A staggering revelation: Do Indians truly feel secure strolling solo at night? The answer, it seems, is not so straightforward. A recent study by India's Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has unveiled a surprising twist in how we perceive safety.
Imagine this: 9 out of 10 Indians confidently assert they feel safe walking alone in their neighborhoods after dark. But, here's the twist—this sense of security dramatically changes depending on the survey method. When conducted over the phone, 88-90% of people, regardless of gender or rural/urban setting, claimed to feel safe. However, when the survey went in-person, the numbers took a nosedive, with only 69% feeling secure in one location and a mere 51% in another when calculated using the UN's method.
Why does this matter? Well, the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 include a crucial indicator—the percentage of people feeling safe walking alone at night. This falls under the 16th goal, promoting peaceful societies and access to justice. UNICEF emphasizes the 'fear of crime' as a significant factor, as high fear levels can hinder development by reducing public trust and engagement.
Interestingly, India has yet to gather data on this indicator. MoSPI's study aimed to assess the feasibility of telephonic surveys for collecting such data. They found that while phone surveys are cost-effective, the UN's indicator definition is flawed. The UN asks people how safe they feel, offering responses like 'very safe', 'safe', 'unsafe', etc. But here's where it gets controversial: those who never go out alone at night are still counted in the total respondents, skewing the results. For instance, if 50% feel safe, 10% feel unsafe, 10% are unsure, and 30% don't go out, the indicator can't exceed 70%. MoSPI suggests a formula tweak, which their pilot surveys support.
Now, a global perspective: Gallup's 2024 Global Safety Report reveals that 73% of adults worldwide feel safe walking alone at night, the highest ever recorded. Yet, women consistently feel less secure than men in over 100 countries. Singapore, Tajikistan, and China lead the safety rankings, while India ranks 59th with 72%. South Africa lags at the bottom with only 33%.
So, is India's safety perception accurate? The survey methods matter, and the UN's definition may need rethinking. What's your take? Do you think the UN's indicator is fair, or does MoSPI's suggestion make more sense? Let's discuss!
