Where Is the Safety for Our Children?

As our country reels from a series of horrific crimes, the latest incident has shaken us to our core: a nursery-going child was brutally raped inside a moving van in Jamshedpur. This is not just another crime; it’s a horrifying reflection of how deeply unsafe our society has become—even for our youngest and most innocent.

In recent times, much has been said about how women and girls should dress, where they should go, and what time they should be outside to avoid becoming victims of such heinous acts. But what was this little child wearing? What time was it when this child was outside? What place was this child in? A moving van. There is no justification, no excuse that can explain or minimize this crime. The reality is that this child was simply going about their day, as any child should be able to do, and was viciously attacked in a place that should have been safe.

This crime comes on the heels of other horrific incidents, like the rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata and the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Muzaffarpur. These cases highlight the frightening truth that no place, no time, and no set of circumstances can guarantee safety for women and children in this country. The blame is often shifted onto the victims—what they were wearing, where they were, or what time it was. But these crimes show us that the problem lies not with the victims, but with a society that allows such atrocities to happen.

We can no longer ignore the truth: women and children are not safe. We must stop the victim-blaming and start holding the real culprits accountable. This isn’t about what a child was wearing or where they were. This is about the deep-rooted violence in our society that targets the most vulnerable among us.

It’s time to demand justice—not just from our government, but from ourselves as a society. We must create an environment where our children, our women, and our people can live without fear. We need to stop making excuses and start making changes. The safety of our children depends on it.