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The struggle for spatial equity in India

Across the country, inequality is fundamentally tied to physical safety and freedom from violence. Women and gender minorities face persistent challenges in accessing public spaces, with their experiences marred by harassment, assault, and fear.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), almost 32 thousand rapes were recorded in India in 2021, an average of 86 cases a day.

And in 2022, a World Bank study revealed that while 88 per cent of women in Delhi were sexually harassed that year, just 1 per cent informed the police.

This makes it likely that these figures donโ€™t represent the true scale of the problem, given how many of these offences go unreported.

As for its impact, this pervasive culture of violence is restricting the freedom of movement of gender minorities and perpetuating a pattern of exclusion countrywide.

In India, public spaces are significantly dangerous, where the simple act of walking is all-too often infused with anxiety, fear, and a need to conform.

As noted in Why Loiter? by Shilpa Phadke, when women are attacked, theyโ€™ll inevitably be questioned about what they were wearing, highlighting the fact that outdated norms prevail and that they still donโ€™t belong in these arenas.

These barriers to accessibility are frequently impeded by discrimination, with only 44 per cent of Indian women permitted to visit markets unaccompanied, as the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) has found.

Employment opportunities are also affected, with womenโ€™s mobility in urban areas restricted due to safety concerns (in addition to these disparities and social norms) and their workforce participation much lower than menโ€™s as a result.

In Delhi, metro coaches exclusively for women have been introduced to โ€˜protectโ€™ them.

Though well-meaning, itโ€™s less than ideal that the government is resorting to such measures rather than getting to the root of the issue.

This โ€˜separate but equalโ€™ treatment of women offers a short-term solution, but fails to address why harassment and discrimination โ€“ Greenpeace India recently uncovered that bus drivers regularly fail to halt for female passengers โ€“ continues to be so ubiquitous.

Acknowledging that guaranteeing safety and freedom of movement for all citizens is a crucial part of democracy, initiatives like @citygirlswalkdelhi are working to reclaim womenโ€™s right to public spaces by challenging the status quo.

Unfortunately, comprehensive policy changes will also be necessary for a lasting transformation to really take hold and bring about a much-needed shift in attitudes.

The Safe Cities Global Initiative by UN Women is focused on this, with its framework for creating inclusive urban environments through stakeholder engagement, safety audits, and evidence-based interventions.

As a grassroots level, itโ€™s also urging for the improvement of educating on harmful gender stereotypes with comprehensive sensitisation programmes in schools and workplaces.

Clearly, achieving spatial equity demands a multifaceted approach that involves uniting policymakers, law enforcement, educational institutions, and civil society organisations.

By recognising the ongoing struggles of gender minorities and amplifying their voices, India can finally begin to dismantle the obstacles that have long denied them the ability to exist without oppression as they deserve.

It will be an uphill battle, of course, but itโ€™s one that absolutely must be fought.

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