THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Towards making elevators safer and friendly for women and to prevent atrocities against them, the Kerala Women’s Commission is devising a programme titled ‘Operation Women Security in Elevators’. Ahead of this, the condition of elevators in multi-storeyed buildings will be checked. Part of primary data collection, the lifts at Vikas Bhavan and Vaidyuthi Bhavan here were inspected.
The move is following the commission receiving complaints about incidents of rape happening in elevators. Commission chairperson K C Rosakutty said on Tuesday that in modern society, such heinous activities could not be tolerated. “It necessitates to ensure that public places and facilities are user-friendly for women,” she said.
“Many instances are reported on women getting attacked in places such as shopping malls and commercial complexes where strangers come and go. The situation is no different in apartment complexes. Minor girls fall prey to these acts. Fearing the impact it may cast over their future, most of them refrain from complaining,” she said.
A team of officials under the police circle inspector in the commission has been entrusted with the task of conducting the initial study. Inspection in government office buildings are carried out by them. In the coming days, safety audit may take place in other institutions.
The commission will present a set of guidelines to the government regarding the safety measures to be arranged in elevators and surrounding places in government and semi-government institutions, apartments, commercial complexes, shopping malls, multiplexes and hospitals.