Fit India Sans Women? Survey Says Most Indian Girls Feel Unsafe While Going For Morning Walks
'Fit India' is something that has been initiated by Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and taken forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the government aims to promote healthy living, a recent survey has claimed that only 20 per cent of girls in urban areas and 15 per cent in rural areas feel safe while going out to meet friends or for a morning walk.
Mumbai, July 3: 'Fit India' is something that has been initiated by Union Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and taken forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As the government aims to promote healthy living, a recent survey has claimed that only 20 per cent of girls in urban areas and 15 per cent in rural areas feel safe while going out to meet friends or for a morning walk.
A new study 'Wings 2018: World Of India's Girls' by Save The Children, an international non-governmental organisation, tried to explore safety perceptions among adolescent girls. The survey covered six states - Assam, Delhi NCR, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana and West Bengal. It surveyed 3,128 adolescent girls, 1,141 boys (aged 15-18), 248 young women (aged 19-22) forced to marry early, and 842 parents of adolescent girls across 30 cities and 84 villages in 12 districts. The survey makes many other observations like girls feeling unsafe on way to school and in public transport.
Fit India is a dream that every Indian must move forward with, but the question is if we really have the means to ensure our parks are safe enough for our girls to stay fit. Over the past few years, India has seen the rise of women taking to morning runs in open spaces. But not without "getting the looks" from passersby. I don't remember a single morning jog when I have not been leched at or judged, specially when I went out for it alone, once, almost being caught by a man had I not reached my society gate.
Practising yoga peacefully in a park, even if you have no one to accompany you, going for morning runs and walks in comfortable running shorts without having to depend on company, is perhaps what every woman in India dreams of. We also dream of going to the gym without being checked out top to bottom by those men pretending to be working out.
Alas, that day, we hope, shall come. And we, not so elite, common everyday women, shall also be freely, happily and proudly part of the Fit India movement. After all, "Hum Fit Toh India Fit."
(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2018 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).