Bandhu Kolkata initiative to safeguard women & children

Kolkata: The Bandhu Kolkata initiative organised

jointly by the state Women & Child Development & Social Welfare department and Kolkata Police, will be effective during Durga Puja from the day of Sasthi till the morning of Dashami.

"During the Pujas, a huge number of people from the districts come to the city to soak in the festive spirit. There are cases of children getting estranged from their parents amidst the crowd. At the same time, girls, young women and the elderly become the soft target of miscreants. This Bandhu Kolkata initiative is aimed at curbing such practices," a senior official of the department said.

There will be eight well-decorated child-friendly vans, one each in the eight divisions of Kolkata Police, which will rush to a pandal in case of a person or a child getting estranged from their family in the crowd.

The Puja committees will have facilities of announcement and as soon as there is report of any problem, the quick response teams,

especially those that work for rescue and restoration of missing children, distressed women or elderly persons, will be on alert.

"We will set up three outlets at Rajballavpara near Jagat Mukherjee Park, Sealdah and Mudiali, where essential articles like medical first-aid boxes, water bottles, dry food, soft toys, sanitary napkins and wheelchairs will be available," said Shashi Panja, Minister of State for Women & Child Development & Social Welfare department.

A number of NGOs that are stakeholders of the department, have extended their support for better service to the community.

A person needs to remember the emergency numbers: 100,1098, 1091 and 9002999999 (available from Sasthi to Dashami morning) to access facilities of the Bandhu Kolkata app.

A number of homes for women and children will also be ready to extend services during the Pujas.