Sambalpur, Oct 13 (UDN): Women’s safety infrastructure in Sambalpur district is set for a significant upgrade, with the administration proposing nine initiatives worth an estimated Rs 10 crore under the Nirbhaya initiative. The proposed measures include expanded CCTV surveillance, emergency response vehicles, dedicated police patrols, pink e-rickshaws and assistance centres to improve the safety and accessibility of public spaces for women and girls.
Pic Credit: x.com/SecyChief
The initiatives were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday. Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Hemant Sharma and Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra attended the meeting, while Sambalpur Collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar joined virtually to present the district’s proposed action plan.
Nine Initiatives to Strengthen Women’s Safety
Under the ‘Shakti Sarathi’ initiative, 15 two-wheelers will be deployed for patrols by women police personnel, enabling quicker response to complaints and emergencies.
The proposed ‘Pratikriya’ scheme will provide 15 emergency response vehicles along with drones to support assistance and rescue operations. Meanwhile, the ‘Drushti’ initiative envisages the installation of 800 CCTV cameras at 210 strategic locations to strengthen surveillance and improve monitoring of public spaces.
The administration has also proposed five police assistance centres under ‘S-Stop’ to provide support and improve access to police services.
For safer and more convenient mobility, ‘Sahayatra’ will introduce 40 pink e-rickshaws aimed at providing women with affordable transport options.
Under ‘Nirbhaya Sadan’, four assistance centres are proposed at the district court complex, railway station, Burla medical area and district headquarters hospital. These centres are intended to make support services more accessible to women in need of assistance.
The ‘Sathi’ initiative includes plans for six toilets equipped with nursing facilities, while ‘Jatra’ proposes real-time tracking systems for buses operated by 50 educational institutions to strengthen student safety during transit.
The ninth initiative, ‘Sachetana’, will focus on awareness campaigns, self-defence training, health education and community-based programmes to promote women’s safety and empowerment.
Focus on Awareness and Interdepartmental Coordination
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Anu Garg stressed the need to involve adolescent boys in awareness campaigns to encourage respectful behaviour towards women, promote gender sensitivity and foster a stronger sense of social responsibility.
She also underscored the importance of coordinated efforts among the police, Health Department, Women and Child Development Department, School and Mass Education Department, and local administration to ensure effective implementation of the proposed measures.
The planned interventions seek to combine surveillance, emergency response, safer transportation and public awareness to address women’s safety concerns through a coordinated approach.
Once implemented, the initiatives are expected to strengthen Sambalpur’s women’s safety network and improve access to assistance across key public locations. The proposals represent a comprehensive district-level push to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women and girls.