JOGULAMBA GADWAL POLICE

WOMEN'S CORNER - VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Living Alone

If You are a Single Woman

India's new worldly women, the country's younger generation is shedding submissive attitudes, aiming for higher education, careers, and longs for freedom and want to live independently. A number of sociological studies show that young Indian females now prize financial independence, freedom to decide when to marry and have children, and have glamorous careers. The boom in software industry especially BPO’s has given employment for not so qualified girls also.

Single women still an oddity in India. But young, single Indian women face different challenges than their male peers. Renting an apartment is the major difficulty for them as the owners tend to think that she will bring plethora of male friends home. However, we thought we should guide all those who prefer to live alone

Some precautions for the single women

Always take an apartment/house after recommended by known people and take their opinion about security and safety in that locality.

Bring in your family members/ relatives/friends and introduce them to your landlord/neighbours. Give them signals that you have strong ties/connections.

Be friendly with your neighbours and share about your work life with them. They can be supportive to you.

Be vigilant about men hanging near your apartment/house for many days together and if necessary confront them along with your friends.

The place where from you buy groceries, give clothes for ironing, buy vegetables, do not give too much information about whereabouts/ personal life. At times it can be misused.

Try to keep a helper/maid at home. It lessens the tension of being alone all the time.

Get new locks or have the tumblers reset when you move into a previously occupied dwelling.

Don’t hide a key outside the door, under mats, flowerpots or under rocks. If you want extra keys nearby, leave one with a trusted neighbour.

Make sure you have good, safe locks on all doors. Lock all doors when you go out, even if it’s for just a minute.

Be cautious when strangers enter your home. Use a peephole or look through a window to check. If you must talk to a stranger, never open the door wide.

Report broken streetlights in your neighbourhood. Well-lit areas discourage burglars and teasers.

Don’t give information to strangers over the telephone. On wrong number calls, don’t give the caller your number. Report continued wrong calls to the telephone company.

Don’t give your computer password or other pertinent information to others.

If possible, use metal grillwork on entrance doors.

Report any strangers loitering in your neighbourhood or people asking vague questions about your neighbours.

Use lights effectively, leave several on in different areas of the house when you go out.

A safe inexpensive window lock can also be made.

Leave a radio playing quietly when you go out to give the impression that someone is at home.

Remove your name and address from any magazines or papers before discarding them.

Shred all papers that contain pertinent information about you and members of your family.

Keep few valuables in your apartment.

Check references of maids, cleaning women or anyone else who may have to work inside your apartment while you are away from it.

Better safe than sorry

Always take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone.

Do not get into an elevator if there is someone it in with whom you are not comfortable.

Do not stand in the corners of the elevator, be near the front by the doors, ready to get off.

continuous eve-teasing by local should be notified to the police.

If stalked, walk to the local police station. Change direction of walking and never enter a lonely area.

Always keep your distance when walking past stranger on the street or in dark areas.

Get a cell phone. Keep it charged.

If you are walking alone in the dark or in a lonely area, and you find someone stalking you, scream and then run !

Offending phone calls and mails from anyone whom you don’t like should be clearly avoided. Be polite and firm. If he doesn’t stop, report it to the police.