Home Minister launches ‘Abhaya’ initiative for women’s safety
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha on Wednesday launched ‘Abhaya’, a comprehensive women’s safety initiative in Anakapalli district, promising stronger policing, enhanced victim support, and stricter action against crimes targeting women.
The initiative was launched at Nakkapalli in the presence of District Collector Vijaya Krishnan, Superintendent of Police Tuhin Sinha, and senior police officials.
Designed to strengthen women’s safety across the district, Abhaya combines preventive policing, community outreach, victim assistance, and surveillance of habitual offenders. The programme also includes awareness campaigns in educational institutions and an expanded Shakti Beat system.
Under the strengthened Shakti Beat programme, Mahila Police personnel will make regular visits to their assigned areas, interact with women, collect public feedback, and relay it to the Police Control Room through a digital monitoring platform.
Victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, and other crimes will receive continued support through counselling, home visits, and follow-up by Mahila Police personnel. Police said history-sheeters and habitual offenders involved in crimes against women would remain under constant surveillance to prevent repeat offences.
The initiative also proposes identifying crime-prone and poorly lit areas for safety improvements. Police will monitor social media platforms to detect abusive or derogatory content targeting women, with legal action to be initiated against those responsible.
Launching the programme, Ms. Anitha described Abhaya as a safety shield for women and said the initiative was intended to create an environment where they could live without fear. She urged women facing harassment or cybercrime to approach the police without hesitation, assuring them of prompt assistance.
SP Tuhin Sinha said Abhaya was guided by five principles: prevent, protect, support, deliver justice, and empower. He said the district had recorded a 28.42 per cent decline in overall crime, attributing it to sustained policing efforts. He added that the police had established One Stop Centres for women in distress and introduced “Awareness on Wheels” vehicles to spread awareness on women’s safety across the district.
The Home Minister also unveiled Abhaya posters and complaint boxes to facilitate direct reporting of grievances. The district police publicised emergency helpline numbers, including 112 for police assistance, 181 for the Women Helpline, 1098 for Childline, and 1930 for cybercrime complaints. A dedicated WhatsApp helpline (7993485111) has also been launched to enable women to register complaints at any time.