Key Points

New Delhi [India], August 28 (ANI): National Commission for Women Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar commented on the NARI 2025 Report & Women's Safety Index and said that the report will prove to be useful for the safety of women and added that it should be distributed to local bodies for easy implementation of the safety measures mentioned in it.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said, "This will prove to be very useful for the safety of women. They have prepared such an all-inclusive report. They have also taken into consideration all other factors, such as how other elements contribute to providing safety and respect to women. If they distribute this report to the local officers or local bodies where it has been prepared, then it will be very easy to implement. The National Commission for Women will also help them."

She also commented on the recent murder case that happened in Greater Noida due to dowry, saying, "We have taken suo motu cognisance of the incident that occurred in Greater Noida, and we have written a letter to the DGP to investigate it immediately and present the action taken by him to us within three days. We have definitely received information from their side that they have arrested some individuals, and their investigation is still ongoing."

Earlier, the National Annual Report and Index on Women's Safety, "NARI 2025", came out, which revealed alarming statistics about women's safety in India.

According to the report, 40% of women in urban areas feel "not so safe" or "unsafe" in their cities, with safety concerns rising at night due to poor lighting and lack of visible security.

The study captured the voices of 12,770 women across 31 cities covering all states and provides a data-based framework to improve women's safety.

As per the findings, Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur were ranked as the least safe cities for women in India, while Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai are considered among the safest cities for women.

A significant number of women in India face harassment on the streets, including staring, catcalling, lewd comments, and physical touching. This has led to many students dropping out of school or working women quitting their jobs.

Seven per cent of women said they faced harassment in 2024, with the highest risk among younger women aged 18-24. In comparison, the NCRB 2022 statistics report only 0.07% of cases of crime against women.

Women perceive public spaces as unsafe due to inadequate infrastructure, poor lighting, and inefficient public transport. This perception is further exacerbated by societal attitudes that often blame victims for harassment.

The NARI 2025 report does what official NCRB numbers cannot: it fills in the "dark figure" of unreported harassment, brings context and detail to women's daily experiences, and directly foregrounds the lived reality (perception, not just case count) of safety.

The NARI 2025 report will serve as an annual benchmark to help policymakers, governments, corporations, and civil society work towards creating safer and more inclusive cities for women.

- ANI