The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police has formed a Highly Efficient Response (or HER) team to take stringent action against road romeos who cause trouble for women and girls in the Twin city. The Commissionerate Police has formed a 14-member Highly Efficient Response (HER) team. The team members will move around the city, looking for those who are stalking, causing harassment or passing lewd comments at the women or girls. Once caught, they won’t be let off the hook. At the same time, a victim can send a text message or dial 112 or 6372500400. The HER team would reach the spot, rescue the complainant and take action against the accused. The police have assured to keep the identities of the complainants secret. On Wednesday, the HER team arrested two persons for allegedly harassing a woman at Kharavela Nagar in Bhubaneswar.
Talking about ‘HER’ team, this is not the first initiative taken by the Commissionerate of Police and Odisha govt for the safety of women. Since 2013, the Odisha govt has launched various programmes with a focus on ensuring safety of women. In 2013, the state govt launched self-defence programme wherein the college girl students were imparted self-defence skills which will enable them to protect themselves from any threat. Around 2.5 lakh college girls were given the self defence training. Later, the Commissionerate Police started self-defence class in schools as well. In 2014, the pink auto service was launched by the Odisha govt for women commuters. The service aimed at providing safety to women while traveling. It also helped women to avoid crowded public transports and made their travelling more safe and comforting. In 2015, the Commissionerate Police launched ‘Mo Saathi’ application for safety of women. Through the mobile-based application, women in case of any threat could alert the police immediately and a team of police would reach the spot for rescue. The distress message was directly transferred to the police control room, their parents and three friends automatically.Despite the efforts of Odisha govt and the Commissionerate police to reduce the crime against women, the NCRB report 2022 stated that Odisha ranked at the 4th place for highest cases of women abuse in the India. Not only molestation, but all kinds of crime against women increased in Odisha in 2022 compared to 2021. Will the HER programme ensure safety of women? Will it curb crime rate against women in Odisha? The HER team have so far taken action against accused in six cases. To make it a successful initiative, strong resolve, right intent and dedicated efforts hold the key.