The half-yearly review of SHE Teams by Women Safety Wing showed a positive impact. Shikha Goel, Director General of the Women Safety Wing, conducted a half-yearly review of the SHE Teams operating in Telangana. The meeting included officers from the Women Safety Wing, the tri-Commissionerate, and over 300 officers and staff from 31 district police units.
SHE Teams is a flagship initiative of the Women Safety Wing, are focused on combating sexual harassment against women and children in public spaces. This includes addressing issues like eve-teasing, stalking, and harassment through social media, phone calls, and messages. The initiative aims to act as a deterrent to prevent serious crimes against women and children.
During the meeting, DG Shikha Goel emphasised the strong safety perception that SHE Teams have created across the State. She urged officers to launch intensive awareness campaigns and focus on known hotspots. Currently, 331 SHE Teams are operational in Telangana, working to monitor and address incidents of harassment through proactive measures and the use of technology. These teams operate covertly in hotspots, gather evidence, and take necessary actions, including filing FIRs and conducting counseling sessions.
The review highlighted that from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, 6,129 cases were registered. Among these, 2,314 were petty cases, 1,085 individuals were counselled, 1,007 cases were closed and 358 complaints remain under process. Complaints were received from various sources, including Dial 100, social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, and direct reports. The types of harassment included over 986 cases of phone harassment, 604 cases of stalking, and 2,661 cases of eve-teasing and misbehavior.
Awareness programmes were conducted, and online counselling sessions were held for respondents. There were 2,429 cases involving major respondents caught in the act and 847 cases involving minor respondents. Over 5,719 awareness programmes reached a total of 378,747 people, with three quarterly online counseling sessions organised by WSW. Online counselling was provided to 5,076 major respondents and over 784 minor respondents.
The review also noted that the SHE Teams have made significant strides in increasing the reporting of cases, successful interventions, and raising public awareness. Through regular monitoring and continuous improvement, the initiative has shown a high rate of success in reducing harassment and improving women’s safety across Telangana.
