Should women visitors to India be careful and worried about safety? The Indian Tourism Minister expressed concern over the alleged harassment faced by an American student during her stay in India for a study program. Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi on Saturday said he has taken up the issue with several chief ministers as well as all state tourism ministers.
The minister said that state tourism departments have unanimously agreed to put into place, measures to give greater security to all tourists, particularly women.
“I am also coordinating with various Ministries like Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Law and Justice to bring about further measuresโฆ,โ he added.
Recently, Michaela Cross, a Chicago University student, described India as “a travelerโs heaven and a woman’s hell” while giving an account of her study trip to India last year. She stated that she experienced relentless sexual harassment, groping and worse during her stay in the country.
Mr. Chiranjeevi said his Ministry has launched a sensitization campaign called ‘I respect women’ and that he is โnow coordinating with the Union Ministries concerned โ firstly, to raise awareness about the need for more sensitive behavior towards women and secondly, to provide greater securityโ.
“In all cases that are brought to our attention, we will endeavor to take remedial action as appropriate,” he said.