Come “Raksha Bandhan” on August 29, and all the 21 districts in Haryana will have functional women police stations thus making it the second State after Tamil Nadu to have such police stations in the country.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Thursday held a meeting with all Inspector General’s of Police Ranges, District Superintendents of Police through video conferencing to review the preparedness for opening Women Police Stations in the State.
The Chief Minister said that these police stations would have female staff and function round-the-clock. The buildings of these police stations would be separate from that of main police stations so as to make these more visible to the public.
Each women police station would have one lady Deputy Superintendent of Police, two Sub Inspectors, three Assistant Sub Inspectors, four Head Constables and 16 constables. Each police station would also have two Bolero Jeeps, one Tavera and three motorcycles and these would have female drivers. Also, all the 35 women PCRs would be attached to these women police stations.
The Chief Minister said these police stations would be inaugurated simultaneously in all districts on the eve of Raksha Bandhan on August 29.
He directed that apart from Ministers and MlAs, women of the concerned area having outstanding contribution in the field of social work, sports, education should be invited to attend the inaugural functions of these women police stations.
Manohar lal also asked the officers to ensure maximum participation of women on this day so as to disseminate the message of women empowerment throughout the country.
The Chief Minister directed the officers to ensure wide publicity of these women police stations at the places having large women population like schools, colleges and other public places so that maximum women could avail the facility of these police stations.
The officers were also asked to circulate the phone number of these police stations well in advance and also upload the same on the website of police department.
It was informed during the meeting that phone number of all the police stations would have 1091 as last four digits which is also the number of women help line.
Manohar lal directed that Counseling Centers should be set up in the premises of these police stations so as to dispose off various issues like family disputes, dowry cases through mediation. The office of Women and Child Welfare Officer would also be set up in the premises of these police stations so as to solve such cases through mutual consent.
The Chief Minister directed the Police officials to conduct fair investigation in case of crime against women.
With the setting up of separate police stations for women, more women would come to register cases, he added.
Expressing concern over the number of complaints against police received through Chief Minister’s Window, he directed the officers to start early investigation into the complaints as these are marked to the department so that the faith of general public towards police could be enhanced.
Director General of Police, YP Singhal earlier informed the Chief Minister that initially women police stations would be set up in the old buildings of police department and other Government departments. Many such buildings have been identified and were being renovated.
Efforts were being made to get the possession of these buildings by August 15. He said that purchase order for vehicles to be provided to these police stations has been placed and these vehicles would be delivered by August 20, said Singhal.
He added that `1.16 crore has been sanctioned for the purchase of new furniture which would be delivered in all women police stations by August 15.
Similarly, the detailed standing orders would be passed soon regarding the functioning of these police stations. Under this, the aggrieved party would be given discretion whether they wanted to register complaint in their nearest police station or in women police station of their district.
Also, they would be given the option to transfer investigation to other police station but the investigation would be carried out by the women police officer only.
The DGP said 15 days special training has been imparted to the women Inspectors about the functioning of Station House Officer at Police Academy, Madhuban in Karnal. One woman Inspector has already been posted in every district.
At present, there are 3,000 women police personnel in the State and about 25 to 30 such personnel would be deputed in each women police station.
Notably, Haryana Government had recently announced to recruit 1,000 women police personnel in the State.