Will women cell help check rising crime against women?

To be headed by ADG, unit will handle gender specific cases

At a time when crime against women is spiralling like anything, the state government’s move to constitute ‘Mahila Samman Prakoshth’ (women cell) comes as a ray of hope to victims.

The cell to be headed by an additional director general (ADG) rank officer would look into the implementation of women related laws such as protection of children from sexual offence act (POCSO), juvenile justice act, prevention of immoral trafficking act, sexual harassment at workplace act and protection of women from domestic violence act.

Envisioned to function under the director general of police (DGP), the cell would have a dedicated staff selected from among the existing force by the DGP, says the government order issued on September 5.

The cell would also engaged in follow-ups and close monitoring of actions in cases of dowry death, rape and other heinous crimes against women by the cell.

The cell also entails the responsibility of making action plan against trafficking, actions being taken in cases of trafficking and making plans for its prevention.

All anti-human trafficking units would function under the women cell which would be the nodal agency for the same, says the order.

As per the GO, the cell would be responsible for conducting gender sensitisation and training programmes and would act as a link between the police of different states for communication and exchange of information in cases of crime against women and children.

It will also maintain DNA databank for missing people.

ADG Sutapa Sanyal, who is to head the cell said, “The other members of the cell are yet to be selected. Once the names are finalised, we would start working in full swing.”

A separate office for the cell would be set up at Mahanagar, she added. “Such a move is welcome. We wish the cell achieves its objective by successfully implementing the tasks it has been formed to do,” said Prof Roop Rekha Verma, secretary, Saajhi Duniya, an organisation that works for women.