Women help desks to fight soaring crimes rates
Women help desks are being set up to increase the approachability of women to police stations for counselling, reporting sexual crimes and enhance confidence
JAIPUR: Police stations in Rajasthan, where higher incidents of crimes against women are reported or which lack adequate facilities to cater to the requirement of women and children, will now have women help desks, officials said.
The Centre under the Nirbhaya Fund projects decided to provide a one-time assistance of ~1 lakh to a police station to set up a women help desk (WHD). T h e Ni r b h a y a F u n d wa s announced by the Centre in 2013 after the sensational December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder case in Delhi. Its aim was to support the initiatives of the government and the NGOS working towards the safety of women.
In a letter to the state home department, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) says that the scheme to give financial assistance to set up WHD has been approved. The scheme will initially be implemented in 10,000 police stations in the country. States and union territories may allocate the funds to police stations with higher crimes against women.
“WHDS are being set up to increase the approachability of women to police stations for counselling and reporting sexual crimes, enhance the confidence of women to visit police stations, and reduce response time by the law enforcement agencies to react to crisis or to track and identify criminals,” a home department official said on condition of anonymity.
“Comprehensive advisories on crime against women and children have been issued by MHA from time to time. Among other suggestions, MHA has been advising the states and UTS regarding setting up of WHDS in every police station.”
On the basis of experience of the first year, the scheme of women he l p d e s k s c a n b e expanded to other police stations, the letter said. “As the primary drivers of this project,
HOME MINISTRY OFFICIAL
states have a critical role to play for allocation of funds to police stations which have higher incidents of crimes against women or lack adequate facilities to cater to the requirements of women and children. The Nirb haya f und may b e us e t o strengthen the critical gaps for providing safe environment for women.”
The objectives of the WHDS are making police station (PS) women-friendly and approachable, the letter said. “First single point of contact for any women walking into PS; trained official to manage any women-related case; have enlisted panel of experts like lawyers, psychologists, NGOS who can provide shelter and rehabilitation; and the desk will register, transfer the case to concerned authorities a nd f o l l o w up c a s e g i vi ng required assurance and support to the women approaching.”
The l et t er s ai d t he WHD should be headed by women police officer, not below assistant sub-inspector, both women and men police officials working with WHD should get training and orientation. “State shall notify a nodal officer at district level for coordinating the functioning of help desk in every police station.”
At the police station, the letter said, expenditure can be incurred on tables, chairs, almirah, mobile phones, digital camera, two-wheeler, landline phone and broadband connection, desktop/laptop, minor renovations, among others.