Single-point inter-departmental coordination help to enhancing women’s safety in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: 28/9/24:On the second day of the two-day conference of District Collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs), a special session was convened to discuss single-point inter-departmental coordination for enhancing women’s safety in Odisha.

According to an official press release, the session, held in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was attended by Special Secretary of the Home Department Santosh Bala, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Shyni S, Director of Women & Child Development Monisha Banerjee, Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde, and Mayurbhanj SP S Susree.

Inspector General of Police Shyni S delivered a presentation on the role of the Odisha police in ensuring women’s safety, highlighting that a significant portion of crimes against women in the state is committed by their own relatives. She urged police officers to enhance the capacity of police stations to address these crimes more effectively. Shyni S also emphasized the need for police personnel to exhibit empathy and good behavior towards complainants, particularly women, who come to the stations seeking help.

Monisha Banerjee, Director of Women & Child Development and the State Social Welfare Board, outlined various government schemes designed to support women, including Helpline-181, One Stop Centres, Shakti Sadan, and Sakhi Niwas. She stressed the importance of effective management of internal complaints committees to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. Banerjee expressed confidence that by improving coordination between departments, Odisha could become a national leader in women’s safety.

Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde proposed the creation of a monthly report listing grassroots-level crimes, which would then be analyzed at various administrative levels to track trends and assess the effectiveness of interventions.

Mayurbhanj SP S Susree highlighted the specific challenges of addressing crimes against women in tribal-dominated areas and discussed strategies for reducing these crimes through community engagement and stronger enforcement.

Special Secretary of the Home Department Santosh Bala concluded the session by stressing the importance of educating men on gender sensitization as a key factor in reducing crimes against women. She noted that a change in mindset among men is essential to stopping violence and creating a safer environment for women.