Are women safe in Delhi?

Hi all,
Very fisrt time i have visited this section. I have read an article related to Delhi and i would like to post that article's link here. Please read this article. Its a serious issue...

Sorry... but you publish a link to a report of one instance of rape (probably there are hundreds, or maybe even thousands...) in Dehli and that is supposed to mean what?

Any crime of violence is a serious issue, and rape is a particularly nasty one, but I can see no point in us even considerring this article as an indicator of whether or not women are safe in Delhi.

Did you know that rape victims in India are often cast out of their families in disgrace? That's a topic worth looking at.

It is a terrible story, but it has no baring whatsoever on whether women visitors, or the vast majority of the residents are safe.

Serious of course but then what? Any major metro city like Delhi has its own share of dark side and its all over. Delhi is the 6th largest, 4th most populous city in the world, with its share of social/economic tensions.

On the other note, I read about a man somewhere in Germany who killed another man and stored his body parts in his refrigerator for own consumption, that doesnt make Germany a bad or an unsafe place to visit..

Completely agree with you, Nick.

I have lived in both Mumbai & Delhi and found that Mumbai is more women friendly city out of two. Delhi being a national capital, one would expect better law & order and empathy towards women but thats not the case. Delhi's cops are yet to shed off their Chauvenestic, typical Jat image.
But thats my view.

Anindya

I've spent several weeks in Delhi (a lone female) and never had any problems, nor did I ever feel threatened, ill at ease or worried! Of course you need to be sensible and take normal precautions, but only in the same way that you have to do in any city across the globe. I don't think Delhi is any more dangerous than any other city. Sadly rape cases happen all over the world - you can't judge a city on one instance. Here in my hometown of Edinburgh a teenage girl was attacked and raped over the weekend - horrible incident, but does it change the city or make me feel any less safe? no!

are women safe in delhi?
my opinion is yes, they are

are they less hassled by men on a day to day basis in chennai, kolkata and mumbai?
my opinion is yes, they are

(have lived in all the cities in question)

Ravimehra,

I have lived and worked in Delhi for almost 2 years now and I have had no safety issues of the kind your articles mentions. However, of course, the necessary precautions should be taken in Delhi as with anywhere in the world i.e. don't walk about on your own in the early hours of the morning, always dress conservatively and whilst you shouldn't avoid strangers just be aware of your situation and the conversation.

All in all I have had a great time in Delhi and still enjoying.

Just be sensible and enjoy!

Best wishes,

Just back from Delhi, and I continue to hold on to my earlier view. Sure, Delhi has now got Metro, Malls, etc. etc...

Still the Driver's and conductors on public transport buses hurl each other explicitly with mother sister f***ers freely with bus full of passengers, many of them women.
You might see women till wee hours in front of multiplexes; still the roads are purposely void of any single ladies after dark.
Even the swanky metro train doesn’t any separate ladies coach or reserved seats for that matter. Most ladies dread the cramming of bodies like pack of sardines during rush hours.

I was reading 'India Unbound' by Gurcharan Das yesterday and I came across...

"They say the measure of a civilisation is how it treats its women. Since coming to Delhi I have met many women who long for Bombay. My wife explains that Bombay gives women dignity. If Bombay respects women, Delhi looks on them as sex objects. In Bombay, she can take a taxi at midnight; in Delhi, a girl cannot walk freely on the street in the evening. It seems that it takes more than education to bring civilisation."

The book was first published six years back. However, the situation remains same all along

Anindya

This was the view of most Delhi girls who studied in bombay in the late seventies, when I was in college there.

I think the point of Ramivehra posting the article was to make people aware and take the necessary precautions. When I visit a place, I want to be aware of what's out there. It's not going to stop me from going. As a new member I've noticed an icy, almost scolding tone sometimes when someone posts something that's not in line with certain views. I don't think that's what indiamike should be like- just my humble opinion. All views should be at least considered and... some people need to chill out!

This is like one of those card games.

Think of crime.

Think of a city with a multi-million population.

Now the game is... Guess: does that crime happen there?

Of course it does! To draw attention to one instance was, and is, absurd. And if that is being icy then that's being icy.

However, Anindya's and Capt Mahajan's posts about general attitudes to women in Delhi takes us into a different arena altogether. A City where women cannot walk on the streets in the evening?

OK, I agree, the writer may not have chosen the best article for the title question, but the point was to elicit discussion- not prove a case in court. Obviously it's a good question because others had examples of Delhi not being the safest city for women. I'm glad others provided useful information on this topic rather than just slamming it- how does that help anyone? I want to know everything I can about India- good and bad- I don't care if it's politically incorrect- it shouldn't be off limits to discuss it.

Can't say I noticed anyone slamming anything 'politically incorrect'. Certainly not my style.

A not-very-useful post, yes...

There is a vast amount on this forum about women in India. Try doing a search for 'eve-teasing'.

Chances are that, as a woman visitor to India, the worst you will experience is some unwanted schoolboy attention. Unfortunately the schoolboys will probably be in their twenties.

This is a moderated board --- and if you come up against 'off limits' you'll soon find out. Chances are you won't. The forum rules are pretty clear, and they don't include political correctness. On the other hand it is a community of India lovers, so it is not a place for people who just want to be negative. We try for a balance.

The title of the thread is Are women safe in Delhi?

The answer could be as simple as Yes, No or Maybe/May not be

As Delhi is a Metro city hence, comparison with other Metros are inevitable.

Now, if somebody can provide with tricks of the trade for women to remain safe in city (ask the college girl who got picked up got raped, when walking along the road with other friends one evening just a year back), that’s laudable.

But how do you reply to a general question without providing facts and figures to support your statement?: confused:

Are women safe in Delhi?

Have to admit that my first idea was to reply

I don't know, but I haven't been attacked by one in Chennai yet...

You can imagine what trouble that piece of humour might have got me into

Having said that, I notice that the OP never posted anything else, and I hope we didn't put him off. But, heck, this site is gentle compared to much of the stuff on the web (and the mods try to keep it that way)...