Safest City for Women: Kochi (2024)

The state that has to its credit, the highest literacy rate in the country, has also excelled in another crucial arena- in keeping its women safe. The state has recorded the least number of reported crimes against women, in the year 2014. And going by the statistics provided by the Kerala Police, Ernakulam, the twin city of Kochi, and also the commercial capital of the state, is the safest city in the state.
According to a Times of India report, the figure of registered cases in the other cities of the state such as Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Thrissur and Kozhikode stood at 528, 692, 493 and 525, respectively- while Kochi had a considerable margin on them, with a total of 423 cases registered till November 2014.
Kochi has not been deemed the safest on those grounds alone; as their efforts in eradication of crime have been quantifiable. The report states that the number of reported crimes against women has declined from 459 reported in 2013 to 423 last year- a change of 36, or nearly 9 percent. Here’s the break-up, in the improved figures of these crimes perpetrated: there were 54 rape cases and 135 cases of cruelty by husbands/relatives reported last year, as against 40 and 128, respectively, in 2013, cases related to molestation, eve-teasing, kidnapping, etc have come down considerably.

"Such news gives a kind of confidence to women, particularly among the working class who have to travel in late hours. Considering that Kochi is the financial capital of the state and the number of women who travel alone at night, this is an achievement by cops," said Divya Radhakrishnan, a bank employee who works and lives in the city.

Deputy commissioner of police (Ernakulam city) R Nishanthini said the collective efforts of the 108 Nirbhaya volunteers, and 2600 shadow police, traffic police and mufti cops, etc have ensured safety in almost all corners of the city. "Kochi is a city where the public and residents interact closely with the police," the officer said.

Another senior police officer said, "Unlike other states in the country, even small incidents of eve-teasing or molestation attempts are reported in Kerala.” This has resulted in God's Own Country topping the list of states with most registered cases. In such a scenario, this is definitely an achievement.

Original Source: Times of India

Trip Wow>