The Delhi Cabinet’s decision to set up Mahila Suraksha Dal, a commando force that will be responsible for ensuring the safety of women in the Capital, is still on paper after 11 months. The Cabinet approved the proposal in February 2014 and it is still on paper. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government had taken a decision for setting up a special security force for women, which was one of the election promises made by it during the 2013 Assembly polls.
It is noted that AAP had constituted a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary to recommend ways for constituting Mahila Suraksha Dals across the city. The committee comprised the Principal Secretary (home), Director General (Home Guards) and director
of Women and Child Development as its members, to start with.
The committee was supposed to submit its report to the Government soon but nothing has happened. As per Cabinet decision, the women security force will not have police
powers. The Government will bear the financial burden of constituting the force.
The terms of reference for the committee include examining the existing number of courts in the city and to recommend how many new courts will be required to function as special fast-track courts to try criminal cases involving heinous crimes against women.
AAP had accused in the run-up to the Assembly elections, the previous Congress Government of not doing enough to ensure the safety of women in the city.