Urban hustle-bustle is celebrated for offering vibrancy, fueling prosperity and progress. This gleaming and glittering reality is just a façade for many vulnerable groups, including women. Beneath the veneer of the surface lies day-to-day challenges and obstacles women face in going about their routines in cities, limiting their access to opportunities and making them a vulnerable community. Cities need to redesign urban spaces to create safe, equitable, and inclusive spaces for women
Governments everywhere are making efforts to make inclusive cities. The idea is still far from fruition. In many cities worldwide, an undercurrent of exclusion thrives, erecting invisible barriers that prevent women and girls from fully participating in the symphony of urban life. Cities have long been considered the epitome of progress and development. However, beneath the gleaming façade lies a stark reality—the challenges women face in accessing services, ensuring mobility, and ensuring their safety in urban environments. When it comes to accessing services, women often encounter numerous obstacles. The spatial distribution of essential amenities, such as healthcare centres, educational institutions, and recreational facilities, tends to be skewed, resulting in limited access for women residing in certain neighbourhoods. Moreover, the lack of affordable and safe public transportation options poses a significant hurdle for women, especially those who rely on public transit to commute to work or access vital services.
The study Top Cities for Women in India, released by Avtar, a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) consulting firm, ranked 111 big and small cities on their social and industrial inclusivity for women. Chennai topped as India’s Most Inclusive City for Women with a City Inclusion Score (CIS) of 78.41. Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai follow with scores above 60. Lucknow ranked lowest at 25.36, While Ranchi, Guwahati, Patna, and Dhanbad lag behind. The disturbing fact is that Indian cities, on average, scored just 37.75 out of 100. The report says, “This is a clear indication that there is a lot of room for improvement for most cities across the country.” Only nine out of 111 cities scored above 50 in the city inclusion score (CIS), which is the average of the social inclusion score (SIS) and industrial inclusion score (SIS). The report also suggests that the cities in South India are the safest, followed by those in West, North and Central India. Cities in East India were the worst performers on the scale. The score portrays the social conditions of women in Indian cities and underlines that cities need to take action on various fronts to make an inclusive environment for women.
SAFETY OF WOMEN, GIRLS IN URBAN SPACES
Crime against women and girls seriously affects their right to the city and their right to be equal citizens.Safety remains an issue of concern that needs urgent attention. Women consistently face the fear of harassment, assault, and violence in public spaces, which restricts their freedom and inhibits their ability to participate fully in urban life. The lack of well it streets, surveillance systems, and dedicated areas where women can seek assistance exacerbates this problem. These challenges perpetuate gender inequalities, reinforce social norms that limit women’s choices, and hinder their economic and social empowerment. The design of urban spaces often needs to pay more attention to women’s specific needs and concerns, such as inadequate infrastructure and insufficient lighting in public areas, which can deter them from venturing out alone during certain hours. The absence of proper sidewalks, accessible public toilets, and well-lit pathways creates an environment that is not conducive to women’s mobility and independence.
According to National Crime Records Bureau data, 43,414 cases of crime against women were registered during 2021 in Indian metropolitan cities, showing an increase of 22.9 percent over 2020 (35,331 cases). The majority of the cases under crime against women were registered under ‘Cruelty by Husband or his Relatives’ (33.0 per cent), followed by ‘Kidnaping & Abduction of Women’ (20.0 percent), ‘Assault on Women with Intent to Outrage her Modesty’ (17.5 percent), and ‘Rape’ (7.4 percent). The cases of crimes against women in Delhi accounted for 32.20 percent of total crimes in the category among all 19 metropolitan cities. The data informed that Delhi was followed by the financial capital Mumbai, which saw 5,543 such instances, and Bengaluru, with 3,127 cases. Mumbai and Bengaluru accounted for 12.76 per cent and 7.2 percent of total crimes in 19 cities, respectively.
BUILDING GENDER NEUTRAL CITIES: A PATH TOWARDS EQUALITY
To address the challenges women face in cities, it is imperative to prioritise the creation of gender-neutral urban spaces that acknowledge and cater to the diverse needs of all genders. Gender-neutral cities ensure equal access to services, promote safe and inclusive mobility and foster an environment where women can thrive and contribute to their full potential. This requires a comprehensive analysis of community needs and strategic placement of amenities to reduce travel distances and improve access for marginalised groups. It also incorporates gender-sensitive design principles, including family friendly spaces and childcare facilities, to support women’s participation in public life.
