Passenger Clicks Flight Attendant's Intimate Parts Secretly, Heinous Act Zeroes In On Women Safety Struggles In Post-Independent India

In a shameful act, an airline passenger tried to click pictures of a flight attendant’s intimate parts recently. An Instagram influencer Maanvi took to her handle @milliondollabod and shared the disturbing video. In the video, she narrated the entire story and exposed the perpetrator. Maanvi shared that while the flight attendant was serving the man, he used his camera to film her. She informed the Spicejet crew and the team checked the passenger’s phone.

The phone had pictures of the flight attendant’s underpants and legs and also had videos of Maanvi, who was sitting right next to him. In the video, the attendant was seen asking the blogger to film the perpetrator and expose him on social media. As the crew pointed fingers at the passenger and asked him to wait for the airline security, he seemed unbothered. Watch the video here:-

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A post shared by Maanvi (@milliondollabod)

Disturbing Data Bank

Data: NCW

This is just another case among the many crimes against women in the country. Half of the crimes go unreported due to a lack of awareness, support and societal stigmas, and victim blaming. The numbers are disturbing, to say the least. According to a report by PTI, about 31,000 complaints of crimes against women were filed in the year 2022. The number made it the highest in India since 2014. As per NCW (National Commission For Women) data, the number of complaints increased as compared to 2021 when 30864 cases were reported.

Women Have No Right To Live With Dignity

Even though this one is a fundamental right every Indian citizen is entitled to, it is a far-fetched dream for women in the nation. NCW's annual report (2019-2020) and then Press Trust of India's (PTI) 2023 report, the highest number of crimes against women were related to the right to live with dignity. The numbers were 5061 between 2019-20 and 9710 in 2022.

The right to live with dignity promises every individual the right to be treated respectfully and fairly. It further includes the right to enjoy all human rights like living without the fear of violence, discrimination, and any kind of physical, emotional, or psychological abuse, or harassment.

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We wonder what makes women any less human since they aren't treated as one in the country. The crime number just doesn't seem to die down. Is this Azaad Bharat? We ask this on Independence Day.

Status Of Women In Post Independent India

Post-independence, India witnessed significant changes and advancements for women. Laws and regulations to protect women's rights were introduced, there was an increase in education and literacy with girls being sent to school, women began to participate in the workforce, and healthcare services were provided to women.

The progress didn't overcome challenges like gender-based violence, gender pay gap, child marriage, healthcare disparities, social norms, and discrimination among others. Today, when the country is about to ring in the 77th Independence Day, nothing seems to have changed.

The Two Sides Of India

While one-half of the nation can't stop hailing women achievers for driving the dreams of India today, the other half seems busy lodging complaints for crimes against women. The most number of complaints received by NCW between 2019-20 also include crimes like harassment of married women/dowry harassment, outraging the modesty of women/molestation, police apathy against women, rape/attempt to rape, and sexual harassment. The nature of these complaints serves as a clear picture of the women's safety situation in India.

No Place Safe For Women

Forget stepping out at night, being out in broad daylight too isn't safe in India. Time and again, the nation's leaders have advised girls and women to be at home at night, called them out for wearing short clothes under Western influences, and blamed them for being friends with the opposite gender.

What further makes the affair unsettling is that women aren’t safe in their homes too. Domestic violence, harassment in the name of dowry, marital rape, and honour killings, continue to be leading the list of crimes against women. Being out in the open means inviting crimes like eve-teasing, stalking (Laws protecting stalking), molestation, rape, and kidnapping. It is safe to say that women have no safe place to be in the nation.

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Unfortunately, there is no glimmer of hope. These crimes take root from factors like patriarchal norms, lack of awareness and education about gender rights, weak legal enforcement, gender inequality, and cultural practices to name a few.

To make India a safe place to be for women, we need a strong legal framework to address women's safety issues, timely and fair trials, gender sensitisation among men, and safe public spaces for starters.