Background

In India, every year, about 32% of married women report facing abuse or different forms of violence. In 2025, up until the month of May, the National Commission for Women (NCW) reported that they received about 7,698 complaints of domestic violence, assault, and criminal intimidation – the most common grievances against women across India. It is no secret that crimes against women take place every day and continue to rise at an exponential rate. Yet, despite constant efforts to create safe spaces and enforce existing support systems, women continue to remain unsafe. At the root of this are misogyny and patriarchy – issues that need to be addressed at a grassroots level to begin understanding how spaces around us have been structured to be unequal and deeply hierarchical. 

At this juncture, self-defense becomes important for women. As unfortunate as it may be, women need to be mentally and physically prepared for any situation that may come their way – and in these cases, self-defense becomes a life-saving necessity one must be familiar with. Being prepared not only makes one stronger, but it also helps one gain confidence in their ability to protect themselves and equips them with a greater awareness of their surroundings. Self-defense helps one find safety in dangerous situations, and it’s important to have the resources to protect oneself when the need arises. 

While women continue to soar in every field today, it is also imperative to acknowledge and recognize the need for mental resilience and physical preparedness, especially in a country where crimes against women are common (and usually perpetrated by those close to them). Protection is important, from external sources, as well as from within, and self-defense is a way to take control of situations where one usually lacks ample support. While many have the privilege to take self-defense classes, training, and workshops, underserved people – who make up a large portion of the victims of violence – are left behind. It was as a result of seeing this gap in society, both in public and private spaces, that Safe Steps was born. One step at a time, our goal is to help women navigate their everyday lives with confidence, knowing that they’re prepared to deal with instances where they’re rendered vulnerable and powerless.