Why Are Girls Still Unsafe in India? A Nation’s Unanswered Question

In a country that prides itself on progress, culture, and moral values, the safety of women and girls remains one of India’s most painful and persistent failures. Every few days, headlines remind us that our daughters are not safe—in their homes, in their schools, on the streets, or even in public spaces that promise protection. As a girl in India, one question echoes constantly: Why is our safety still negotiable? Why does justice still move so slowly?

The recent tragedies involving 13-year-old Prabhleen from Jalandhar and 3-year-old Yadnya have once again shaken the conscience of the nation. These are not isolated events; they represent a deep-rooted problem that India has failed to control for far too long. Despite public outrage, protests, and promises, girls continue to fall victim to crimes that should not even exist in a civilized society.

Where Is the Urgency in Our Laws?

Countries around the world have established strict, swift, and uncompromising laws against sexual crimes. Many nations ensure immediate arrest, fast-track trial, and punishments that truly deter offenders. Yet in India, even after the Nirbhaya case and multiple amendments, justice remains painfully delayed and often diluted.

Why is it that a nation capable of launching space missions and leading global tech still struggles to enforce strict laws for the basic safety of women?
Why does the burden of “caution” always fall on girls, but the burden of accountability almost never falls on offenders?

A System That Reacts, But Rarely Prevents

Whenever a brutal incident occurs, we witness temporary uproar—statements, condolences, candle marches, and promises of “strict action.” But should the system respond only after a girl is harmed? Why isn’t prevention the priority?

• Why are children still exposed to predators within their own neighborhoods?

• Why do police, schools, and institutions still lack robust safety protocols?

• Why aren’t fast-track courts uniformly mandatory for sexual crimes?

• Why does conviction take years—and sometimes never come?

These are not questions that only women should be asking; these are questions the entire nation must answer.

A Girl’s Voice: We Are Not Asking for Favors—We Are Asking for Our Right to Live Safely

As a girl growing up in India, the fear is constant and exhausting. We are taught to be careful, alert, covered, polite, silent, cautious, and responsible. But who is teaching men not to harm? Who is building systems that prevent predators from walking free? Who is ensuring that justice is swift enough to maintain fear of the law?

India is home to countless powerful women in leadership, sports, science, governance, and business. Yet the one thing we still have to fight for is basic safety—the right to walk freely, live fearlessly, and grow without trauma.

The Government Must Answer

Girls and women of this country deserve to ask:
Why is there still no uncompromising, uniform, and nationwide strict law for rape—one that ensures swift punishment and zero leniency?
Why are repeat offenders, minors involved in brutal crimes, and individuals with prior complaints still able to roam freely?
Why are we waiting for the next case to remind us of what should have been fixed decades ago?

India needs:

• Stronger laws with timely conviction

• Mandatory fast-track courts

• Better policing and surveillance

• Accountability for institutional failures

• Awareness and education at the root level

• A national zero-tolerance policy for crimes against women

It’s Time to Raise Our Voice

We cannot let Prabhleen, Yadnya, or any other child become just another name in a long list of tragedies. Their stories must become the turning point that forces our country to rethink, reform, and reinforce its commitment to women’s safety.

As girls, we are not asking for anything extraordinary.
We are asking for the security that every human deserves.
We are asking for strict laws that match the seriousness of the crime.
We are asking for a country where justice isn’t delayed, and lives aren’t destroyed before they even begin.

India must act—now, decisively, and permanently.
Because every girl deserves a future free of fear.

~MS

New labour codes: 10 key changes every employee should know

India's new labour codes are finally in force, replacing a patchwork of older laws with one clearer set of rules. These changes affect everyday basics like wages, leave, working hours and workplace security.

Whether someone works full-time, on a contract, or in sector-specific roles like media, plantations or factories, the new framework affects nearly everyone.

Here are the key updates workers should be aware of, along with several other important changes that haven't received enough attention.

GRATUITY AFTER A YEAR FOR FIXED-TERM EMPLOYEES

A uniform definition of wages now applies across all labour laws, reshaping how benefits are calculated. One of the biggest shifts is gratuity.

Fixed-term employees—workers hired on time-bound contracts commonly seen in IT, manufacturing, media, logistics and services—can now qualify after just one year of service instead of five.

Kartik Narayan, CEO of Apna's Jobs Marketplace, says this formal recognition "gives employers hiring flexibility while ensuring workers are not left without basic protection."

PAID LEAVE BECOMES EASIER TO QUALIFY FOR

Employees now need 180 days of work in a year to qualify for annual paid leave. Earlier, the threshold was 240 days. The lower requirement helps workers in seasonal or shift-heavy roles who couldn't previously meet the longer eligibility period.

CLEARER WORKING HOURS AND BETTER OVERTIME PAY

The eight-hour workday and forty-eight-hour workweek remain, but governments now have more flexibility to structure the weekly schedule — whether four long days, five medium days or six standard days.

Overtime must be voluntary and paid at twice the normal rate, and states can now allow higher overtime limits than before.

Narayan says this framework "balances flexibility for employers with safety and predictability for workers."

APPOINTMENT LETTERS NOW MANDATORY

Every worker must receive a written appointment letter spelling out wages, duties, working hours, and entitlements. This ends the ambiguity many workers, especially in services, trades, and media, have historically faced.

MINIMUM WAGES EXTEND TO ALL SECTORS

Minimum wages will now apply across the board, not just in scheduled industries. The Centre will set a national floor wage, and no state can fix wages below it.

This makes wage protection universal.

WILL TAKE-HOME PAY REDUCE?

In many cases, take-home salary may reduce slightly unless employers adjust the overall CTC, as a larger share of pay now falls under the statutory wage base and attracts higher PF or gratuity deductions.

