The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday set up a high level committee headed by the Chief Secretary to recommend concrete measures for setting up Mahila Suraksha Dals (MSD) across the city to ensure the safety of women. This committee will have Principal Secretary Home, Director General Home Guards and Director of Women and Child Development as its members and it can induct more members in case the need arises. This Committee has been requested to submit its report by February 15 and it will recommend how the MSDs can be formed and till which level to provide security for women.
The Committee has been asked to work out the modalities for the recruitment of retired Army personnel and other similar services which would be able to assist the home guards in this important work. It is being made clear that this women security force will have no police powers and will be set-up with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety and security of women. The entire financial burden of setting-up this force will be borne by the Delhi Government. The Delhi Government proposes to have adequate number of such courts so that trials in cases of heinous crimes against women can be completed within 3-6 months.