Women security teams to be set up

New Delhi: The Delhi government will form Mahila Suraksha Dals (MSDs) to curb the crimes against women in the national capital, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said on Friday.

Stating that the government would constitute these teams in coordination with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), he said the excise department had been asked to conduct raids to check the illegal sale of liquor in the national capital.

“Rape cases have been reported over the last few days and there is an atmosphere of insecurity. The illegal liquor vendors across the national capital are one of the major reasons behind the increase in the number of crimes against women.

“We have held meetings with the excise department and asked them to conduct raids to put an end to the illegal liquor business in the colonies and jhuggis (slums), on the basis of inputs given by the DCW,” Mr Sisodia told a press conference here.

He also lauded the DCW for playing a major role in getting two illegal liquor outlets closed.

Mr Sisodia added he had instructed the women and child development department of the Delhi government to draft a proposal for the formation of the women’s security teams, in close coordination with the DCW.

The proposal earlier was put on hold due to certain issues.

Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Jaihind said as a pilot project, the MSDs would be formed at three places, which were prone to crimes against women, and then it would be expanded across Delhi.

These Mahila Suraksha Dals will comprise representatives of the local community, both men and women, besides civil defence volunteers, and will work at the grassroot-level to address the issue of women’s safety.