TIMELY PAYMENT OF SALARIES FOR ALL WORKERS

Earlier, timely-wage rules applied only to those earning below a certain limit. Now, every employee is covered. Delayed salaries can attract penalties, strengthening basic financial security.

COMMUTE-RELATED ACCIDENTS COUNT AS WORKPLACE INCIDENTS

If a worker meets with an accident while travelling between home and the workplace—under specific conditions—it will be treated as an employment-related accident. This improves access to compensation, insurance and ESI benefits.

ESIC COVERAGE EXPANDS ACROSS INDIA

ESI is no longer restricted to notified areas. Workers in factories, shops, plantations and even hazardous one-person units can now be covered.

This expands access to medical insurance, disability coverage and maternity benefits.

FORMAL PROTECTION FOR MEDIA, DIGITAL AND AUDIO-VISUAL WORKERS

Journalists, OTT workers, digital creators, dubbing artists and crew members must now receive formal appointment letters that clearly list wages, working hours and entitlements.

This fills a long-standing regulatory gap in creative and digital industries.

Dear men, I feel for you !

Hide their tears,
Fake their smiles,
Because they are being taught
" Men don't cry !"
Seriously ?
What are they then supposed to do,
When are in a bad mood and despair ?

Just because they are
supposed to keep their eyes dry,
it doesn't mean that
they have to make all their thoughts fry.

Sitting idle at home
they are marked as
dumb and unemployed,
Do the respect depends
on their salary scale ?
Why the hell this society
act being so annoyed ?

To fit into the society's
terms and conditions,
They just need to put
their screams to silences.

All those high expectations
from the family and society,
Literally kills them from inside.
But hey you ! Keep quiet !
You are not supposed to
tell your anxiety outside !

On one side, they should be
strong enough to face any situation,
But the other side, they should be soft
to their loved ones and the other creations.

They are the only shoulder,
On which everyone lean on..
They must be a shield,
But have to strive all alone.

Just because they are
conditioned not to express,
It doesn't mean they don't feel
And have to make all
their feelings suppress .

Irrespective of their choice,
They have to choose the bold colours.
But why the rest colours are not for them ?
Why have to show their boldness also in them?

And just because
they don't complain about it,
it doesn't mean they don't have a heart.
They feel every damn thing
and get emotional too.
They just hide all these by their art .

All what they want is to
Be a lover and a admirer.
But all they get called up
Is a sexual offender.

Give up their dreams
just to fill someone else's canvas.
Because following dreams with
empty pockets is called up madness .

Yeah we don't know this
because they don't show this to us .
They might look okay by their faces,
Supporting everyone,
even if they are in trouble
but it doesn't mean that
they don't need any favour.

In a race to fight the life,
They are always asked
To torn their heart apart every night.

Shout, cry, scream, express,
All these words should have
no significance for them,
Just because they are men !

They also feels every moment
but telling others is not their thing,
Since they have to make their
throat tough, having their words back string.

"He is a boy" everyone says in a happy voice .
But being a man, is that pleasing to rejoice ?

Planning and supporting of a crime is also a crime !

Planning and supporting of a crime is also a crime !! 

Though I tried my best to not think much on this ! Still seeing all the posts everywhere and all those comments made it to break my silence now . I am sure almost everyone today knows about that THE BOYS LOCKER ROOM and here i am, just expressing up some of my views regarding this.
Everytime I feel like things are getting better and we are slightly safe in the open society, all these issues get me back stucked . Literally just reading of all this shook me out, like really there are people around us who are planning and supporting others to rape us. Now just think of those girls who were entraped in all this and moreover after raising their voice against all this, what they are getting in return, just threats. Like seriously, Just tell us , what kind of fun it is , what do you get after passing such comments and sharing of all those pictures. And its not about just that group, but its about the thinking of the society. That group just come up in highlights so these issues are raised but you know we have many silent spectators too . What about them ? Yes, they did wrong . Saying all this shit about girls or anyone , it's not at all tolerated but its just we got to know about that . But do we know about the rest too ? May be, there are many others too.
And the worst part is all these incidents not only leave a dark spot in those girls but it is also effecting the mindset of others.So is it like we are not even safe on social media ? Is it like we can't even just post our pictures ? And just because of these creepers, we have to define our boundaries. Excuse me, who the hell are you ? Who the hell has given you the permission to put boundations on us? Are you my mother or father? No,you are not ! So why can't you just keep your eyes in limits. Why can't you respect others ? By whom you get the right to comment on our body shapes ? Have your parents give this type of upbringing to you ?
I know it's getting so common and even if we make a hell efforts to stop all this, it's not gonna change and it's just because of the thinking of youth . Yes, it is ! I feel so bad for their mothers who raised up such monsters and their sisters who trust them. Can you explain how you see yours sister's clothing ? Do you have this similar kind of thinking for them too ? What if someone comments out the same on your mother or sister, don't you get outraged on them ? Or you just put the level of your HAWAS (sexual desire) up at that time too and support them too ? Why always the girls have to compromise in each case ? Why can't parents give their boys such upbringing that they respect women ?
I know these questions are raised always whenever such kind of incident took place . But till when we are supposed to face this ? Aren't we humans too ? Don't we have the right to walk on a road alone, without any fear? Don't we have the right to wear as per our wish ?

I am extremely disheartened and enraged right now, but still i believe there are some good humans left too ! And that on those we trust today will not have such intentions. That there'll be men who would be with us and react towards such things .At last i just want to request you all, RESPECT WOMEN, don't just pretend that you do . I always believe that there will be a good man who will overpower all these monsters and make us feel safe , but it's still a wish.
In a hope of some good day, when negative vibes will decrease off and we will actually be safe.
- Mansi soni