Hyderabad, March 09: A recent survey conducted by the Assocham Social Development Foundation revealed that 53 per cent of working women in the country fear for their safety and Hyderabad figures second to Delhi in the list of cities where women feel unsafe. Among 35 cities analysed, Delhi topped the list interms of crimes against women followed by Hyderabad. The state crime statistics show the number of rape cases has gone up from 1147 in 2009 to 1228 in 2010.
However, some women beg to differ. “I think Hyderabad is one of the safest cities. The crime rate is very high in Delhi and Bengaluru. But here I can travel alone without any fear,” said Ferina Bhaidani, a PG student, who uses a two-wheeler. While she does not fear moving around the city in a two-wheeler, Vellala Sneha, an intern at Gandhi Hospital has a different take. “I think it is pretty safe for a girl to travel in a car. But it is definitely not safe to walk in lanes after 10 p.m. There can be drunk men strolling around. My job demands me to travel at odd hours and I feel safe to commute only in a car,” said Sneha.
While some women prefer their personal vehicle, others trust the public transport more. “I often travel alone in a bus and feel travelling in a bus is much safer. But one has to always take precautions while travelling alone, especially during the night,” says Gayatri Dutt, an intern at a chartered firm. Women might feel it is safe to travel by themselves but they are definitely cautious. “Even though the city and its friendly people make me feel safe, I prefer to be cautious and not trust any stranger,” confesses Bhavana Panditi, an architecture student.
Authorities also believe that Hyderabad is a much safer city when compared to crime rates in other cities. “In my opinion, Hyderabad is definitely a safe city. It is definitely much better when compared to places like Delhi and Bengaluru. There have been a few instances of eve-teasing and cab drivers misbehaving but those are rare and we cannot base our judgement on them. But areas that are not well-lit or do not have proper police patrol should be avoided by women,” opines Akun Sabarwal, Central Zone deputy commisssioner of police.
–Agencies