Assam Police launches special cell for women in police stations

Guwahati, June 8: Director General of Police, Assam, Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, launched the "Special Cells for Women & Community Approach" in Assam today for 10 police stations, one each in Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Kamrup (Rural), Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts.

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) which signed a MoU with Government of Assam represented by Assam Police, Home Department and Department of Social Welfare will be manning these Special Cells through Social Workers, Counsellors and State Coordinators. Experienced and trained Councilors have been selected and specialized training has been imparted to them. 
    
Special Cells create space for violated women to receive emotional and social support through quality psychological, social and legal services from professional full-time social workers, within the criminal justice system (CJS) framework. 

The violence survivor's needs and concerns are addressed within a facilitative environment. These Special Cells will operate from Sadar Police Stations of the above districts. The TISS has further collaborated with US Agency for International Development's MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership: India-Yash led by Jhpiego and Child in Need Institute (CINI) to operate these special cells for a period of 2 years. 
    
Speaking on the occasion, B.J. Mahanta, DGP, Assam has assured that Assam Police is determined to fight against Crime against Women and Children and effectively combat the gender-based violence. He also stressed the need for a multidisciplinary approach to tackle this menace; police, NGOs, Social Welfare Department and Home Department and other stakeholders need to work together to address the issue. 
    
The meeting was attended by the A.Y.V. Krishna, Addl. DGP, CID; M.C. Sahu, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Diganta Barah, Commissioner and Secretary, Home, Political, I&PR Department; Aarthi Chandrasekhar, Progammes Coordinator RCI-VAW TISS; Nayan Chakravarty, Chief of Party USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership : India, Yash, JHPIEGO; Meghendra Banerjee, Chief of Programe, CINI and other dignitaries. Addl. DGP, CID will coordinate the Special Cells and the officials from Home Department, Social Welfare Department, TISS, JHPIEGO and CINI.