Women claim they feel safe in Mumbai, despite official records showing a rise in crime against women. According to the Economic Survey of Maharashtra, 2019-20 cases of crime against women have increased in the state. The survey was tabled in the State Legislative Assembly by Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday.
The 2018-19 economic survey defined crime against women as, “Direct or indirect physical or mental cruelty to women.” According to a report published in the Times of India, the number of cases filed against women in 2019 was 37,567 whereas 35,497 and 31,997 cases were registered in 2018 and 2017, respectively.
I did a survey to find out what women feel about the rise in crime against women in the state. Arshdip Gill, a resident of Borivali, believes that crime in Mumbai has not increased. While she is not sure about the rest of Maharashtra, she feels safe in Mumbai. “I feel safe even if I go out at one o’clock at night. In Mumbai’s environment, I can stay out the whole night without any fear,” says Gill.
Purti Parab, who lives in Mulund, does not feel that crime has increased much in Mumbai. She believes that other cities in Maharashtra might have a higher crime rate against women when compared to Mumbai. “In villages, women are afraid to go to the police station to report any crime because they are afraid that it might lead to the defamation of the family,” says Parab. She thinks half of the cases in the villages are not even registered.
According to Rega Das, a resident of Thane, crimes are happening at “odd hours”. Overall crime is increasing in India but I don’t see an increase in crime in Mumbai. She says, “I feel safe when I am surrounded by people when I am outside Mumbai.” She has not witnessed crime in Mumbai recently. She gets updated about crimes through broadcast media only. Seema Marbhal, a resident of Andheri also feels that media channels exaggerate the news about crime against women. She further added “Other states may be unsafe but not Mumbai.”
Archana Rajguru, a resident of Kurla, is of the opinion that women have to protect themselves. She feels that constant surveillance makes Mumbai very safe for women. Reema Pujari, a resident of Vidya vihar also agreed with Rajguru. She says, “Mumbai has less crime rates in comparison to other cities in India.” She urged that the government should provide better facilities to make places in Mumbai safer. It is important to change the “Nazariya” of people.
Talking about stricter laws, Pamelina D’Souza, a student of Bachelor of Arts at St. Xavier’s College, said that police should be swift in taking actions against the accused. A victim of molestation, D’Souza narrated her story when police failed to act in spite of filing a FIR. Such things have “interrupted her daily routine” and sometimes she feels it is not the city that is unsafe but the laws that need to be stricter to make the city safer.
