Working women's woes: Wonder Woman - Who are you today?

Working women's woes: Wonder Woman - Who are you today?

Besides being insensitive, the police commissioner's statement has come as a blow to millions of working women in the capital.

BPO employee Ankita Dewani says such loose talk could ' inspire' rapists and criminals.

" It certainly sends out the message that they can do anything to a girl if she ventures out after midnight and there's a good chance they will go scot- free. We look up to the police for our safety and they are washing their hands off their responsibilities," says Dewani, business development manager, Headfield Solutions. Dewani's graveyard shift starts at 8pm and gets over at 5.30 am. Her office cab ferries her from office to home.

Though she hasn't faced any security issues yet, Dewani feels these comments will make her parents anxious. " If the commissioner says such things, my parents will obviously think there is something wrong with the system. It will have a negative fallout on our professional lives. You can't expect us to leave our job and sit at home," rues the 22- year- old.

Archana Gupta, who works with BPO EXL Service, is in no mood to sacrifice her professional life to make life easier for cops.

"Why are men allowed to work at night if there is a curb on us? Give us security, safeguard us. Don't run away from your duties," says Archana whose working hours are from 8pm to 5am.

Taniya Bose, a call centre employee calls it " the beginning of the Talibanisation of India". Bose, who has been working on night shifts for the past five years, says the police and government should take more steps to ensure the safety of women working at odd hours.

"The police cannot pass the buck on us," she says.