With just one day left for Ganesh Chaturthi, the Vijay Tarun Mitra Mandal in Rambaug, Kalyan West, is still awaiting permission from the police to play an audio clip that highlights the importance of women’s safety while referring to the financial assistance of R1,500 offered by the state government under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. Kalyan is just a few kilometres from Badlapur, where massive protests, including a 10-hour rail roko, erupted after two school girls were allegedly sexually assaulted last month.

The eight-minute audio clip, which refers to recent cases of crimes against women, underscores women`s need for security and employment instead of R1,500 handouts. It mentions, “Is Maharashtra’s sister, weak or strong (abala or sabala)? Does sister need protection from murder or Rs 1,500?” Vijay Salvi, chief trustee of Vijay Tarun Mitra Mandal, stated that his organisation highlights burning issues annually. “This year, Maharashtra witnessed serious cases of crime against women. While the safety of women must be ensured, the state government is handing out R1,500 to them. We believe women need to feel safe and be employed,” he said.