Greater Noida: Around 350 woman, belonging to various highrise societies in the area, participated in first women-police dialogue called 'Mahila Chaupal' on Friday. It was not just their first official public meeting with the police but it was first for the department as well.
Under the new commissionerate system, they decided to engage women for better policing in the district.
The dialogue continued for over two hours between the female police officials and women residents. Domestic helps of several societies also took part in the dialogue.
The participants raised many prominent issues which they face on a regular basis. They averred their fear to step outside because of rampant cases of chain snatching, molestation, eve-teasing and theft happening in the area.
The attendees unanimously cited the issues prevailing in the Gaur City township where several criminal activities have taken place in the recent past. Blaming it on lack of CCTV cameras, less security and no lights, the women said that the areas like the plaza parking and stadium have turned into places of hooliganism where goons roam around.
Taking note of this, the police officials said that a notice to install CCTV cameras will be sent soon to all the builders in Greater Noida West. Talking about how difficult it is for a female to get her case registered, Maya, a house help, narrated her ordeal of how police official sent her back when she tried to register a case of domestic violence.
In a letter addressed to the police, Anita Prajapati, a resident of Gaur City's 6th Avenue also demanded that a similar dialogue should also be organised for minors, to create awareness among them. Anita pointed out that there was a dire need of female police personnel at the Gaur City police post since it has none right now. She also suggested that a special ladies group should be brought in to coordinate and communicate with the police.
The women also requested to build a ‘Asha Jyoti Center’ like the one in Ghaziabad and a female distress helpline and counseling center for women.
In the end, DCP Vrinda Shukla requested all AOA/RWA/Active Groups in societies to take an initiative to display all MAHILA Helpline Number and emergency numbers at the entry gates of society.
ACP Saloni Agarwal affirmed that action will be taken on any complaint made for example if any residents find any abusive word written in the society’s lift or if the maintenance is not supporting, then they can send pictures as proof, based on which action will be taken.
The second Mahila Chaupal will take place on Saturday in Noida where a large number of crowd is expected to turn up.
