Is Tamil Nadu really unsafe for women, or is it just political misinformation?

Geetha JeevanClaims by the AIADMK leadership that Tamil Nadu is unsafe for women are nothing but politics at its most irresponsible, and an insult to the people of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu’s women labour force participation is among the highest; 41% of all women working in factories in the country are from Tamil Nadu. The state’s gross enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education among women is 47.3% against the national figure of 28.5%. This would not be possible without women feeling safe and secure in public environments.Public safety for women in Tamil Nadu has consistently ranked among the best in India. Independent agencies, crime statistics and reputable organisations have repeatedly recognised Tamil Nadu as one of the safest states for women to live and work.Take for instance data on reported sexual assaults, which show significant improvement under DMK rule. According to state police data, between 2017 and 2020, incidents of sexual assault rose by 37%. However, between 2021 to 2024 the increase was only 6%. In the ongoing year, 86% of crimes against women and children have been charge sheeted within the stipulated 60 days. When it comes to sexual assault, action by the police under this govt is strong and swift.To strengthen investigations into sensitive cases, the govt of Tamil Nadu has constituted a special task force to ensure the protection of women and children in all districts and cities. In 2025 (up to June), 112 protection orders have been obtained by various districts and cities against accused persons.According to the national crime records bureau’s crime in India report, Chennai is the second safest city in the country. Tamil Nadu’s overall crime rate stands at 24 crimes per lakh population, compared to the national average of 66.4. Among large states with a population of more than five crore, Tamil Nadu has one of the lowest crime rates. In the category of sexual assault, Tamil Nadu has 1.1 cases per lakh population compared to the national average of 4.7. The state also leads the country in chargesheeting crimes against women and children, at 90.6% well above the national average of 75.5%.Studies by AVTAR in 2023 and 2024 further confirm Tamil Nadu’s leadership in women’s safety. In 2023, Chennai ranked as the most conducive city for working women among those with populations above one million. For smaller cities with populations below one million, the top five, Trichy, Vellore, Erode, Salem, and Tirupur, were all from Tamil Nadu. In 2024, Chennai ranked second among the safest large cities, with Coimbatore in third place. Both cities featured in the top 10 safest cities nationwide.Building safety through empowerment and educationThe DMK’s approach to women’s safety is rooted in a legacy of reforms. In 1973, Kalaignar M Karunanidhi took the unprecedented step of inducting the first women’s police unit into the Madras City Police, a bold move for that time. That spirit continues today. The Vidiyal Payanam scheme, launched by chief minister M K Stalin, is a landmark initiative aimed at promoting gender justice and empowering women by providing free travel for women. From the State Policy for Women 2024 to heavy investments in Thozhi hostels for working women, the current DMK govt has kept women’s safety and empowerment at the centre of its work.This commitment is visible in innovative safety programmes that start with children and extend to young women and vulnerable groups. The SIRPI scheme, launched in 2021 by the chief minister, works with school students from socially marginalized backgrounds to steer them away from crime. Over 40 weeks, students engage with the police, learning about responsibility, law, and citizenship. In its pilot in 100 Chennai schools, more than 5,000 students benefited.For young first-time petty offenders, PARAVAI (personality and attitude reformation assistance venture for affirming identity programme) offers rehabilitation and reintegration, tackling root causes of crime. Public awareness is strengthened through the AVAL (avoid violence through awareness & learning) campaign, which uses media such as films, radio jingles, posters, and social media to share messages on child safety, workplace harassment, cyber safety, and domestic violence.Project Pallikoodam, launched in Coimbatore after a rise in child sexual abuse and minor elopements, takes outreach into schools, educating children, teachers, and parents. In colleges, the Police Akka scheme places policewomen on campus to build trust and address harassment issues promptly. We have also been aggressively creating awareness about the 181 helpline to address violence against women.In this backdrop, sensationalising a few exceptional incidents undermines years of progress. It spreads fear, discourages women from claiming public spaces, and risks pushing them back into confined roles.As a woman in politics, I know the weight of sexism and misogyny. But I also know that violence against women must never be used as a political weapon, especially during elections. Certainly, as women, we don’t need to take lessons on women’s safety from leaders of a party whose cadres burned three schoolgirls alive in Dharmapuri in 2000 because their leader was convicted in a corruption case, or from leaders who are in alliance with a political establishment that supported the shameful early release of the Bilkis Bano gang-rape convicts and sickeningly garlanded them upon their release.We need citizens to join hands with the govt to create real change, and real change can only be achieved by those who focus on meaningful policy and have an intent to reform society, not by those who influence rape investigations against fellow partymen while in power and then use violence against women as an issue to win elections. The author is Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, Tami Nadu