“Women safety, child protection key priorities”: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta outlines key measures for women and child protection, including helplines, CCTV, and shelter homes.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday reaffirmed that the safety, dignity, and welfare of women and children remain the core priorities of the Delhi government. Highlighting a comprehensive framework of protection, the Chief Minister detailed a multi-layered approach involving helplines, shelter homes, and enhanced surveillance to ensure no citizen struggles to find help during a crisis.
A Comprehensive Safety Net for Women
To ensure timely assistance and rehabilitation, the Chief Minister highlighted several key infrastructure and support systems currently in place:
- Integrated Helplines: The Women’s Helpline 181 has been seamlessly linked with the Emergency Helpline 112, One Stop Centres, Child Helpline 1098, and Shakti Sadan to provide coordinated emergency responses.
- One Stop Centres: There are 11 One Stop Centres operating across Delhi to assist women in distress.
- Shelter and Housing: Delhi currently operates 15 women’s shelter homes. To support the workforce, 14 working women’s hostels are available, providing accommodation for 2,427 women. New facilities are also planned for Vishwas Nagar and Rohini.
- Legal and Protection Officers: Twenty protection officers are actively working to assist women in cases involving domestic violence and dowry.
- Workplace Safety: The government has strengthened mechanisms to monitor sexual harassment through Internal Committees, Local Committees, and the SHE-Box portal.
Strengthening Public Spaces and Transport
Chief Minister Gupta emphasized that safety must extend beyond support centres and into the streets. The government is focusing on making public spaces safer through better lighting and technology.
Enhanced Surveillance and Lighting: Under the Public Works Department (PWD), 96,000 streetlights (including 45,000 HPSV and 51,000 LED lights) have been installed. Furthermore, a massive network of 2,53,983 CCTV cameras is currently operational to monitor public areas.
Safe Transit for Women: To protect commuters, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has deployed 2,947 bus marshals. While 56 special buses are dedicated to women, 15 of these operate during the evening shift with armed women police personnel on board. All buses are integrated into the Bus Management System (BMS), featuring panic alarms, GPS, and live CCTV feeds monitored 24/7.
Prioritizing Child Protection and Rights
The Chief Minister also detailed the measures being taken to ensure a safe environment for children, focusing on both protection and empowerment.
The Child Helpline 1098 is now linked with the Emergency Helpline 112, child care institutions, and District Child Protection Units. To support this, the city relies on 30 government-run and 56 non-governmental child care institutions. Additionally, eleven District Child Protection Units work to connect children in need with necessary rehabilitation and assistance.
Gupta noted that statutory bodies, including Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards, are functioning to protect children's rights, while Sub-Divisional Magistrates play a key role in the administrative support system.