‘Women belong to the weaker elements of the community,’ some remark. As a result, men dominate women and, at times, exploit women for their own amusement. Women are subjected to a wide range of forms of harassment. Sexual harassment is a widespread form of harassment in many regions of the world. Harassment of women in public areas by known and unknown individuals is referred to as eve teasing in India. Eve teasing literally means to bother or disturb women. It is defined as the act of harassing women, whether intentionally or unintentionally, physically or psychologically, in order to amuse, irritate, provoke, annoy, or embarrass them by words, statements, gestures, jokes, physical contact, and taunts. It is a distinct and euphemistic word for South Asia, particularly India. It is not used in the United Kingdom or other European countries.

More and more female students, women, and others are attending educational institutions, workplaces, and other places, and their safety is critical in a civilised and cultured society. The experiences of women and girls in overcrowded buses, metros, and trains are harrowing and terrible. Women now have positions of leadership in practically every industry, but eve teasing remains a social issue. Women are physically, psychologically, and socially impacted. They are embarrassed and would wish to forget the occurrence. Those who are impacted by eve teasing never question the man or resist the behaviour; instead, they play a subservient and tolerant attitude because they believe it will further tarnish their reputation.

FACTS AND FIGURES- According to the NCRB 2019(National Crime Record Bureau) report, a total of 4,05,861 occurrences of crime against women were registered in 2019, representing a 7.3 percent increase over 2018. (3,78,236 cases). The majority of instances under IPC crime against women were reported under ‘cruelty by spouse or his family’ (30.9), followed by ‘assault on women with purpose to violate her modesty’ (21.8%), ‘kidnapping & abduction of women’ (17.9%), and ‘rape’ (17.9%). (7.9 percent ). According to the NCRB study, the crime rate per lakh women population in 2019 is 62.4, up from 58.8 in 2018. Sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code deal with eve-teasing cases, which show a 13.05 percent increase in assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty, and an 18.9 percent decrease in incidents of insulting a woman’s modesty, respectively, from 2015 to 2016.
As a deterrent, a growing number of college-aged women riding Delhi’s public transportation have resorted to carrying pins, pen blades, and even daggers. Others have enrolled in self-defense classes.

According to a recent survey, over 90% of college women in New Delhi had experienced sexual harassment in some form or another. Despite this, it is believed that only approximately 1 in 10000 cases of eve teasing are reported to the p olice.98 percent of women say sexual harassment on the road has harmed their personal or academic growth in some way.These facts may appear to be false and horrific, but they clearly demonstrate the predicament of women in India. Every day, the situation worsens.

HOW TO PREVENT– Many psychologists feel that sex, love, and enjoyment are not the main reasons why men engage in this behaviour. The patriarchal worldview of the Indian male is intimately linked to Eve teasing. Men are socialised to feel that they are more physically and emotionally powerful than women. They believe they are doing nothing wrong by simply having fun. It is also regarded as a growing social issue. This is due to many societal changes such as urbanisation, the influence of Western culture, modernization, and changes in the status of women’s roles, women’s freedom, and democratic changes. Eve teasing is perceived by society as a social deviance at the macro level and at individual micro level as a behaviour problem. Technology has ensured that the globe contracts and restricts itself within the confines of the internet. Technology can be one of the most effective means of putting an end to eve teasing. Set up SOS numbers for your loved ones. Keep the police help lines on speed dial and your GPS tracker turned on at all times. Download safety apps, learn how to use them correctly, and register on connected websites. This ensures that when you are in need, your close and dear ones will be able to reach you quickly. Being self-reliant means being able to defend yourself without the assistance of others. Self-reliance also entails cultivating an attitude and confidence such that a person thinks several times before even being around you, let alone touching or misbehaving. You can always learn martial arts or karate for this. Tae-Kwan-Do will also be used to settle the dispute. Be brave enough to ensure your own safety even if it means sacrificing your dignity.

Conclusion– Eve teasing is a violation of a woman’s honour, dignity, and self-respect. It is excruciatingly painful for her. It should be handled as a separate offence. To regulate it, we need rigorous laws and restrictions. There is an urgent need to address this rapidly rising issue. Eve-teasing may appear to be a less serious crime, but it can quickly escalate into a serious offence if not prevented in its early stages. In a country like India, where women are worshipped alongside the Gods, such behaviour toward women is unjust, unfair, and Hippocratic. We owe it to women to be respectful. Only then would we be on the path to happiness, prosperity, and success.