Enhancing mobility for women requires a holistic approach that focuses on creating safe and inclusive transportation networks. This includes improving public transit systems, implementing gender-responsive design in infrastructure, and promoting non-motorised modes of transport such as cycling and walking. By considering the specific needs of women, such as providing well-lit pathways, secure parking spaces, and women-only transport options, cities can enable greater freedom of movement and encourage women to participate fully in social and economic activities.
Crucially, ensuring safety in urban spaces requires collaborative efforts from planners, policymakers, and the community. Effective lighting systems, surveillance technologies, and establishing safe zones in public areas can deter harassment and violence. Additionally, fostering a culture of respect and gender equality through education and awareness campaigns is vital in challenging deep-rooted social norms and transforming attitudes towards women’s safety.
Some cities have made their mark in mainstreaming gender-responsive urban planning. For example, Vienna, Austria, actively involves women in decision-making through platforms such as the Women’s Advisory Council. They have implemented gender mainstreaming in urban planning, ensuring that women’s specific needs and perspectives are incorporated into city development projects. Vienna also prioritises safe and inclusive public spaces, with initiatives like “Women Walks” encouraging women to reclaim public spaces by organising guided tours and events. Similarly, Barcelona’s “Superblocks” initiative is innovative in creating safe and inclusive urban areas. By reconfiguring the city’s street grid, Barcelona has transformed certain neighbourhoods into pedestrian friendly zones, limiting traffic and creating ample space for community activities. This initiative has enhanced women’s safety, promoted social interaction, and prioritised accessibility and mobility for all residents. Curitiba, Brazil, has developed women-only buses and designated women-only areas in public transportation to enhance women’s safety and comfort during their daily commute.
In India, many cities have taken women-centric policy decisions which have benefitted them and enabled them to participate in urban life freely. Ahmedabad’s “She Auto” initiative is a notable example of empowering women in the urban transport sector. The project trains and supports women to become professional auto-rickshaw drivers, providing them a livelihood and offering safer transportation options for women passengers. This initiative not only challenges gender stereotypes but also addresses the specific mobility needs and safety concerns of women in the city. Many cities also have dedicated women coaches in metros. Delhi government has also initiated the concept of bus marshals to ensure women’s safety while travelling.
WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is one of the most critical challenges of the present time. It is often called a threat multiplier because its impacts go beyond changing weather patterns and intensifying natural disasters. The consequences are deeply intertwined with our society’s social, economic, cultural, and political fabric. People’s way of life is significantly disrupted, making them vulnerable to the effects of climate change if appropriate measures are not taken. Moreover, it has been repeatedly noted that those least responsible for climate change bear the brunt of its impacts, further exacerbated by non-climatic factors and existing inequalities.
For instance, climate change leads to adverse effects like incessant rains and subsequent flooding, reducing crop productivity and increasing food prices. This situation strains women primarily responsible for maintaining food security and nutrition in their households. Since most small-scale farmers are women, their ability to cope with the damage and maintain normal household operations is greatly affected. Likewise, increased water scarcity due to climate change means that women in many parts of the world must travel longer distances to fetch water. This burden falls on women due to traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
Consequently, their workload of unpaid care work, domestic chores, and reproductive responsibilities increase. Moreover, women are at a higher risk of exposure to standing water, particularly after extreme events like tropical storms and floods, which raises the likelihood of water and vector-borne diseases such as cholera and malaria. Extreme events compromise women’s access to reproductive and sexual health services and rights.
In many cities, women continue to face social, economic, cultural, political, institutional, and other forms of marginalisation, leaving them more vulnerable and exposed to the impacts of climate change. These intersecting factors severely hamper their ability to manage the consequences of climate change and recover from its effects. Therefore, cities must consider these existing inequalities when planning climate action strategies. Urban Local Bodies should also prioritise the development of adaptive capacity among women and other vulnerable groups.
Building gender-sensitive cities in India requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the challenges faced by women in urban areas. The Indian government can foster an environment where women can freely participate and contribute to urban development by implementing policy-level changes such as gender-responsive urban planning, ensuring safe and reliable public transportation, and initiating economic empowerment programs. The role of urban local bodies in this process is crucial, as they have the power to advocate for women’s needs, promote gender equality, and create inclusive urban spaces that empower women and enhance their well-being.
Many cities have taken women-centric policy decisions, enabling them to participate in urban life freely. Ahmedabad’s “She Auto” initiative is a notable example of empowering women in the urban transport sector. Many cities have dedicated women coaches in metros. Delhi government has also initiated the concept of bus marshals to ensure women’s safety while travelling