From stethoscopes to pepper sprays

A bunch of Delhi-based doctors have started a campaign on women's safetyIf the demonstrations are anything to go by, then Delhi's fairer sex are gearing up to take matters of their safety into their own hands. With several cases of crimes against women reported in the Capital in the final months of 2010, the city police's promises have fallen flat. On Sunday, as part of Mirchi Jhonk, a campaign for safety and empowerment of women, a group of Delhi-based doctors, headed by Dr Seema Malik who runs a skin and cosmetic surgery clinic, gave displays of ways and means of personal safety measures that can be adopted. Models display self-defence techniques as part of the Mirchi Jhonk campaign led by Dr Seema MalikI just want women to stop becoming victims. We have been doing health campaigns for women, also against domestic violence and now the city is giving scares to every single woman here. So we came up with this safety campaign, Mirchi Jhonk, said Malik.The campaign managed to rope in a local theatre group for creating awareness. We asked them to organise a simple street play to bring out the cause. Theatre is one of the mediums that can have a far-reaching effect in sending a message across, said Dr. Gagan, who is part of the group and is a dentist at BLK Hospital in Delhi. The street play had characters from Indian Mythology, including from the Mahabharata, to symbolise negative elements in society. The group that performed had college students who also learn theatre. We always perform for social causes, and women's safety is a burning issue. I think we can help build some awareness through the play, said Sumit Chaddha, director of Szoon Theatre Group, who also participated in the exhibit. We distributed pepper sprays to women here. I think every woman heading out of the house must carry one and learn some acts of self-defence. It has now become essential, said Malik. Hot topicMirchi Jhonk aims to inculcate a sense of empowerment in every woman in the city. The group runs a women's helpline (numberu00a0- 60606161). Also they are working on running a 24 hours cab service exclusively for women having female drivers as well.