Rajasthan Police will launch specialised, women-led patrolling units next week to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces, officials announced.
The Kalika Patrolling Units will be easily identifiable by their blue uniforms with neon monograms, according to officials.
Malini Agrawal, Additional Director General (Civil Rights), said the initiative will start with 250 teams, each consisting of four female officers.
The programme is set to expand to 500 teams, with Jaipur initially receiving 35 units and each District Commissionerate receiving 10 units. The squads will operate under the supervision of senior female officers.
Subsequent deployments will include 20 units in Kota, 12 in Udaipur, 10 in Jodhpur, and 10 each in Ajmer and Bhilwara.
"The decision to form these patrolling units was driven by frequent complaints of eve-teasing and harassment in public spaces. Female constables and head constables will patrol these areas on scooters," Agrawal explained.
The teams will use black scooters and matching helmets, ensuring a uniform look that reinforces their authority and accessibility. A dedicated police control room and helpline number will also be established to support their operations.
The Kalika Patrolling Units will be deployed in schools, religious sites, colleges, markets, cinema halls, malls, parks, tourist destinations, and other sensitive areas. Their primary focus will be preventing crimes such as eve-teasing and chain-snatching.
The Kalika Patrolling Units were first announced in June as part of the Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government's efforts to combat crimes against women and children.
During the budget announcement, Finance Minister Diya Kumari highlighted that the initiative aims to curb atrocities against vulnerable groups. The government also announced plans to strengthen the Nirbhaya women’s squad and increase CCTV surveillance in public spaces and women’s hostels.
In response to the rise in crimes against women across the country, various measures have been implemented to ensure their safety in public spaces.
As of January 2022, women made up 11.75 per cent of the police force in India, still falling short of the 33 per cent target set by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. However, the proportion of women in the police force has risen from 5.87 per cent in 2013.
In 2021, the Kerala Police launched the "Pink Protection" project, aimed at safeguarding women in both public and private spaces. The pink-coloured cars are equipped with GPS tracking devices and cameras, patrolling areas with high female foot traffic between 8 AM and 8 PM. Each vehicle is staffed by three female police officers, including the driver.
On the eve of International Women’s Day in 2018, the Delhi Police introduced an all-women patrolling squad designed to protect women from harassment.
Similarly, Mumbai operates women’s patrolling teams. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu pioneered the concept of All-Women Police Stations (AWPS) in 1992, with the first station inaugurated by then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. This model has since been expanded to all sub-divisional headquarters, and the state now boasts 222 All-Women Police Stations.
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