Women Safety In India

40% women feel 'unsafe', only 1 in 3 report harassment: NARI 2025 Report

The NARI 2025 report by NCW shows Kohima, Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar as safest cities for women, while Delhi, Patna and Jaipur ranked least safe with national score at 65%

WB govt drafts rules on women's safety ahead of RG Kar case 1st anniversary

In a bid to enhance the security of working women, especially those on night shifts, the West Bengal government has drafted a set of new rules, including the setting up of a mandatory complaint committee in an organisation and installation of CCTV cameras at workplaces, an official said on Thursday. According to the proposed rules, night shifts would not be mandatory for female employees of an entity, and an organisation has to ensure the safety of women even during their travel to and from its offices at night. The draft rules were introduced ahead of the completion of one year of the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar hospital. "Altogether 22 issues have been identified in the draft rules. It has been stated that the night shift will be from 8 pm to 6 am, and at least 10 women, or one-third of the total shift workforce, whichever is higher, must be present together," the official told PTI. It also proposed to make provisions for resting areas and canteen

Women's panels in India: Who appoints them, and what do they do?

Women's commissions are statutory bodies safeguarding rights, but how are their chairpersons chosen and what legal powers do these panels hold? Here's what you need to know

UP govt upgrades SHe-box portal to strengthen women's workplace safety

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday said it is strengthening the SHe-Box portal, a move that could curb workplace harassment of women. The enhanced digital platform will ensure swift and secure complaint redressal, thereby providing a safe and respectful work environment for women, it said in a statement. "Acting on the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the formation of Internal Committees has been made mandatory across all government and private institutions in the state," the government said. It added that 84 departments have already constituted these committees and uploaded mandatory details on the SHe-Box portal. The framework is now in place across all 75 districts. "Any organisation with 10 or more employees is required to set up an Internal Committee comprising at least 50 per cent women members, with a woman as the chair," it said, adding that the facility extends to private organisations as well. District Probation Officers are entrusted with the ...

Parl panel proposes inter-ministerial task force for women's tourism safety

A parliamentary panel has recommended establishing an 'Inter-Ministerial Women's Tourism Safety Task Force' to develop comprehensive safety protocols, monitoring mechanisms and emergency response systems specifically designed for women tourists. In its report presented in Parliament on Tuesday, the committee has acknowledged that environmental sustainability must transition from an "auxiliary consideration to a core principle" in tourism development, and to institutionalise this approach, it has recommended developing the 'National Sustainable Tourism Certification System' with clearly defined parameters for ecological impact, resource efficiency, and community engagement. The report -- 'Demands for Grants (2025-26) of Ministry of Tourism' -- is by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. In the report, the Committee says that it views with "grave concern" the reduction in allocations and negative recoveries recorded under the 'Safe

Anna University sexual assault case: SIT probe and FIR leak spark outrage

The Anna University sexual assault case has sparked protests and a SIT probe, with Madras HC directing Rs 25 lakh compensation for the survivor, while an FIR leak raises privacy concerns

Law and order has improved in UP but not 100% safe for women yet: Guv Patel

The Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on Thursday said that the law and order situation has improved in the state but there was still time before it could be termed as "100 per cent safe for women". She said that she hoped a day would come when women would debate in the Parliament while their husbands would wait for them at home after preparing a meal. "We must check within our families if we are ready to give rights to women. In Panchayats, despite women becoming gram pradhans, the decisions are still being made by the men in their families," the governor said. "During functions, I always ensure that women pradhans sit on their designated seats. There are many women pradhans who are aware and are taking decisions independently, the Governor said during an interaction with reporters at the Lucknow Raj Bhavan on Thursday. The Governor's remarks came in response to a query if the society and political parties were willing to change their approach towards women especially after t

SC seeks Centre's reply on plea asking guidelines for safety of women

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to examine a plea seeking direction for framing pan-India guidelines to provide a safe environment for women, children and transgender persons in society. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to different ministries of the Centre and its instrumentalities and posted the matter for further hearing in January. Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pawani, appearing for the petitioner Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, said several incidents of sexual abuse against women are taking place in smaller cities, which are going unreported and pushed under the carpet. "After the RG Kar Medical College Hospital incident of Kolkata where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered, around 95 incidents of sexual violence have taken place but were not highlighted," Pavani said, adding that like Scandinavian countries, offenders should get punishments such as chemical castration. The bench said it will not entertain many of the prayers mentioned

Uber introduces new safety measures primarily focusing on female users

With these features, Uber aims to onboard more women drivers onto its platform, which currently comprises only 2 per cent of its driver base

Prez Murmu backs female advocates to combat atrocities against women

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday urged the NALSAR University of Law here, including its alumni, to enlist the support of all stakeholders and help in setting up a nation-wide network of women advocates and law students to make efforts to prevent atrocities against women. The President, who attended the 21st annual convocation of NALSAR University of Law, said, "the network will work with the mandate to make concerted efforts to prevent atrocities against women and deal with cases of such atrocities". Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Telangana High Court Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Earlier, the President was accorded a warm welcome by the Governor, CM, his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials when she arrived at the Begumpet airport here.

