India is crossing all the boundaries in spying and harassment against women, raising serious concerns about their safety and privacy.
For women living in villages around the reserves, forests have long been a place where they could escape the "ultra-conservative and male-dominated Indian society" and experience freedom and self-expression.
Women often go to forests to collect wood and grass, but the installation of camera traps, drones, and audio recorders for wildlife conservation has extended the "male gaze" into these areas.
In a serious incident, a photo of an autistic woman relieving herself in the forest was shared on social media by local men, prompting villagers to destroy nearby camera traps in protest.
According to Rosalind Duffy, a conservation expert from the University of Sheffield, such surveillance incidents involving cameras and drones are not accidental but are being used as new tools for harassing women.
India is ranked among the top five "most unsafe countries for women" in the world, where increasing incidents of harassment have made it one of the most dangerous destinations for both local and foreign women tourists.
Since 2012, the number of reported rape cases has exceeded 30,000 annually, surpassing 40,000 in 2023/2024. In Delhi alone, an average of four rape cases are reported daily.
Incidents of misconduct against women in the Indian armed forces are also on the rise. For example, allegations have surfaced against Major General R.S. Jaswal, IG Assam Rifles, and inappropriate behavior towards female cadets in Gujarat.
Foreign women tourists are not safe in India either. Several high-profile rape cases involving female tourists have further damaged India’s global reputation.
