The night belongs to women too, say DU protesters

On a chilly Tuesday night, a group of women students at Delhi University took to the streets in a protest rally against a recent gang-rape incident. The event, organized by the Students Federation of India under their "Reclaim the Night" campaign, aimed to address issues of women's safety and equality. The march followed the alleged gang-rape of a 16-year-old girl on a bus in Greater Noida, sparking widespread outrage.

The Students Federation of India unveiled the "Women Students Manifesto" prior to the DUSU elections, laying out their demands. The manifesto placed a strong emphasis on women's safety, representation, and gender justice. Among their proposed solutions were voting rights for students from all women's colleges in DUSU elections, a 50% reservation for women in the union's leadership positions, and improved safety amenities for women on university campuses.

Key demands included the establishment of safe and affordable women's hostels without discriminatory curfews, the implementation of functional Internal Complaints Committees with student representatives, and the provision of accessible menstrual hygiene facilities. The protesters also called for stronger emergency support systems, the deployment of women police personnel on university premises, and an end to moral policing and gender-based harassment.

The rally saw protesters voicing their concerns about the balance between women's safety and their personal freedom. They objected to any restrictions that would limit women students' mobility after dark, arguing that creating safer public spaces should not be achieved by confining women to their homes at certain hours.