Time up for sex offenders: Andhra creates separate `Mahila Police' to prevent crime against women
Specially-trained women cops will now take on roadside Romeos, eve-teasers, molesters, and others in Andhra Pradesh.
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 27 Jan 2022 7:30 AM GMT
Amaravati: Sex offenders beware! Next time you resort to any misadventure, you may end up in jail. Specially-trained women cops will now take on roadside Romeos, eve-teasers, molesters, and others in Andhra Pradesh.
The state government has decided to create a separate cadre for women police. The Government Order (GO) issued by the state Home Department elevates 'Mahila Samrakshana Karyadarsis' or women protection secretaries (WPS) to Mahila Police.
AP police havedeploy one woman cop in 15,000 villages. Special orders have been used under Mahila Police (Subordinate Service) Rules, 2021. There will be five categories of posts in the women police – Inspector Mahila police(non-gazetted), Sub-Inspector (Mahila Police), Assistant Sub-Inspector (Mahila Police), Senior (Mahila Police), and Mahila Police.
"Mahila police will be in every village. It will keep a close watch on the activities. They will be interacting with the women groups, girl students. They will motivate them to report any crime against women", said AP Director General of Police Gautam Sawang.
Inspector is the highest-ranking officer in the women's wing. The maximum age limit in the general category is 28 years, and the qualifications required include possession of a degree. While the inspectors and SIs will be appointed by the concerned Deputy Inspector General of Police, the others will be appointed by the Superintendent of Police or Commissioner of Police.
While 90% of the appointments will be filled through direct recruitment, 5% of the appointments will be filled from eligible Women Home Guards and 5% from among the state's eligible ward or village volunteers.
Duties of Mahila police
1. Mahila police will strive to encourage community members to be responsible for creating a safe environment for the women.
2. Visit schools, colleges at the village level and educate students on cybercrime and women's safety.
3. They shall report and monitor missing women, children, and child marriages.
4. They shall create awareness of gender-based violence.
5. Refer needy women to Sakhi-One Stop Centre to get police, legal and medical assistance.
6. Facilitate admission of drug addicts to nearby de-addiction centers.
7. Educate the village youth on the provisions under the Protection of Women against Sexual Harassment at workplace Act, 2013.
