Councillors discuss ways to make cities safe for women

BHUBANESWAR: In an effort to create women-friendly cities, the state commission for women (SCW) on Wednesday organised a gender sensitisation workshop for councillors of three municipal corporations of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur. The commission emphasised on creating facilities and forming policies for women and design our cities keeping in mind the needs of women.
"Unfortunately women's access to public spaces and their safety has never got adequate attention.Very small things and steps can have a big impact on the lives of women in cities. While forming policies and making plans for developing roads, street lights, parks and toilets in the cities, if we think of women's safety and their comfort, it would help in long term gains," said the chairperson of SCW, Lopamudra Buxipatra.
The corporators also discussed the problems faced by women including eve-teasing, torture for dowry, child marriage, harassment at the workplace, immoral trafficking, sex determination and female foeticide and domestic violence.
"There are various laws formed to deal with these issues. It is very important for us to know about our legal rights and how to deal with these problems and provide help and support to the poor and under-privileged women in the society," said K Madhabi, mayor of Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
The Odisha government has provided 50% reservation to women in urban local bodies. "Women are always at the receiving end. Gender sensitisation is very important for municipal corporations and corporators must be aware of various provisions as they are directly working in the grass roots level," said Usha Devi, skill development and technical education minister.
State disability commissioner Minati Behera, Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Jena and Cuttack mayor Minakshi Behera and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.