Cops rope in star power
After former cricketers Kirti Azad and Virender Sehwag urged Delhiites to drive safely, the onus of encouraging citizens to tackle crime against women has come on actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. Farhan has been chosen by the Delhi Police to popularise its public-friendly initiatives.
In October last year, Mumbai boys Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes were set upon by 17 men, mercilessly beaten and stabbed for trying to save the girls in their group from eve-teasers. At least 50 eyewitnesses saw the murders as Keenan’s girlfriend Priyanka screamed for help. None came forward.
Can celebrity endorsements like these help infuse empathy and sensitivity among people?
“I think it helps in sensitising people, who may not listen to what the cops have to say, but will definitely notice when a celebrity is out to spread awareness about an issue that concerns all of us. People may not follow what they see or hear, but it will at least make them think,” says Suman Nagrajan, an ad professional.
HR manager Shivesh Sood says that instead of roping in celebrities, the Delhi Police should have stricter laws and stringent punishments in place. “I don’t think celebrity interference in such causes helps. Celebrities enjoy mass following and while Amitabh Bachchan spreading awareness about the threat of polio or actors supporting campaigns for PETA do influence minds, they cannot change mindsets. So if Farhan Akhtar urges Delhiites to be nice and respectful to women, I don’t see it moving those who treat women as a commodity. He is not the first to spread the message of women’s safety, but a look at the statistics will show that crime rate against women hasn’t dropped at all,” he says.
Last year when cricketer Virender Sehwag joined the project to educate people on traffic sense, “did it have any impact?” asks Vani Gosain. She says, “The offenders are not scared of any penalty or punishment. In fact, on the night of December 31, 624 errant drivers were booked for drunk and rash driving. Famous personalities can lend support to the cause, they can’t change the way people think and function.”
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