Himalya Harbinger, Nainital Bureau.
In a significant move towards ensuring women’s safety and empowerment, Inspector General of Police (IG) Kumaon Range, Ridhim Agrawal, has revived the acclaimed initiative “Koshish… Ek Asha,” under a new title, “Koshish… Phir Ek Nayi Asha.” Originally launched during her tenure as SSP Udham Singh Nagar, the initiative focuses on curbing crimes against women, promoting self-defence, and making women self-reliant.
Under the renewed programme, self-defence training will be imparted in schools and colleges across all districts of the Kumaon Range through trained professionals. The initiative, proven effective in reducing crimes against women, will now be implemented region-wide to ensure widespread impact.
Shortly after assuming charge as the IG of Kumaon, Ridhim Agrawal convened a virtual meeting to deliberate on the issue of crimes against women. Attendees included State Nodal Officer for Women Empowerment and Child Development Aarti Balodi, members of the Child Welfare Committees (CWC), One Stop Centres (OSCs), and nodal officers from all Kumaon districts.
IG Agrawal issued clear instructions to all women helpline nodal officers to ensure respectful and compassionate interaction with victims seeking counselling. “A victim’s half the trauma can be relieved through empathetic behaviour at the first point of contact,” she said.
In the meeting, Aarti Balodi delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation outlining the roles and responsibilities of CWCs and OSCs, and emphasized the importance of seamless coordination with the police to support victims effectively.
IG Agrawal stressed the need for counselling rape and POCSO victims at One Stop Centres in coordination with the Department of Women Empowerment to prevent incidents of victim suicides. She directed officials to maintain data on the frequency and quality of counselling sessions and to initiate follow-ups if cases appear to remain critical.
Highlighting the shortage of trained psychologists in districts, IG Agrawal announced plans to collaborate with NIMHANS, a premier institute under the Government of India, to train police officers, helpline staff, and investigating officers for psychological support and trauma management.
She also called for swift justice under the Case Officer Scheme, ensuring rigorous courtroom follow-up so that perpetrators of heinous crimes receive the harshest punishment. “This will send a strong message that such offences will not go unpunished,” she said.
Efforts will also be strengthened to help victims secure compensation through coordination with the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA).
IG Agrawal further instructed officials to collaborate with government-authorized NGOs to conduct door-to-door surveys over the next six months to identify human trafficking hotspots, particularly in remote areas.
The Kumaon police will now monitor all women-related cases daily at the range level under the direct supervision of IG Agrawal, ensuring timely intervention, justice delivery, and comprehensive victim support.
