The brutal gangrape and deadly assault of Nirbhaya on the night of 16 December 2012 in Delhi ignited unprecedented public outrage over the pervasive, yet overlooked, problem of violence against women. The country raged with anger in a way it had never over the problem. 

It forced the governments to act. A slew of schemes was launched to ensure women get support to fight the violence and abuse against them.

But what has really changed since that horrific night? Almost 12 years later, we travelled across two states – in urban and rural spaces – to find out whether these critical schemes launched a decade ago deliver on their promise of safety and security for women.

Have the support systems created since then delivered on their promise? Has the deeply ingrained patriarchal and uncooperative mindset within the police shifted since then?

We are starting the investigative series with a prologue – the story of a woman whom we call Simran that tells how women trying to escape abuse and violence, seeking safety and justice, face apathy from authorities. 

Read here about Simran’s escape from violence. 

But, not all stories get told. Not all numbers reveal the truth.

Starting tomorrow, we will bring you investigative reports that interrogate the failures of a system meant to protect women while amplifying the voices of those on the ground. A series on how nearly 12 years after the Nirbhaya tragedy, women’s safety in India remains a story of broken promises, neglect, and systemic apathy.

Before our series kicks off, we want to thank you – our readers and supporters. Investigations like these take time, effort, and resources. We also want to thank the Appan Menon Memorial Trust for showing faith in our work, and this project.