On the theme of a safe city for women and girls, a culmination of activities on child protection and women’s safety, as part of a year-long community policing drive on promoting women’s security through a multi-agency approach involving a “convergence model for a safe city,” was held on December 16, 2022, at the Ravindra Bhawan public auditorium, with 1500 people in attendance. This multi-stakeholder ceremony was related to the convergence of efforts on women and child security issues, with participants from the police, women and child development department, Madhya Pradesh tourism department, and civil society organizations working on women and child protection and access to justice issues.
The chief guest Anuradha Shankar madam, a senior Indian police service officer from Madhya Pradesh, presented awards for best contribution to women and child protection programmes, Urja help desk, Shakti samities, and child protection programmes to police, women and child protection officers, and civil society actors. She also gave a very inspiring message on this theme, supporting the efforts made in building a synergetic environment for public safety and access to justice using a convergence model of collaboration among various agencies involved in women’s security and child protection.
The program’s main draw was a performance by slum community girls in martial arts and a power walk depicting women in various roles. The honouring of 11 auto drivers who worked closely with the police to save 11 females from different places who were found lost, stranded, or helpless at public transportation facilities was the event’s main attraction and gave life to the idea behind the term “safe city for women.”
A Nirbhaya Diwas oath walk to Bhopal’s upper lake was also planned. To commemorate International Human Rights Day, the Urja Help Desks of the Bhopal Police organized an exhibition of signature walls from all 36 police stations based on the women’s security-themed signature campaign, in which volunteers and police officers displayed thousands of signatures from all over the city of Bhopal.
This culmination of events on Nirbhaya day which is fast receding from public memory is a very powerful reminder of how communities and government organisations must come together for this cause. The Mahila Suraksha Sankalp Yatra at the end of this day-long activity was a true reminder of this day’s significance.
