India, Oct. 20 -- On October 9, the University of Delhi directed its colleges to conduct campus safety audits and submit their findings by October 12. The directive came weeks after 17-year-old girl was allegedly raped in a park in Kalkaji area, adjacent to Lady Sri Ram college on September 21. The incident, which led to agitation by students and other groups, raised a larger question: why does institutional action on women's safety often gain momentum after incidents of sexual violence and student protests, rather than being part of routine campus life?

The DU directive called for identifying unsafe spots, repairing streetlights, installing CCTV cameras, pruning trees and conducting gender sensitisation workshops. However, student-led e...