‘Shishtachar’ Squads Launched in Delhi to Ensure Women’s Safety

The Delhi Police implemented the 'Shishtachar' squads as an operational unit to stop harassment while simultaneously protecting women using public areas. These squads send male and female police officers in casual attire to maintain high-crime areas of the city for preventing harassment and eve-teasing activities. Since their formation the squads have detained over 300 people while also guiding public transportation users to utilize Himmat App and SOS features.

Context: 

• The Delhi Police established the 'Shishtachar' squads that focus on both stopping harassment and providing security measures to protect women during their interactions in public areas. 

• Police have stationed plainclothes male and female officers throughout high-crime parts of the city to stop eve-teasing together with other acts of harassment.

Launch and Purpose of ‘Shishtachar’ Squads:

• The BJP-led government implemented ‘Shishtachar’ squads after winning the Delhi Assembly elections as they vowed to protect women from harassment and promote their security.

• Thirty mixed-gender law enforcement squads operate in various criminal areas where they conduct duty.

Working Mechanism:

• Police officers wear regular clothes while patrolling public areas to stay invisible among civilians which prevents men who harass from recognizing them as officers.

• The officers maintain presence at schools, colleges, parks, bus stops and active sites throughout public areas to stop unwanted advances of harassment, particularly eve-teasing.

Key Interventions and Actions:

• Authorized personnel arrested e-rickshaw operators from Govindpuri metro station after they started harassing female passengers.

• Individuals under detention receive a warning or get fined through Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act.

• The squads teach commuters about the SOS button on buses combined with Himmat App function which allows reporting harassment.

Awareness Campaigns:

• Public safety awareness and harassment response are primary responsibilities of these squads who explain how to access services through the Himmat App and the SOS bus button.

• The team members approach people directly at parks together with bus stops to teach them about accessible resources.

Impact and Outreach:

• Since these squads started operating more than 300 individuals have received arrests in the city for offenses associated with harassment.

Similar Initiatives for Women’s Safety

• Shishtachar Squads (Delhi Police Initiative)

  • The squads work in street uniforms to deter harassment in outdoor public areas.

  • These locations include metro stations together with bus stops and parks and also crowded areas.

• Anti-Romeo Squads

  • The state of Uttar Pradesh had a direct influence on the formation of these patrolling teams for combating eve-teasing and harassment.

• One-Stop Centers (OSCs)

  • Support centers operate as medical and legal and psychological assistance centers for women in crisis.

• Himmat App (Delhi Police)

  • Emergency mobile app for women to alert police in distress situations.

  • GPS tracking for quick response.

• Suraksha App

  • Women’s safety app for immediate complaint registration and location tracking.

• Nirbhaya Fund

  • The central authority of India provides dedicated financial support for various safety projects targeting women.

  • The funding supports CCTV camera installations and emergency systems with crisis management centers construction.

• CCTV Surveillance (Delhi Govt.)

  • The authorities have installed cameras across metro stations along with markets and public areas for surveillance purposes.

• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme

  • Focuses on empowering girls through education and awareness.

• Mahila Police Volunteer (MPV) Scheme

  • The MPV scheme enables community women to serve as intermediaries between victims and police departments for victim reporting.

• Public Awareness Campaigns

  • The establishment of educational platforms which deliver materials about gender sensibility as well as women's empowerment.

Conclusion:

Delhi Police implements 'Shishtachar' as their proactive plan to offer security to women and control harassment cases. The initiative sends plain-clothed officers to high-risk areas because their presence creates fear in possible harassers. This initiative both provides instant security assurance and educates female citizens about safety resources in Delhi which supports overall public safety creation for everyone.