Ludhiana a shade better than Delhi?

LUDHIANA: The country's top court, on Friday, expressed its concern about safety in Delhi, with specific reference to incidents of sexual harassment. Ludhiana may be a shade better than Delhi at the moment. But it is steadily going the Delhi way. Women of all ages - from 16 to 85 - are looking over their shoulders more than ever before. But there are new lessons to be learnt with every unfortunate incident so TOI gets talking to women in city about their personal experiences, asking them to suggest measures to make the city safe.
Malika, 23, a resident of Varindavan Road, reveals that she too had been a victim of similar harassment. "One day I was going to my friend's place on Activa via Bharat Nagar Chowk, when suddenly a middle-aged man came close and touched me awkwardly. The road where this incident happened was crowded but that man still had the audacity to touch me. I was stunned and did not know how to react. The man went away smiling because no one could do anything."
According to Malika, there is an urgent need to revamp the security system of the city. "Every colony should have police personnel deployed round-the-clock for security, especially at night. Additional manpower should be put into force to safeguard women working till late at night," she said.
Akanksha, a tuition teacher in Lajpat Nagar, chips in to give her suggestion. She said, "There are many places in Ludhiana which are deserted and don't even have streetlights. These are exactly the kind of places where most crimes take place. If the authorities are really serious about safety of women, they should make sure that streetlights and CCTV cameras are installed at such places. Add to that cops should make regular rounds of such localities to ensure full security.
A city's development should be judged on the level of dignity, equality and respect that it gives to its women residents. Residents feel its high time authorities snap out of their slumber and do everything possible to make the city safe for women.