In view of increasing complaints in women’s helpline and to equip this helpline with amenities like computer, furniture and other facilities, the State Government had released around Rs 66 lakh to the police department and funds were released to the districts but these are yet to utilised by the districts so far.
Fearing the lapse of this fund the police have started tender process for purchasing computer, furniture and other facilities. Statistics reveal that around 10 to 15 women’s complaints related to dowry, marital disputes, domestic violence and other disputes are reported daily from the aggrieved women at district’s women’s helpline.
In view of this, the State Government had released Rs 66 lakh to equip this helpline with amenities like computers, telephone bill, vehicle allowances, expense on public awareness campaign and conducting training programme for police staff on women related issues, advertisement expense, expense on inviting professionals to the cell for counseling the victims and other related expenses at the helpline.
Shortage of basic amenities leads to inconvenience to the officials deployed in the helpline and the women complainants reaching here for registering their report.
In Dehradun women’s helpline, aggrieved women and their relatives can be seen standing and waiting their chance to be addressed by the police officials due to shortage of furniture.
Recently, Dehradun police had conducted public awareness campaign about crimes against women at different places and domestic violence Act but other districts are yet to conduct such programme due to unavailability of funds.
State Additional Director General of Police Ram Singh Meena said that the State Government had released around Rs 66 lakh to the police department for its women’s helpline and the fund has been released to the districts few months ago.“We have directed the district police heads to submit utilisation certification of released funds,” he added.