New Delhi: Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs has envisaged engagement of Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) in States/UTs who will act as a link between police and community and help women in distress. All Chief Secretaries of States/UTs were requested to adopt this initiative in their respective States.
The Ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs.77,51,520/- on 2nd August, 2016 to the Government of Haryana as grants-in-aid for implementation of Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) in two villages namely Karnal and Mohindergarh on pilot basis under Nirbhaya Fund. Similarly, an amount of Rs.75,81,600/- has been sanctioned on 21st March, 2017 to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for implementation of Mahila Police Volunteers (MPVs) in two districts namely Anantapur and Kadapa. As the amount has been released recently, no information regarding expenditure has been received till date.
An MPV will play the role of community police and will report any incidence of violence against women such as domestic violence, child marriage, dowry harassment and any other form of violence faced by women in public and private spaces. The Mahila Police is required to mobilize community to form Mahila and Shishu Rakshak Dals (MASRD) to act as community watch groups.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has prepared a Training module for Mahila Police Volunteers to train and orient them to act as a facilitating link between police and community and facilitate women in distress. The Ministry has also developed and released a video spot on Mahila Police Volunteer to create mass awareness.
This information was given by Minister of State for Women & Child Development, Smt Krishna Raj in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
