Minimum security in maximum city?

According to a recent study by Tata Strategic, a consultancy firm, cities like Chennai and Bangalore are safer for women as compared to Mumbai and Delhi. DNA gets opinions from working women and students in Mumbai.

Expert view
Don’t be afraid to report any untoward incident 
It’s true that Mumbai is not safe as it was 10 years ago. Many rape cases have been reported since the beginning of this year. Mumbai is not safe especially when women have to travel alone at night. But I don’t agree with the report which states that Thiruvananthapuram is a safer and better place for women than Mumbai. I belong to Kerala and there is still a feeling of insecurity among women about going out late in the evening. In Mumbai, women still can go out at night.

Urbanisation and migration of people from different states are the reasons for increasing insecurity. But we still can restore the secure feeling in the city. First of all, we must not stop the culture of going out late night. Women must unite to fight against any crime against them. If there is any untoward incident then it must be reported to police. Many a times it goes unreported and the administration is hardly aware of it. Strict action will act as a deterrent for criminals. Even domestic violence must be reported to police. Moreover, if the administrator becomes more women-friendly then the city can become a safer place for women.
—Manjula Bharathy, chairperson, Centre for Media and Cultural Studies, TISS

Mumbai seems pretty safe to me
I do not know how safe other cities are, but for me Mumbai is safe too. I don’t quite agree with the study. I don’t have much experience about other cities but from whatever I know and the places that I have travelled, I think Mumbai is pretty safe. I have come across times when I have been stranded alone, and someone or the other is there to help and that also without expecting anything in return. I particularly haven’t yet come across any instance where I felt the city isn’t safe for a young working woman. However, I am not sure if the city is safe for single women late nights. I always ensure I’m accompanied by someone late at night.
—Dimple Jain, PR associate

Govt should ensure security
I don’t agree as I feel Mumbai is the safest place for women. I keep reading about news from Delhi where reports of molestation and rape keep pouring in. But in Mumbai, women have options of commuting. In Mumbai, there are many services for women, like a taxi service, which is driven by females who provide services 24x7. Due to high cost of living in Delhi and Mumbai, it has become necessary for women to work till late as well but this not seen in the southern cities. To regain the image Mumbai once had, government needs to chip in. The government should take some initiatives on urgent basis for ensuring better security for women.
—Sejal M, HR manager

I totally disagree with the study
I don’t think anywhere else in the country can a woman step out of her home in the middle of the night alone and still feel safe. In Mumbai, one can see women working till late in offices or just going out with friends at late hours. Even the people here are very helpful and reach out to help each other in any crisis. Therefore, I would never consider Mumbai in the list of unsafe cities in the world; instead it’s quite the opposite. Also, there are enough precautionary steps taken by the authorities. For example, there is always a cop in ladies compartment in the night. Although more police patrolling or woman cab drivers will be welcomed by many.
—Aziza Syed, PR professional

City’s image damaged lately
I was born and brought up in Mumbai, but have travelled across the country for studies and work. I can say with confidence that Mumbai is the safest among all. The city is alive and awake even at night. The public transport is well developed making it safer for women to travel alone at any hour. Also, people here are helpful. In the recent past, few incidences have damaged Mumbai’s image as a safe city. For this to change, the responsibility is not only in the hands of police but also citizens. There should be well-defined laws and stringent punishments to check atrocities against women.
—Tejashree Kadam, management student

I feel safer here than in Delhi
I am in Mumbai for the past one year and have stayed in Delhi for three years during my graduation. I don’t consider Mumbai unsafe as it seems. In Delhi, which is the most unsafe place for women, and one has to think 10 times before stepping out at night. For any city to be labelled unsafe for women, the main reason would be the indiscipline of the society. Therefore, we need to create awareness and discipline among the authorities as well as people to bring about change. Each city has its pros and cons. The
local trains are a source of trouble at night especially after 11pm when men too board ladies compartment.
—Niharika Jain, account executive