Making the presence of fairer sex in the State police department more pronounced, Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced a new Mahila Battalion in Santhal Pargana, which will have its headquarters in Dumka.
Making the announcement in a programme by Jharkhand Police to celebrate International Women’s Day, Das said, “To usher in a bright future for Jharkhand, women of the State will have to be educated, strengthened economically and given bigger responsibilities. In the near future, we will see women playing a crucial role in every sector in Jharkhand, be it law and order or administration or any other,” he further added.
The CM also flagged off a contingent of Shakti Commandoes along with launching an Android mobile application, Shakti, both created with specific focus on women security. The mobile application will cover 16 police stations in the urban parts of Ranchi, whereas the 20 scooter-ridden Shakti Commando units will be deployed across the city. He also launched a fleet of 18 new patrolling vans for crime prevention in the State capital.
Each unit of the Shakti Commandoes will have two female constables, equipped with Android smartphones, wireless sets and handguns. These female constables will be deployed in areas which see high footfall of girls and women, like educational institutions and markets.
As for Shakti app, women can use the mobile application to call for help in times of distress, which will alert the nearest police patrolling unit so that they can rush to help. Apart from them, the Shakti Commandoes and 10 of the new patrolling vans will be dedicated to look after the complaints received from Shakti app.
“This is a pilot project that has been started from Ranchi. It will be taken to other districts too after measuring its success in the capital city,” stated Director General of Police DK Pandey.
“In rural pockets of the State, where the reach and effectiveness of Shakti app will be limited, we are training two police officials in every police station to handle cases related to women. Half of the police stations have already been covered and the rest will be covered soon,” said Sampat Meena, Inspector General, Criminal Investigation Department (Organised Crimes).
Women in the police force were also in for a treat as the State Police Department has decided to celebrate this year as ‘Year of the Female Cop’, said Meena in her address.
“Provisions have been made for reserving 33 per cent vacancies in constabulary for women and work has begun in this direction. Moreover, a report has been submitted on developing a scientific approach towards helping our female workforce in striking a balance between their professional and family lives, something which has been neglected by far,” said Meena.
She further added, “This year we will also focus on breaking prevalent gender-based stereotypes in our department. Additionally, the required infrastructure like separate barracks, toilets and washrooms will also be developed to help our female police officials work easily.”
Meanwhile, in another programme, Chief Minister Raghubar Das requested women to lead the movement to dry their villages of the necessary evil that brings good revenue to the State. Das announced reward for “nasha mukt” villages.
Das saluted women for their role in the society and eulogised their contribution in shaping people and society.
“No movement to uproot liquor from the society would be fruitful without women’s participation. The State Government would provide `1 lakh to those villages which will get rid of liquor,” said CM here in a programme organised by Jharkhand State livelihood Promotion Society.
While encouraging women to reap benefits of various programmes launched by the State Government, Das assured them of a dignified place in the society by supporting education of girls belonging to the families with little means to provide education and nurturing them to become self-dependent in future. He also requested women to rise up to the cause of women, resist early marriage of girl and focus on making them educated.
“State Government would support girls in completing their education. I would ask families to not even think about marrying a girl before she completes her education,” maintained Das.