The recent gang rape in a bus has brought up the issue of women's security once again. While many useful suggestions have been made, the government needs to take steps to enhance the long term security of women in Delhi and in other places. Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), Ministry of Home Affairs, had suggested the need for concurrent police stations for women. The time has come to re-examine the suggestion and implement it at the earliest.

When making this suggestion the following points were considered. First, the 'help centre', i.e., women police station, will have to be easily accessible. Keeping in mind the difficulty women have when it comes to travelling /commuting, these police stations can not only be at the state level, or even at the district level. Both these places are too far away for a woman to reach, and seek help. Second, studies have repeatedly shown that women have a higher 'vomfort level ' if they are able to speak/tell about their problem to a women in authority. This does not mean that men are not sensitive, or less understanding - it is merely a reality that needs to be taken into consideration. Third, women 'suffer' not only from major, cognizable offence, but also from a variety of small daily abuse which makes her life difficult, but which is beyond the purview of police as they are not cognizable offence. Therefore, these police stations will have to be empowered to also investigate non - cognizable cases and be in a position to provide effective counseling to the women in distress.

The idea was to have a concurrent Women Police Station for every existing police station. For instance, we have Hauz Khas Police Station which has a certain jurisdiction. The women police station will be 'Hauz Khas Women Police Station ' having the same jurisdiction but will otherwise function separately. Similarly, for Daryaganj Police Station, or Vasant Vihar Police Station. This police station should be manned by both men and women , with women personnel comprising at least 50% of the strength and, most importantly, the SHO should necessarily be a woman.

Besides investigating other offences reported at this police station, the women police station was to, by law, investigate all offences in which women are victims- viz., Section 376 IPC ( Punishment for rape ); Section 3048 IPC: (dowry death ); Section 354 IPC ( Assault or use of criminal force on women with intent that outrage her modesty); Section 366 IPC ( Kidnapping, abducting or inducing women to compel her marriage) Section 366A !PC( Procuring of minor girls) Section 366B IPC ( Importation of girl from foreign countries.) Section 369 IPC ( Kidnapping with intent to steal a child ) Section 372 IPC ( Selling minor for purposes of prostitution) Section 373 IPC( Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc.) Section 498A IPC( Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, 1956; Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 ; Family Codes Act, 1984; Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986; Commission of Sati Prevention Act, 1987; Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation & Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994; Child Labour Prohibition Act; Bonded Labour Abolition Act; Child Marriage Restraint Act; Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection of Child) Act 2000; Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005;

In order to keep the focus only on women and their security needs, the Women Police Station was to be only concerned with the investigation of cases and not with Law & Order, or VIP security duty, or traffic duty, etc. To really provide in-depth security to women, it was suggested that this police station shall also investigate all non-cognizable cases (offences which are not investigated by the police as it is considered a 'minor' offence- a slap by husband!!) in which a woman is a victim. This police station was to also have all the wherewith-all to provide counseling to affected women.

National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGA), cash transfer, old age pension, etc., etc. has come about because the society put the poor at the centre of the table and demanded that something be done for them. Lokpal bill has been brought about because the society put corruption at the cet tre of the tabl e and demanded that something be done about curbing it. This incident has put the security of women at the centre of the table and the society has demanded from the government to do something about it. The above suggestion could be an effective long term answer. Needless to say that there will be many reasons not to implement this suggestion - cost, lack of women in police, etc, etc. However, there is only one reason to implement it - the need to let a woman know and feel that there is a place where she can go for help. Is this asking for too much!?!