Social media harassment to stalking: Telangana SHE Teams register 6,129 cases in 6 months

Hyderabad: SHE Teams have registered 6,129 cases in Telangana in the first half of 2024.

SHE teams have used technology, undercover operations, and targeted interventions in hotspots to improve women's safety across the state.

The registered cases include 449 FIRs, 2,314 petty cases, 986 phone harassment incidents, 2,661 cases of teasing and misbehavior, and 432 cases of social media harassment. Additionally, 1,085 individuals received counseling, further contributing to the preventive efforts of SHE Teams.

On August 8, Director General (DG) of the Women Safety Wing Shikha Goel chaired a half-yearly review meeting in which over 300 officers’ participated. She highlighted the importance of targeted interventions in hotspots and the success of reducing harassment incidents.

The review also noted the importance of continuous awareness campaigns and the expansion of initiatives like the Cyber Ambassador Platform and Bharosa Centers, which provide comprehensive support to victims of sexual offenses.

Achievements and Success Rates

DG Shikha Goel emphasized the "strong safety perception" that SHE Teams have created. She highlighted the importance of launching intensive awareness campaigns and paying special attention to identified hotspots.

According to the DG, SHE Teams have successfully reduced harassment and improved women’s safety, with increased reporting of cases and successful interventions in harassment incidents.

Data on Registered Cases (January 1 to June 30, 2024)

During the first half of 2024, SHE Teams registered a total of 6,129 cases. The breakdown is as follows:

- FIRs Registered: 449

- Petty Cases: 2,314

- Counseled Individuals: 1,085

- Other Closures: 1,007

- Complaints Under Process: 358

Sources of Complaints

Complaints were received from various sources, including:

- Dial 100: 15

- WhatsApp/Facebook: 1,216

- Hawk Eye App: 4

- Email: 32

- Twitter: 11

- Direct Complaints: 1,138

- Red-Handed Cases: 3,366

- QR Code Complaints: 119

- Social Media: 201

- Head of Department (HOD): 1

- Senior Officers: 26

Types of Harassment Reported

The types of harassment incidents recorded include:

- Harassment Over Phone: 986 cases

- Stalking: 604 cases

- Teasing and Misbehaving: 2,661 cases

- Passing Lewd Comments: 236 cases

- Harassment Through Social Media: 432 cases

- Inappropriate Touching: 500 cases

- Other Forms of Harassment: 710 cases

Age-wise Distribution of Accused

The age distribution of accused individuals in the registered cases is as follows:

- Minors (Below 18 years): 936

- 19-25 years: 2,630

- 26-35 years: 991

- 36-50 years: 221

- Above 50 years: 45

- Total: 4,823

Awareness Programs and Counseling

SHE Teams conducted extensive awareness programs and counseling sessions during this period:

Red-Handed Cases (Major Respondents): 2,429

- Red-Handed Cases (Minor Respondents): 847

- Awareness Programs Conducted: 5,719

- Number of Persons Reached Through Awareness Programs: 378,747

- Online Counseling Programs: 3 (Quarterly)

- Online Counseling for Major Respondents: 5,076

- Online Counseling for Minor Respondents: 784

Other Initiatives

Cyber Ambassador Platform (C.A.P.): The Women’s Safety Wing, in collaboration with the Education Department, launched the Cyber Ambassador Platform (C.A.P.) to promote cyber hygiene. Between 2021 and 2023, 12,724 students and 8,022 teachers from 4,031 government schools were trained as Cyber Ambassadors. The initiative now aims to train over 1,09,845 students across 2,273 government residential schools and 2,02,371 students from 27,704 schools in all 33 districts of Telangana under CAP Phase IV.

Bharosa Centers: Telangana was the first state to establish dedicated one-stop crisis centers, known as Bharosa Centers, for victims of grave sexual offenses.

These centers provide integrated services including medical, psychological, legal, prosecution, compensation, and rehabilitation support.

There are currently 26 Bharosa Centers across the state, with plans to expand to 35 centers.

Overview of SHE Teams

SHE Teams is a flagship initiative of the Women Safety Wing aimed at curbing sexual harassment against women and children in public spaces.

The initiative targets issues such as eve-teasing, stalking, and harassment via social media, phone calls, and other digital platforms. Operating covertly, SHE Teams gather evidence and take necessary actions, including filing FIRs and conducting counseling sessions. Their primary goal is to act as a deterrent force, preventing serious crimes against women and children.

As of now, 331 SHE Teams operate across Telangana. These teams focus on monitoring and addressing incidents of harassment and abuse in public places, using a combination of proactive measures and technology integration. The Women Safety Wing, through the ‘SHE Team Module,’ oversees their activities to ensure continuous improvement.