Concern over the safety of women dominated the agenda at the Raksha Bandhan celebrations here on Sunday.
This was evident with Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to instil confidence among women by increasing the number of policewomen in the State and launching all-woman patrol vehicles. “The Chief Minister should take up special programmes to strengthen security for women, especially in Bangalore. I will write to the Chief Minister and Home Minister K.J. George in this regard,” Mr. Kumar told presspersons during the celebrations organised by various organisations, including the NGO Adamya Chetana.
‘Recruit more women’
He suggested that policewomen should constitute 50 per cent of the total staff. There should be exclusive all-woman police patrol vehicles on the lines of Hoysala and Cheetah. Such patrol vehicles have been launched in Madhya Pradesh, the Minister said. He suggested that women police officers should also be made in charge of night security in sensitive areas.
