Delhi Police celebrates success of Tejaswini squad of women police that brought down 37% of street crimes

New Delhi, July 11

Delhi Police North West District celebrates success of Tejaswini squad of women police that completed one year from its inception and has changed the dynamics of women police in the district. The Tejaswini women squad has achieved tremendous succes in performing active roles of policing from beat patrolling to picketing, aiding women and children to catching hold of historysheeters and criminals. 

To celebrate completion of one successful year of Tejaswini Scheme, North-West District is celebrating ‘Tejaswini Week’ from July 11 to July 18 by visiting schools and colleges and organizing Self-Defense programmes and programmes regarding ‘Crime Against Women’ & Cyber awareness.  

DCP (North West) Usha Rangani who conceptualized Tejaswinis stated that in order to curb crime, especially against women and to ensure their safety and security as well as to instill confidence and courage among women residing, working or commuting in the jurisdiction of North-West District that was started in July 2021. 52 Women Beat Constables were deployed in the crime infested and sensitive beat areas of various police stations (that includes JJ clusters of Jahangirpuri, Shakarpur & Pitampura residential areas, Bhalaswa village, Market/ Mall Complexes, Metro Stations, Schools & Colleges etc). 

Tejaswini aimed to reach out to women belonging to all strata of society & female senior citizens and also to safeguard the rights and dignity of women & children in North-West District, thus creating such conducive atmosphere where they feel at home while interacting with these women constables and share their issues and concerns. 

DCP Rangani added that on one hand they enquire complaints and assist in investigation of the cases related to crimes against women, on the other hand they also counsel and teach vulnerable young girls different self defense tactics, cyber awareness and also cater to small children by building a cadre of child friendly police across the district. 

In a unique practise of evaluating the police's work on the ground, DCP Rangbani held number of meetings, interaction and open houses session with various groups of area women and these Tejaswinis to personally monitor ground realities. Over the past one year, the tasks and assignments carried out by these dedicated women beat staff resulted in a significant growth in terms of its reach and scope of work. 

This is driven by a robust administrative structure, including special services like counselling, meditation, self-defence tactics, cyber awareness and training. These tejaswinis work in tendem with various NGOs, schools, colleges & other agencies to gather insights and spread legal & social awareness about various issues concerning women and children thereby striving to create a more enable and emphatic ecosystem. They were given the opportunity to work in beats in order to utilise their calibre and skills to the optimum level and are periodically motivated in various responsibilities and tasks assigned to them.

In addition to that, these women officers provide ‘at the door step policing’ for identification of needy or distressed and subsequent redressal of grievances of women within the community. Mere presence of women police officers in the area works as a catalyst in building confidence and courage among vulnerable section of the society and making them more aware regarding their own safety in the prevailing environment and times. The pivotal purpose of this exercise or project is to sensitize the women and girls of all age groups and their guardians/ parents about the trends of various crimes against women such as molestation, rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, harassment for dowry demand etc. and empower them to tackle the adverse and unwanted situations by themselves and making them aware how to obtain legal help also. 

The Tejaswinis also sensitize and motivate young women and girl child to report the cases of molestation and violence against them. They also sensitize women and students on social & contemporary issues, life skills, social skills etc. Their regular visits to senior citizens living alone, providing necessary amenities when in need, extending compassion & attention not only bring smiles on their wrinkled faces, but their moist eyes and blessings given by trembling hands is such a rewarding sight which no other worldly awards and riches can compensate. 

At par with their male counterparts, they also regularly perform intensive & visible patrolling on ERVs, QRTs, Motorcycle, Scooties and ensure safety & security of area women and instill confidence among them and also respond promptly to crime against women. 

13 ‘Women Facilitation Booths’ famously known as ‘Pink Booths’ have been established in these dedicated beats across the district where keeping the privacy a priority, these tejaswinis interact & counsel vulnerable sections of society and thus further strengthen public-police interface. The Child Friendly Corners were established in all police stations where they can leave their kids without worry and perform their field duties efficiently. They have been provided separate changing rooms, rest rooms, clean and hygienic toilets in all police stations & pink booths. A dedicated female barrack- Akshee ‘the pink abode’* has been made for the purpose of rest and comfort.

In the last one year since the launch of this initiative, these Tejaswinis are performing so well in the field and are delivering excellent results in containment of crime and criminals. They have been instrumental in catching thieves, robbers, snatchers, knifers & eve-teasers, recovering snatched/robbed/stolen mobile phones, illicit liquor, illegal arms etc. Further, most of them have been promoted recently and have taken up the role of investigating officers also. 

At present, they are investigating 15 cases, arrested 17 persons and disposed 183 complaints. Apart from this, their relentless efforts have yielded in arrest of 5 bootleggers, 2 robbers, 3 snatchers, 4 auto-lifters & 67 eve-teasers/ molesters. They have also recovered 12 stolen vehicles, 7 stolen mobile phones, 219 bottles of illicit liquor and 6 knives.

Their resolute determination and hard work have resulted in decline of crime against women and overall decline of 37% in street crime in these dedicated beats.