All-women teams with a ‘distinctive’ uniform – What are Rajasthan Police’s new ‘Kalika patrolling units’

Announced as part of this year’s budget, the units will patrol not only public places but also colleges. It is set to be launched next week.

With an overall score of 2.6 and an honesty rating of 3, it has ranked the lowest among police stations in the city (Express Archive/Vishal Srivastav)

Starting next week, Rajasthan will have specialised women units in “distinctive” blue uniforms patrolling its malls, colleges, and religious places. The state police are all set to launch its ‘Kalika Patrolling Unit’ – a specialised unit aimed at ensuring the safety of women and children in these places.

According to Malini Agarwal, Rajasthan’s additional director general of police, 250 such police teams have been set up in the initial phase, each comprising four women. This will eventually be expanded to 500 teams. Of these, Jaipur will have 35 units — while 10 units in each District Commissionerate.

These patrolling teams will operate under the leadership of senior female police officers.

“There have been several complaints of eve teasing. So, it was thought to have a special patrolling unit for women under the leadership of women police officials. Woman of constable and head constable-rank will patrol public places on a scooter,” the senior officer told The Indian Express.

For uniform, the units will wear a special blue design with a neon monogram on the back, along with matching caps. Their scooters and helmets will be black.

“This combination makes the patrolling teams easily recognisable and professional,” the official said, adding that a special police control room and number will be set up to take calls.

Kalika patrolling units were announced as part of the state’s Bhajan Lal Sharma government this June. While making the announcement, the state’s finance minister Diya Kumari said such squads were aimed at “preventing the atrocities against children and women in the state”. The state had also announced it would expand its existing Nirbhaya specialised women’s squad and install CCTV cameras in public places, girls’ and women’s hostels.

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