Bhubaneswar, 13 October (H.S.): The Odisha government has proposed nine major initiatives with an estimated outlay of ₹10 crore to strengthen women’s safety and create a safer, more inclusive environment for women and girls in Sambalpur district under the Nirbhaya initiative.

The proposals were reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Hemant Sharma, and Director General of Police Vinaytosh Mishra attended the meeting. Sambalpur Collector Siddheshwar Baliram Bondar joined virtually and presented the proposed action plan.

The initiatives focus on rapid police assistance, emergency response services, technology-enabled surveillance, safe transportation, women-friendly public facilities and awareness programmes. Key proposals include the installation of 800 CCTV cameras at 210 locations, deployment of 15 emergency response vehicles and operation of 40 pink e-rickshaws.

Under the ‘Shakti Sarathi’ initiative, 15 two-wheelers will be deployed for patrolling and rapid assistance by women police personnel. The ‘Pratikriya’ initiative proposes 15 emergency response vehicles, along with the use of drones, to facilitate timely assistance and rescue operations for women in distress.

Under the ‘Drishti’ initiative, 800 CCTV cameras will be installed at 210 locations to strengthen surveillance and improve monitoring of public spaces. The ‘S-Stop’ initiative proposes the establishment of five police assistance centres.

To ensure safe and affordable mobility for women, the ‘Sahayatra’ initiative envisages the operation of 40 pink e-rickshaws. Under the ‘Nirbhaya Sadan’ initiative, four assistance centres are proposed at the district court complex, railway station, Burla medical area and the district headquarters hospital.

The ‘Sathi’ initiative proposes six facilities equipped with toilets and nursing amenities to address the needs of women in public spaces. Meanwhile, the ‘Yatra’ initiative envisages real-time tracking facilities for buses operated by 50 educational institutions to improve the safety of students during travel.

The ‘Sachetana’ initiative will focus on awareness campaigns on women’s safety, self-defence training, health education and community-based programmes. Garg emphasised the need to involve adolescent boys in these activities to promote respectful behaviour towards women, gender sensitivity and a sense of social responsibility.

She also stressed the importance of effective coordination among the Police, Health, Women and Child Development, School and Mass Education departments and local administration to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed measures.

Senior officials attending the meeting included Health and Family Welfare Commissioner-cum-Secretary Ashwathy S., School and Mass Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr N. Tirumala Naik, and Women and Child Development Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Mrinalini Darswal, along with other senior officers.

The proposed initiatives are aimed at strengthening emergency assistance, improving security infrastructure and making public spaces and transportation safer and more accessible for women and girls in Sambalpur.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda