The Durga alarm system experiment was first taken up around two months back by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and four public buses were equipped with it.
“The Durga alarm is equipped with multiple panic buttons which can be installed at easily-noticeable spots inside a public vehicle. When a woman is bothered by miscreant/s inside the vehicle, all she has to do is reach out for the nearest panic button. This will activate certain red lights and ring a loud alarm inside the bus making the driver, conductor and other passengers aware of the offence, without the woman having to shout or scream, which often becomes difficult at times of distress,” explained V Mohini Giri, Chairperson of the Guild for Services, which tabled the proposal in Delhi on Monday.
She further said that this alarm system can also be installed in theatres, shopping malls, trains and all public spaces.
A senior Delhi Police official assured that they will look into the concept and coordinate with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for adopting Durga alarm if the Bangalore experiment proves to be a success.
“No stone has been left unturned to empower survivors of violence, strengthen legal aid, sensitise police personnel and in particular strengthen women policing. However, the whole ambience is so prejudiced against women that not all of them are bold enough to register a complaint and persist with their fights for justice,” said Vimla Mehra, Special Commissioner of Police (Administration).
Human rights lawyer Vrinda Grover, Kalpana Vishwanathan of Jagori women’s resource and training centre, former director of the National Police Academy VN Rai and senior advocate Fali S Nariman were among others present in the consultation on “Policing in the 21st century: Accountable, Ethical and Effective”, organised jointly by the Guild for Service and the Commonwealth Human Rights initiative (CHRI) in New Delhi on Monday.
A Durga kit — containing a badge, some women-safety booklets and a whistle — was also launched at the consultation programme.
The kit can be availed by women who register with the self-defence programmes conducted in Delhi by the Bangalore-based initiative named Durga. The consultation panel also tabled a set of recommendations before the Delhi Police.
They dealt with adherence to National Human Right Commission’s guidelines, getting the police stations equipped with CCTV cameras (monitored at the headquarters), visibility of women police personnel, making public aware of the services they are entitled to, dealing with custodial deaths and holding regular meetings with various interest groups.
“The Durga alarm is equipped with multiple panic buttons which can be installed at easily-noticeable spots inside a public vehicle. When a woman is bothered by miscreant/s inside the vehicle, all she has to do is reach out for the nearest panic button. This will activate certain red lights and ring a loud alarm inside the bus making the driver, conductor and other passengers aware of the offence, without the woman having to shout or scream, which often becomes difficult at times of distress,” explained V Mohini Giri, Chairperson of the Guild for Services, which tabled the proposal in Delhi on Monday.
She further said that this alarm system can also be installed in theatres, shopping malls, trains and all public spaces.
A senior Delhi Police official assured that they will look into the concept and coordinate with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) for adopting Durga alarm if the Bangalore experiment proves to be a success.
“No stone has been left unturned to empower survivors of violence, strengthen legal aid, sensitise police personnel and in particular strengthen women policing. However, the whole ambience is so prejudiced against women that not all of them are bold enough to register a complaint and persist with their fights for justice,” said Vimla Mehra, Special Commissioner of Police (Administration).
Human rights lawyer Vrinda Grover, Kalpana Vishwanathan of Jagori women’s resource and training centre, former director of the National Police Academy VN Rai and senior advocate Fali S Nariman were among others present in the consultation on “Policing in the 21st century: Accountable, Ethical and Effective”, organised jointly by the Guild for Service and the Commonwealth Human Rights initiative (CHRI) in New Delhi on Monday.
A Durga kit — containing a badge, some women-safety booklets and a whistle — was also launched at the consultation programme.
The kit can be availed by women who register with the self-defence programmes conducted in Delhi by the Bangalore-based initiative named Durga. The consultation panel also tabled a set of recommendations before the Delhi Police.
They dealt with adherence to National Human Right Commission’s guidelines, getting the police stations equipped with CCTV cameras (monitored at the headquarters), visibility of women police personnel, making public aware of the services they are entitled to, dealing with custodial deaths and holding regular meetings with various interest groups.