledged to stand by the victims to bring dignity into their lives.
