Need to develop safer pockets for working women

RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS

FOR OVER a century, people across the globe celebrate March 8 as International Women’s Day and the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. This year’s theme for International Women’s day was ‘Be Bold for Change’, and change is definitely called for. We also need to give more encouragement for women’s advancement, celebrate their achievements and champion the cause of women’s education.

Closer home and the ground realities in India, working women need to know they can live, work and yes — entertain, peacefully and safely. The voice of countless working women in India is stifled under the pressures of a daily work commute and the responsibility of managing their households. Not all residential locations are created equal — and certainly not for women in our largest metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune.

To identify the relatively safer and more convenient areas where women can live, work and relax in relative peace in these cities, we focus on some critical operative real estate factors, such as:

Proximity to work places and shopping areas

■ Proximity to schools ■ Safety at home and during commute ■ Adequate commuting options ■ Good healthcare facilities ■ Reasonably priced housing ■ Healthy, green environment

Some locations have themselves been agents of change. Thane in Mumbai, for example, has evolved over the years from being a largely industrial hub to a location that sports large IT/ITES offices, offers a variety of malls and supermarkets, has reasonably priced housing within self-sufficient housing complexes, ample green cover and decent healthcare amenities.

Thane’s proximity to the Bandra Kurla Complex central business district (BKC CBD) hasalsoenhancedafterinfrastructuredevelopments, resulting in it becoming a location of