This article is authored by Mr. Prashant Panwar, an Assistant Professor of Law at K.R. Mangalam University, who brings his academic expertise and deep understanding of legal matters to provide insightful analysis on this important judicial development.

Dehradun, the picturesque capital of Uttarakhand often celebrated as Devbhoomi—the land of the gods—has recently found itself in an uncomfortable spotlight. A report by the National Commission for Women (NCW) has revealed that the city ranks among the ten least safe urban spaces for women in India. For a city nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, known for its charm, education hubs, and tranquil lifestyle, this revelation is both jarring and sobering.

The National Annual Report and Index (NARI) 2025, prepared under the guidance of Prof. (Dr.) Manjula Batra, has laid bare the uncomfortable truth: Dehradun scored just 60.6% on the safety index, trailing behind the national average of 64.6%. Beyond the statistics lies a deeper story—a story of fear, resilience, and the urgent need for change.

What makes the findings particularly alarming is the dramatic fall in women’s sense of security after sunset. While most women felt relatively safe navigating the city during the day, nearly half of them expressed heightened fear once darkness fell. Only 44% of respondents said they felt safe at night. This drop is not just about numbers; it represents a curtailment of women’s autonomy, mobility, and freedom. To walk, work, or simply exist in a city should not be a matter of fear, yet for many in Dehradun, it is.

The report also uncovers the daily struggles women endure. Harassment remains distressingly common, with verbal abuse topping the list, followed by physical and mental harassment. Public transport, often considered a lifeline in urban spaces, emerges as one of the most unsafe areas. Half of the women surveyed admitted to facing harassment while commuting—a statistic that speaks volumes about systemic negligence. More troubling still is the silence that follows. Forty percent of victims chose not to report their experiences, highlighting either a lack of faith in redressal mechanisms or a culture of normalisation around such behavior.

At the same time, the report draws attention to glaring infrastructural gaps. Poor street lighting, insufficient CCTV coverage, and deserted areas contribute heavily to women’s unease. Though over half the respondents expressed some level of trust in the police, confidence in the city’s safety infrastructure remained strikingly low. This disconnect suggests that while enforcement mechanisms exist, the environment itself often betrays women’s sense of security.

The voices in response to the report reflect both urgency and political tension. Dehradun’s SSP, Ajay Singh, insisted that women’s safety remains a top priority, pointing to patrols, checkpoints, and quick complaint redressal systems. On the other hand, opposition leaders have called the findings proof of the government’s failure to address core issues of policing and infrastructure. Yet, political statements aside, the lived experiences of women paint the clearest picture—safety continues to be conditional, fragile, and often absent.

What emerges from the NARI-2025 report is not just a ranking or a percentage, but a pressing reminder that women’s freedom is closely tied to how safe they feel within their own cities. Dehradun, despite its natural beauty and cultural significance, is not exempt from the responsibility of ensuring its women can walk its streets without fear. The demand for better policing, improved infrastructure, and widespread self-defense training is not about luxury—it is about reclaiming the basic right to safety.

For Dehradun, and for cities like it across the country, the question is simple but urgent: how much longer will women be asked to adapt, restrict, or silence themselves instead of the system rising to protect them?

References

National Commission for Women (NCW). (2025). National Annual Report and Index (NARI) 2025. New Delhi: NCW.

Batra, M. (2025). Principal Investigator’s Commentary on Women’s Safety in Urban India. The NorthCap University, Gurugram.

The New Indian Express. (2025, August 31). Dehradun ranks among the top 10 least safe cities for women; night-time fears escalate. Retrieved from https://www.newindianexpress.com

Government of Uttarakhand. (2025). Women Safety Measures and Urban Policing in Dehradun: Official Statement by Uttarakhand Police. Dehradun: SSP Office.

Mahara Dasauni, G. (2025). Statement on women’s safety and governance in Uttarakhand. Indian National Congress Media Briefings.