Chennai Corporation To Step Up Women’s Safety in Public Spaces, Transport
A coordination meeting with the representatives of colleges and other organisations was held at the Ripon Buildings complex on Thursday under Commissioner G.S. Sameeran
CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has called for coordinated measures with colleges and civil society organisations to strengthen the safety of women in public spaces and public transport across the city.
A coordination meeting with the representatives of colleges and other organisations was held at the Ripon Buildings complex on Thursday under Commissioner G.S. Sameeran. The meeting focused on improving safety and awareness among women using buses, railway stations, Metro stations, colleges and app-based cabs, besides other public spaces.
The GCC’s Gender and Policy Lab has been undertaking awareness initiatives on women’s safety and access to various social welfare schemes. As part of these efforts, representatives from several educational institutions, NGOs and government departments participated in the meeting.
Officials discussed measures to ensure adequate safety for women in public spaces and different modes of public transport, besides addressing technology-related safety concerns. The Corporation also stressed the need to create awareness among college students about emerging risks, including the misuse of artificial intelligence to create misleading or inappropriate representations of women.
The meeting also discussed strengthening mechanisms within colleges to address gender-based complaints. Colleges were advised to appoint nodal officers for women’s safety and establish mechanisms through which complaints relating to gender-based concerns could be addressed.
The GCC further suggested the formation of women’s clubs or student groups in colleges to create a structured platform for students and strengthen awareness initiatives on gender safety.
Representatives from Anna Adarsh College, Women's Christian College, Nazareth College of Arts and Science, Guru Nanak College, Loyola College, Ethiraj College, D.G. Vaishnav College, Queen Mary's College and the Madras School of Social Work, besides representatives of NGOs and government departments, participated in the meeting.
Joint Commissioner (works) C. Saravanan, and head of the Gender and Policy Lab Dr. Lejis were present.
