A recent report, ‘NARI 2025’, unveils disturbing statistics about women’s safety in India, revealing that a considerable percentage of women feel unsafe in their own communities. The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and a change in societal attitudes. The data shows that a significant 40% of women in urban areas do not feel safe in their cities, indicating a widespread sense of insecurity.
The study included data from 12,770 women across 31 cities, providing a comprehensive assessment of the safety challenges women face. The report identifies several cities as particularly unsafe for women, including Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur. The report highlights that Delhi and Faridabad are among the most unsafe cities, with around 42% of women reporting feeling unsafe. In Ranchi, the percentage is even higher, with 44% of women expressing the same concern.
In contrast, the report identifies Kohima as the safest city for women, where a large majority feel secure. Other cities where women feel relatively safe include Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai. The report also discusses the prevalence of street harassment, including staring, stalking, and inappropriate comments, which contribute to the feeling of unsafety. These acts often cause distress and can force women to make difficult choices, such as leaving school or quitting their jobs. The report indicates that 7% of women reported experiencing harassment in 2024, with young women being the most at risk.
Furthermore, the report reveals the problem of underreporting of harassment cases due to fear of reprisal or social stigma. This is a major impediment to addressing the issue effectively. The report highlights the importance of implementing and enforcing policies such as the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, also known as POSH Act. The report calls for a collective effort from policymakers, governments, corporations, and civil society to make cities safer and more inclusive for women across India.