Students Speak: Our conversations in Voice Labs

At Durga, we believe safe public spaces are everyone’s right, especially when it comes to creating gender just and inclusive spaces for women and non-binary students. Through our Voice Labs in various colleges of Bangalore, we heard the challenges that students face on a regular basis when it comes to their safety.

For Shreya*, menstruation is a stigmatizing experience and she is unable to find safe spaces to talk about it with her peers and professors. She wishes for a non-judgemental space to talk about her experiences, find allies and feel a sense of solidarity. 

Vishal* faces gender based violence, is stalked, made to feel unwelcome and uncomfortable, and harassed because of their gender identity. The students in their college do not have access to mental health support or institutional support/policies to provide redressal, which increases their sense of isolation. 

For Neha*, late evening classes means anxiety since she has to negotiate that with her parents every time, who are concerned for her safe trip back home. Getting rides back home is not easy, and public transport is not always safe. 

Pavitra* shares that there is lack of proper safety measures in her college, especially in the evenings. She sees many strangers lurking outside the college gate, who pass comments, whistle at her and her friends and make them feel very vulnerable.There is also no check on people entering the college and that makes them feel uncomfortable. 

Meenakshi* laments the loss of relaxed places to hangout and unwind with her friends. Her college campus has many dark alleys, owing to improper lighting, making college unsafe in late evenings. When they go to the eating joints right outside her college, they are met with stares and are judged for their clothes. 

(* Names changed to maintain confidentiality.)

How does this make you feel? Angry, confused, helpless, or indifferent? What if we tell you there is a way to challenge all this and create a safe and gender inclusive college? And you have a role to play in that. 

Sign this petions and share it widely to demand for Democratic Student Bodies in all Colleges.

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