The NARI 2025 (National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety) has ranked four northeastern capitals—Kohima, Aizawl, Gangtok, and Itanagar—among India’s safest cities for women, underscoring the region’s strong community-driven approach to security.
The survey, spanning 31 cities and over 12,000 women respondents, found that 60% of women feel generally safe, while 40% still report insecurity in public spaces.
Kohima topped the index due to gender-balanced social norms, neighborhood watch groups, and proactive community policing.
Aizawl earned praise for its close-knit social networks and police visibility at night.
Gangtok stood out for gender-sensitive governance and rules like mandatory bar shutdowns at 11 pm.
Itanagar scored high for women’s collectives, awareness drives, and inclusive governance.
Beyond the Northeast, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar emerged as national leaders, while Delhi, Kolkata, Patna, Jaipur, Srinagar, Ranchi, and Faridabad fell into the underperforming bracket due to weak institutional backing and patriarchal barriers.
Though 91% of women feel secure at workplaces, awareness of workplace harassment policies remains low, with nearly half unaware of the POSH framework. Safety concerns persist in public transport and after-dark spaces, where women’s confidence sharply declines.
Experts say the NARI 2025 Index offers a critical roadmap for governments and urban planners to build people-centric, gender-sensitive cities that allow women to live and move freely without fear.
