Tamil Nadu
A picture of Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi travelling to investigate the issue of women's safety in the Union Territory after dusk has gone viral.
Found Puducherry reasonably safe at night. But will be improved.
Also urge people to connect with PCR,100/ & inform their concerns.. https://t.co/sFJHin0FgH
The image shows Bedi riding pillion on a two-wheeler with shawl covering her face. Bedi later also put out a message on the WhatsApp to journalists stating that she felt that the city was safe for women at night.
She, however, said that she would suggest a few measures “which need to be taken by the police to enhance security”. Since taking over as the L-G of the union territory, Bedi has undertaken several field visits, much to the annoyance of the ruling government. She is known to cycle during weekends to become acquainted with problems, mostly civic in nature.
A clip of Night Round done 'incognito' to check how safe was it for women++during late night hours.
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 19, 2017
Helped identify areas for improvement.. pic.twitter.com/1BeMsL1JQX
“The night round was done incognito, as a pillion rider, to personally check how secure it was for women at night to be on the road. It seemed safe. But there was not a single cop anywhere spotted, unless they too were in disguise,” she said in the WhatsApp message.
Bedi also had to face some brickbat on account her not wearing a helmet. In response to the criticism, she said she had deliberately chosen not to wear one.
“Not wearing a helmet was a careful choice,” she said, as she “wanted to appear vulnerable and wanted to see how we women driving a bike were looked at.”
Not wearing helmet was a careful choice. Both wanted to appear vulnerable & wanted to see how we women driving a scooty at nite r looked at https://t.co/SkGfvQlBR6
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) August 19, 2017