Abhaya aims to ensure a perfect safety and security system for girls. It is aimed at empowering, educating and making children aware of situations with intent to grant equal and full voice as well as participation in every aspect of life.

New Delhi, December 21

The Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana launched Project ‘Abhaya’, a joint initiative of Delhi Police and NGO Shakti Foundation for the safety and security of girls. 

The programme was conducted in presence of Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). 

The Delhi Police officials expressed that  Abhaya aims to ensure a perfect safety and security system for girls. Abhaya means ‘one who is fearless’. It is aimed at empowering, educating and making children aware of situations with intent to grant equal and full voice as well as participation in every aspect of life.

Speaking on the occasion,  Delhi CP Rakesh Asthana underlined that protection of women, children and weaker sections is the utmost responsibility of any society and police personnel have to be extra cautious and devoted while dealing with such matters. 

He said, “We must strive to ensure the prevention of such crimes and the launch of Abhaya project is a step in that direction, as the society also needs to be well aware and educated”. Commending the efforts of Dr. Sonal Rochani of NGO Shakti Foundation, he stated that schemes like Abhaya would help in spreading awareness among masses and society would benefit from such measures. 

Sharing the figures on crimes against women and children, CP Asthana informed that Delhi Police has ensured much higher conviction rates in crimes against women and children in comparison to metro cities and all India. In several different heads such as in rape cases the conviction rate is 47.25% as against national average of 39.3%, in molestation it is 47.32% against 27.9%, in Kidnapping it is 40% against 35.6%, in outraging modesty it is 50% against 27.7%, in POCSO cases it is 79.12% against 39.6%, while the conviction rate in Dowry Death cases is 100%.  Protection of women & children has always been a prime concern of Delhi Police and it will always remain so, he emphasized.

Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson NCPCR, appreciated the launch of project Abhaya and further hoped this shall prove to be a milestone in prevention of crime against women and children.

During the event, Delhi CP also unveiled the “Abhaya Statue”. They also unveiled the booklet “ABHAYA: Suraksha ke A, B, C, D”. The ABHAYA booklet in Hindi language has been compiled by experts in the field of women safety and explains several aspects of personal physical safety, which are required to be learnt by every child. It contains information with pictorial content, on as to how minor girls can prevent themselves from becoming victims of sexual offence, good touch and bad touch, whom to contact when any hostile condition emerges etc.

Sonal Rochani, Founder, NGO Shakti Foundation is a successful entrepreneur involved in social works related to uplift of underprivileged sections and especially issues of safety of women and children. She spoke about the project and hoped that the entire country will follow the Delhi Police’s initiatives on safety of children and women.

In addition to that, the Delhi CP also felicitated women police officers from ranks of Constables to Inspectors for excellent work in fields like Counseling, Investigation and getting Conviction in POCSO and Crime against women cases, maintaining helpdesk and other fields and women helpline duties. 

Women Inspectors Sharda, Rajbala and Rita, W/Sis Anju Tyagi, Sushma, Kiran Sethi, Sarita, Sanju Rai, Pooja & Manju and W/Cts Kavita, Pooja, Rinki, Poonam, Rekha, Sarita, Khelanti, Suman, Soni and Alpnana were given Certificates with Abhaya Statue mementos for their exemplary performance in their respective fields.