3 years since Dec 16 gang-rape: What has changed in Delhi

Women activists say "nothing much has changed" when it comes to safety of women in the national capital since the tragic December 16 gang-rape case three years ago which shook the nation and led to a massive public outcry forcing Parliament to enact a new anti-rape law.

"What has changed in Delhi? Do we have lesser rapes now? Has the security system been strengthened? Have the convicts of brutal gangrape been hanged? Definitely, the Nirbhaya gang-rape triggered a huge outcry but where are the results," said Ranjana Kumari, activist and Director, Centre for Social Research.

"The nation is yet to see the 'hanging' of the convicts and to believe the fact that the ones ontributing to violence against women will be severely punished and the situation 'changed VS not changed' will continue till strong examples are set that the accused will not be spared," she added.

Another activist Kavita Krishnan said, "The juvenile accused is likely to walk free, that speaks volumes about the 'change' in the past three years. Neither there is political will nor conviction of the accused".

"Law has been made, funds have been allocated, fast track court was to hear the case but where is the implementation and where are the results that reflect a change in the society," she added.

Six persons including a juvenile, had brutally assaulted and raped a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. The victim had succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital on December 29, 2012, plunging the country into grief.

Mukesh, Vinay, Pawan and Akshay were awarded death penalty by a trial court in the gang-rape and murder case which was later confirmed by Delhi high court. Their appeals are pending before the Supreme Court.

Accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail on March 11, 2013, and proceedings against him were abated following his death.

The Centre had on Monday asked the Delhi high court to extend the observation home stay of the juvenile convict who is scheduled to be released on Sunday, saying several mandatory aspects were missing from the post-release rehabilitation plan which needed to be considered before setting him free.

Image: A demonstrator shouts slogans while holding a candle during a candlelight vigil to mark the first death anniversary of the Delhi gang rape victim, in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters