Metro India News | AMARAVATI

The Andhra Pradesh government is set to establish a 'Special Protection Wing' for women and children’s safety, announced Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha. Modeled after the 'Eagle' unit, the division will be led by an Inspector General (IG) rank IPS officer, she stated. The minister emphasized that safeguarding women transcends political boundaries, reaffirming the government's commitment to their protection.

Addressing the Legislative Council, Anitha responded strongly to YSRCP MLC Varudu Kalyani’s claims that the previous government’s 'Disha' initiative ensured women's safety. She questioned its effectiveness, stating, “Was even a single case filed under the Disha Act? The initiative was mere propaganda.”

Anitha further questioned why the Disha Act was not fully implemented over the past five years and demanded details on how many individuals the Disha app had helped. “Where is the legal backing for the Disha app? How many people were actually protected through it?” she asked. She also criticized the previous government for forcing women to download the app merely to boost numbers.

The Home Minister announced that the new Shakti App, designed to function even in remote areas with no network coverage, will be launched by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The app aims to provide real-time assistance and safety measures for women in distress, ensuring greater security across the state.

Highlighting measures to ensure workplace safety for women, Anitha mentioned that the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act is actively being enforced. Between 2019 and 2024, a total of 85 cases were registered under this law, with 72 individuals issued notices under Section 41A CrPC/35(3), and 24 individuals arrested based on complaints.

Providing further statistics, she revealed that from September 2024 to January 2025, the number of complaints received by committees across the state stood at 50. Since the formation of the coalition government in 2024, 30 cases have been registered, with 23 notices issued and five arrests made so far.

To ensure justice for women facing harassment and assault, the government has strengthened the district-level Local Complaints Committee (LCC) and Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). Anitha stated that each committee comprises 10 members, with women constituting 50% of the representation. She further revealed that 6,681 internal committees have been set up across the state, while post-bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh has established 26 LCCs and ICCs in various districts.