Rising thefts, few jobs push women in relocated families out of work

Relocated to the city’s fringes with promises of stability, many rehabilitated families living in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flats of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in outer Delhi’s Narela and nearby villages say long commutes, lack of employment opportunities, and rising thefts are forcing women out of the workforce.

In one such household in Pocket 5 of the DDA flats, all three adults – the husband, wife, and elderly mother – were working before being rehabilitated following an anti-encroachment drive in Central Delhi’s Madrasi Camp in June 2025. S. Lakshman, 31, a cleaner at a government office in Jangpura, said, “My wife, a domestic worker, and I leave at dawn to catch the bus and return home at 11 p.m.”

Initially, Mr. Lakshman’s mother, S. Nalini, 51, travelled with them for work. But within two weeks, she stopped after a theft at home. “It’s dangerous to even walk on the road at night. My son was stopped once and his phone was snatched. We cannot afford to keep losing valuables,” Ms. Nalini said.

For Meena, 52, who lives alone in the same complex, the risks feel even higher. Fearing theft, she spent over ₹35,000 installing grilles and fencing around her flat. “My sons and their families rented houses in Nizamuddin because there is no work here,” she said.

Delhi Police data show that Narela reported 1,970 crimes in 2025, of which over 1,170 involved burglary, robbery, snatching and other forms of theft. Over a dozen women told The Hindu they had stopped working after relocating to Narela, citing unsafe travel and the risk of leaving homes unattended.

Those who stayed back

Rubi Devi, who moved a decade ago, has been out of regular work since. “The area is less hostile now than before. More flats have been allotted, so it’s not empty anymore. But thefts have increased too…There is no work here other than low-paying factory jobs,” she said.

Preeti, 25, who lives in Pocket 4, was rehabilitated from Yamuna Pusta, about 40 km away. Though qualified to work as a teacher, she said commuting is especially difficult as a differently-abled person due to infrequent buses and poor connectivity. “I was ready to travel or even rent a room in the city if I found a job. But my family decided someone had to stay back if everyone else went to work – and that someone was me,” she said.

‘Lack of planning’

Residents in nearby villages link rising thefts to unemployment. From Sonath village, shopkeeper Anuj Vans pointed towards the beige DDA flats. “Incidents increased once these flats became populated. A bike was stolen a few days ago, and recently, parts were taken from my car,” he said. Mr. Vans said rehabilitation without employment planning has worsened the situation. “People even avoid highways now because of snatching,” he said.