More Mahila Mitras in the offing

Vijayawada: Commissioner of Police D Gowtham Sawang said on Thursday the city police are taking initiative to increase the number of Mahila Mitras in the city to address the problems being faced by women folk like domestic violence, eve teasing and other types of harassment. 

He said the city police are trying to provide more self-confidence to women by appointing the Mahila Mithras in the police stations. The Commissioner was addressing the Mahila Mitras, Mahila Rakshaks, members of Vasavya Mahila Mandali, representatives of the NGOs at the Command Control Room on MG Road on Thursday.

The meeting was convened to mark the successful completion of one year by Mahila Mitras and Mahila Rakshaks which was the brainchild of the commissioner of police one year ago. 

So far, the city police appointed 135 Mahila Mitras, who assist the aggrieved women and girls, who come to the police stations for the assistance. Mahila Rakshak teams check eve-teasing and nab the eve- teasers. 

Speaking on the occasion, Sawang said the police are trying to change the mindset of women and creating awareness on gender equality and rights of women. He said, “We have restricted the number of Mahila Mitras to only 135 in the first year and is trying to increase the number in the second year”.

Referring to Mahila Rakshaks, the Commissioner said the city police with the support of Vasavya Mahila Mandali sensitised 2,000 eve-teasers in the city. He said there is a lot of change in the perception of eve-teasers in the city. He expressed happiness that there were no repeated offenders in the eve-teasing cases.

He said, “Our objective is reformation not the punishment of young eve-teasers”, he added. If the police book cases against the youngsters for eve-teasing, they may face so many problems in future, he pointed out.  

Former MP and Chairperson of Vasavya Mahala Mandali Chennupati Vidya said that Mahila Mitra and Mahila Rakshak are playing a vital role in the city on educating people about the rights of women.

She said women in the city are coming to the police station with a lot of courage due to reforms brought in the department during the last one year. Mahila Mitra members, coordinators, facilitators and constables, who deal with women cases, explained their experiences in the meeting. 

Joint Commissioner of Police B V Ramana Kumar, Deputy Commissioners of Police Kanti Rana Tata, Gajarao Bhupal, assistant commissioners of police, circle inspectors and others attended the meeting, which was organised in association with Vasavya Mahila Mandali, American Consulate, Hyderabad.