The Safest State For Women In India Has Been Revealed And It's A Shocker

According to the first-ever Gender Vulnerability Index (GVI) report developed and released by the NGO Plan India, Goa has been named the safest state for women in India.

With the aim of addressing gender inequality in the country, the GVI sheds light on the status of women and girls in India. It is a part of the NGO’s national campaign “Plan for Every Child–Leave No Girl Behind”, and is based on secondary data collected via the public domain, such as the National Family Health Survey IV and Census 2011.

About 170 indicators formed the basis of the index, and each state received a score on a scale of 0 to 1 in different categories. These categories include women’s safety and protection from violence, health, education and poverty, and the final rankings were determined by an average. A score closer to 1 indicates that the status and provisions for women in the state are better.

The Findings of GVI

Known for its breezy beaches, mesmerizing sunsets, water sports, lively nightlife, spectacular architecture, vibrant food culture and laid-back vibe, Goa bags the title of the safest state for women in India, with GVI of 0.656. As well as being the safest state for women in India, Goa also came fifth in the field of education, sixth in health, and eighth in the list for poverty.

Kerala, nicknamed ‘God’s Own Country’, scored second place in the index, with a GVI of 0.634, thanks to its accomplishments in the health sector. The other states that nabbed a place in the top 5 were Mizoram with score of 0.627 (rank 3), Sikkim with 0.613 GVI (rank 4) and Manipur with 0.610 GVI (rank 5), followed closely by Himachal Pradesh (rank 6) and Karnataka (rank 7), both with scores of 0.604 .

States that aren’t so women-friendly

With a GVI of 0.410, Bihar is last in the rankings (at number 30), earning the title of unsafest, unhealthiest and poorest state. Even on the education front, this state ranks among the lowest. The study revealed that nearly 39% of girls in Bihar marry before the legal marriageable age. A female in India cannot marry before the age of 18, but this rule that is flouted in Bihar.

Other states at the bottom of the index include Uttar Pradesh with a score of 0.434 (rank 29), Delhi with 0.436 (rank 28), Jharkhand with 0.450 (rank 27) and Arunachal Pradesh with 0.452 score (rank 26).

The Times Now reported Bhagyashari Dengle (Executive Director of Plan India) as saying: “The fact is that the issues surrounding women are inter-related. Also, there has to be a focus on solutions specific to each category of vulnerability”.

Read the full report here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.