Context and Platform

On 1 February 2025, Aparajita and J-PAL South Asia used the Jaipur Literature Festival — one of India’s largest cultural forums — to spotlight evidence on sexual harassment in public spaces and to provoke cross-sector conversation among authors, media, researchers, policymakers, and activists.

The Panel

The session The City Through Her Eyes: Voices on Sexual Harassment in India brought together a cross-section of thinkers and changemakers:

• Abhijeet Banerjee — Director, J-PAL; Nobel laureate economist (MIT)
• Pramod Bhasin — Founder, Aparajita and Genpact; Chairperson, ICRIER
• Vrinda Grover — Lawyer, researcher, and human rights activist
• Aruna Roy — President, National Federation of Indian Women; Founder, MKSS
• Seema Jayachandran — Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton University; Gender Co-Chair, J-PAL

Panel Focus and Evidence

Drawing on surveys conducted in Jaipur and Delhi showing pervasive harassment — nearly half of women in Jaipur and two-thirds in Delhi reporting harassment in public spaces over the past year — the panel framed the conversation around both data and systems that shape women’s everyday experiences.

Key Themes

Everyday harassment and social norms: Vrinda Grover highlighted that society too often focuses only on extreme crimes like rape, and urged broader attention to everyday harassment, noting, “We must focus on sexual harassment as part of daily life in public space.” She also stressed cultural change: “Stop policing girls and women… police and discipline the men and boys… respect women’s choice.”

Education and prevention: Seema Jayachandran emphasized prevention through early education, advocating that boys and young men be taught gender equality and emotional understanding to address the root causes of violence.

Context-specific understanding: Aruna Roy underscored that harassment varies across different social contexts and that responses must reflect local realities and democratic engagement.

Role of evidence: Pramod Bhasin highlighted the importance of grounding public discussions in rigorous data, explaining that the survey partnership with J-PAL enabled a clearer picture of how harassment affects women’s lives across spaces.

Broader vision: Abhijeet Banerjee, in his introduction, set the tone by emphasizing that sexual harassment is not an isolated issue but a structural challenge requiring evidence-based, multi-disciplinary engagement.

Impact and Next Steps

The panel deepened understanding of harassment prevalence and its societal roots, encouraged multi-stakeholder engagement on systemic gaps, and highlighted the importance of evidence-led solutions. The session also saw the formal launch of GBV Solve, Aparajita’s open call for innovative, evidence-based approaches to tackling gender-based violence in India.

News Coverage

• ETV Bharat: Nobel Laureate, Social Activist and Senior Lawyer Brainstorm on Women’s Safety at JLF
• Telangana Today: Educate Men, Respect Women’s Choices — Addressing Sexual Harassment at JLF
• PTI News: Educate Men, Respect Women’s Choices — Addressing Sexual Harassment at JLF