Synopsis– The National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety 2025 (NARI) launched by the National Commission for Women, evaluates the feeling of safety in 31 cities in India among women. Some of these cities are shining with a national safety index standing at 65, whereas others are underperforming.
NARI 2025 reports based on insights from 12,770 women across 31 cities reveal that they feel “not so safe” or “unsafe” due to poor lighting on streets and low security. Safety is not a law enforcement figure, but is practiced every day. The perceived safety of women, particularly in the dark, by road, and on streets, is not evenly spread across the cities. This article mentions the list of cities that are ranked the safest according to the NARI reports-
Top Cities: What Makes the City Safer?
1. Kohima, Nagaland
Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, is a peaceful place and has low crime rates. It is well organized and ranks high on women’s safety.
2. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Visakhapatnam, also called Vizag, is a coastal city famous for its scenic beaches. It offers a relatively safe environment for women, with improved policing, public transport facilities, sufficient lights on the street, and awareness initiatives aimed at women’s safety.
3. Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Bhubaneswar, the “Temple City,” combines heritage with modern urban planning. The city has low crime against women and benefits from good street lighting, police presence, and community engagement programs, making it a safe city for female residents.
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4. Aizawl, Mizoram
Aizawl is Mizoram’s serene capital, nestled in the hills. Known for its peaceful neighborhoods and close-knit community, it reports very low crime rates, especially against women, making it one of India’s safest cities for female residents.
5. Gangtok, Sikkim
Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, is renowned for its cleanliness, disciplined traffic, and strong community values. Due to these reasons, the city ranks low against crime rates and is one of the safest place for women.
6. Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, has low incidences of violence against women, making it one of the safest places for women. Lit streets, participatory government, and integrated communities. Leading by women will be an additional source of trust and confidence.
7. Mumbai, Maharashtra
It’s a big city with the benefits of the large and the small in one. Heightened sense of safety is enhanced by public transport, CCTV cameras installed in every corner of the city, active police presence and female helplines.
Key Vulnerabilities
- The feeling of security after dark among women is significantly decreased after the sun goes down, particularly in the recreational and transport industries.
- There is a wide belief that authorities are indifferent to the cases of many women; many of the cases cannot be registered.
- The absence of police in dark streets, insufficient maintenance of infrastructure, and women’s facilities still exist.
- Patriarchal values play with the enforcement of the norms and average civility in certain cities.
Conclusion
Female safety directly resembles how the city is treating her. The safer the city, the more everyone can move, dream, and live without fears, and women, specifically, are going to enjoy liberty more. We have to strive towards a city that is replete with safety tales and not safety anxieties.
Written By Vijetha Gosi
