Kohima among safest cities for women in India

KOHIMA — Kohima has been ranked among the safest cities in the country for women, according to the National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025.

The report, released by National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, also listed Aizawl, Gangtok, and Itanagar in the Northeast, along with Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar, among the safest cities for women.

Meanwhile, Delhi, Jaipur, Faridabad, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi figured at the bottom of the rankings.

Based on a survey of 12,770 women across 31 cities, the report placed the national safety score at 65%, categorising cities as “much above,” “above,” “below,” or “much below” this benchmark.

“Kohima, Vishakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai lead national safety rankings, often correlating with higher gender equity, infrastructure, policing, or civic participation. Ranchi, Srinagar, Kolkata, Delhi, Faridabad, Patna, and Jaipur scored lowest, correlating with weaker infrastructure, patriarchal norms, or poor institutional response,” the report stated.

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Overall, six in ten women surveyed felt “safe” in their city, while 40% considered themselves “not so safe” or “unsafe.” Perceptions of safety dropped sharply at night, particularly in public transport and recreational spaces. Educational institutions (86% safe) were seen as secure during the day, but concerns increased after dark or off-campus.

About 91% of women reported safety at workplaces, yet half were unsure if their organisation had a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy.

Where such policies existed, most respondents rated them effective.

Only a quarter of women said they trusted authorities to act effectively on safety complaints. While 69% said current safety efforts were somewhat adequate, 30% noted significant gaps. Around 65% perceived improvements in women’s safety between 2023 and 2024.

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The report found that 7% of women faced harassment in public spaces in 2024, rising to 14% among those under 24. Neighbourhoods (38%) and public transport (29%) were most often cited as harassment hotspots, but only one in three victims reported incidents.

It stressed that official crime records alone do not reflect women’s lived experiences. “Two out of three women do not report harassment, meaning NCRB misses the bulk of incidents,” it said, calling for perception-based surveys like NARI to be integrated with crime data.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar wrote on X that women’s safety is the foundation of empowerment. “Until women feel safe in homes, workplaces, streets, and the digital world, true equality is not possible,” she stated. She urged positive competition among states and cities, stressing that creating safer urban spaces and digital platforms is a collective duty.

However, the state’s reputation as one of India’s safest for women has often been questioned. Records from the Women Police Station in Kohima showed 12 cases of crimes against women registered in 2024 (up to November 24), compared to 10 in 2023.

 The Nagaland State Commission for Women also received around 10 cases last year, including instances of rape and domestic violence.