Southern States, Gujarat and most North-Eastern States have emerged as the most secure for women, while Haryana, M.P., Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan had the lowest ranking on Female Security Index, according to a new survey.

Chennai and Bangalore have emerged as the most-secure amongst the top eight cities, in a new report by the Tata Strategic Management Group.

The report has noted a Well Being Index (WBI) and Female Security Index (FSI) for India, and has ranked Hyderabad and Delhi as the lowest amongst metros in terms of FSI.

Tata Strategic used the Female Security Index to measure the safety of women in society.

Social parameters consisting of gender ratio in the 0-6 year age group, dowry deaths and rape crimes against women were used to create the FSI rank of all the districts in the country.

Announcing the findings, in a statement, Raju Bhinge, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Strategic Management Group said, “The top 10 WBI list includes two clusters: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab, Delhi, Haryana. Incidentally, Tamil Nadu is the only large State to figure amongst the top 10 in both the WBI and FSI rankings.”

Punjab, Delhi, HP, Haryana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh were ranked at the top of the Well Being Index (WBI), while Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand and Bihar appeared at the bottom of the WBI.

K. Raman, Practice Head of Education and Healthcare noted, “The study brings forth the understanding that there is more to well-being than just earning. The low ranks on Female security Index even in districts that are highly ranked in well being index clearly point to the need for cultural and social introspection.”

The company measured the material well being of a consumer household along eight dimensions — home, kitchen, hygiene, entertainment, communication, transportation, education and healthcare.

Using household data, the district-level well-being was measured and finally all districts were ranked on the basis of the Well Being Index.

Most of Peninsular India and North India have been rated average or better on WBI, while Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hardwar were the best-ranked districts in WBI in their respective regions.

The report noted that some of the economically advanced States like Delhi, Punjab and Haryana were the lowest in female security.

>amritanair.ghaswalla@thehindu.co.in

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