India is undergoing a significant shift in societal norms, with women playing a significant role in various sectors. However, this transformation requires overcoming systemic barriers.
As more women enter the workforce, there is a significant change taking place in the dynamic landscape of India. Although this increase is encouraging, it highlights how important it is for workplaces to be more welcoming and supportive of the particular difficulties faced by working women. In a nation where gender roles have historically been set by societal norms, it is not only necessary but also morally required to create an environment that empowers and supports women in their careers.
Chennai, an Indian metropolitan city has set its roots as a beacon of safety for working women. The city's strong infrastructure, well-lit streets, and effective public transportation systems all demonstrate its dedication to the safety of women. A secure environment for women is also facilitated by strict law enforcement, the existence of women-friendly policies in the workplace, and a low crime rate. Chennai's cultural ethos, rooted in diversity and traditional values, serves as a sanctuary for working women, setting a positive example for other cities.
TCWI Report by Avtar Group
The diversity consultancy firm Avtar Group released a report titled Top Cities for Women in India (TCWI) where two lists of Indian cities were produced according to the population rate. The list marks the cities based on having the most conducive environment for women's employment where Chennai tops the list followed by Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
A City Inclusion Score (CIS) was developed by the study for a set of selected cities. The Social Inclusion Score (SIS), the Industrial Inclusion Score (IIS), and the Citizen Experience Score (CES) combine to form the CIS.
In total 113 Indian cities were covered during the study to check how much the cities are inclusive and conducive to working women. 49 cities have been registered to the million-plus population list whereas 64 cities are in the less than a million population list.
Tiruchirappalli won first place in the second category, with Vellore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and Shimla following.
Tiruchirappalli, Vellore, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Salem, Erode, Tirupur, and Puducherry are among the eight South Indian cities with fewer than a million residents; the two Northern cities are Gurugram and Shimla.
Delhi, previously ranked 14 in the CIS, made its top 10 debut by securing the eighth spot, despite dropping eight spots from last year's 27 in the SIS ranking.
Tamil Nadu has seven cities on the top 10 lists for women's index, with Chennai and Tiruchirappalli being state-owned. Government initiatives, including gender-segregated budgeting, reduced crime rates, and employment opportunities, have led to social inclusion six percentage points above the national average.
Women from Tamil Nadu cities who participated in focus groups and surveys revealed 41 per cent positive sentiment and only 19 per cent negative sentiment regarding their experiences in their cities when Avtar Group mapped their emotional landscape. Kerala leads in favorable conditions for women, with an average of 36.10 out of 113 cities, while Kochi, Trivandrum, and Kozhikode rank third, fourth, and eleventh.
Lesser Crimes against Women, says NCRB
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 report, there were only 736 recorded crimes against women in Chennai in the previous year, compared to 874 the year before. Delhi led the list with 14,158 cases, followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru with over 3,000 cases each. To protect women, the Chennai police have put in place a number of initiatives including CCTV cameras, safe city initiatives funded by the Nirbhaya Fund, and pink patrols.
This is a step in the right direction for women in Chennai and the city's progress toward gender equality. Chennai has demonstrated its commitment to promoting gender diversity and inclusion in all facets of the workforce, as evidenced by its ranking as the safest metro for women. It is critical to keep advancing gender equality.