RG Kar case 'frightening', women need safer working conditions: Kiran Rao

Filmmaker Kiran Rao, whose 'Laapataa Ladies' has been chosen as India's official entry for the 2025 Oscars, said that she stands firmly with those who raised their voice demanding justice for the deceased medic of RG Kar hospital. On the sidelines of a programme of Ladies Study Group of the Indian Chamber of Commerce here on Friday, Rao told PTI that the August 9 incident was "regrettable and frightening". "I stand in solidarity with all the women, all the people who have come out on the streets of Kolkata and protested and raised their voice to have safer working conditions for women," she said. "Students, doctors and everyone in society stood in solidarity and protested, I am with them," Rai said. About the selection of 'Laapataa Ladies' as the country's official entry for the Oscars next year, Rao said the choosing of the film is itself is an award. The movie, which was released on March 1 this year, tells the story of the misadventures of two young brides who get lost from the

Boundary walls to washrooms: Odisha issues new safety policy for doctors

In response to the Kolkata rape and murder case, the Odisha government has introduced new safety measures at hospitals, colleges, and hostels

Kolkata rape case: Doctors demand police resignation, transparency in probe

RG Kar Rape-Murder Case: Junior doctors across India are demanding government accountability and an impartial, transparent probe into the rape and murder case of trainee doctor in Kolkata

Safety first: Ensuring women's security is as critical as stringent laws

The bigger danger implicit in the extremist approach in the Aparajita Bill, as with similar Bills passed by other states, is a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the crime of sexual assault

Safe environment for women is govt's top priority: Minister Annapurna Devi

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Saturday said that empowering women and providing them with a safe environment is the Central government's top priority. Devi said the Central government has taken several concrete steps to ensure the safety of women. However, it is the responsibility of the state governments to take advantage of these schemes and implement them. The Union minister was addressing a gathering at Mahatma Mandir after inaugurating the seventh edition of "Poshan Maah", nationwide nutrition month, the Centre's flagship initiative celebrated annually throughout September. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state Women and Child Welfare Minister Bhanuben Babaria were also present. "Empowering women and providing them a safe environment is the Indian government's top priority. The government has taken many concrete steps to ensure the safety of women. But it is also the responsibility of the state governments to take advantage of this

Many strict laws made in country for safety of women, says PM Modi

He said half the population (women) will get maximum security when swift action is taken in cases related to atrocities of women

35% of doctors, mostly women, feel unsafe at night shifts, says IMA survey

The survey revealed that about one-third of doctors, including a higher percentage of women, felt unsafe, with 24.1 per cent feeling 'unsafe' and 11.4 per cent feeling 'very unsafe'

Kerala orders space audit in medical colleges to ensure employee safety

In the wake of protests by healthcare professionals against the rape and murder of a resident doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, the Kerala government has ordered a space audit to ensure safety of the employees in medical colleges in the state. State Health Minister Veena George has directed the Director of Medical Education to carry out the audit, the government said in a statement on Tuesday. The direction was issued by the minister in a high-level meeting of medical colleges called by her, the statement said. The conduct of the space audits has to be ensured at the institution-level by the principals and at the state-level by the Director of Medical Education, it said. The additional measures ordered by the minister to ensure safety in medical colleges in Kerala, include organising mock drills, installing public address systems, CCTVs and alarms, using walkie talkies, intensifying security monitoring and not allowing unauthorised persons to stay inside the hospitals at night, the

WB health dept launches programme for safety of women in night shifts

To enhance the safety and security of women working in night shifts across government and private sectors, the West Bengal Health Department on Monday issued a comprehensive set of measures and launched a flagship programme named 'Rattierer Saathi Helpers of the Night.' The new guidelines will be enforced in medical colleges, hospitals, and hostels where similar provisions are not already in place, the order said. Under these guidelines, separate designated restrooms with toilets for women will be set up and women volunteers will be assigned on duty during nighttime shifts. "There should be separate designated restrooms with toilets for women. Woman volunteers shall be on duty at night. Safe zones will be identified and created for women with full CCTV coverage. A special mobile phone app with alarm devices will be developed which shall be compulsorily downloaded by all working women and which will be connected to the local police stations/police control room," it added. The order

Environment, women's safety at centre as country celebrates Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan festival on Monday saw the celebration of the brother-sister bond with the tying of the sacred thread and vivid messaging on issues like environment conservation and social equity with an emphasis on women's safety. Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the festival at his residence with schoolchildren tying 'rakhis' on his wrist as he wished people prosperity and good fortune on the "auspicious" occasion. Kolkata, the epicentre of a nationwide stir against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at a state-run medical college and hospital in the city, saw protesters tying rakhis bearing the message of "We want justice". Kolkata Police personnel were also seen tying rakhis to protesting junior doctors. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda attended a Raksha Bandhan programme at Raj Bhavan, where several women doctors, representatives from the LGBTQ community, and others tied rakhis around his wrists. He pledged to support their efforts until the goal of a saf