Karnataka Govt is no knight for its dames in distress

According to the statistics available, a family counselling centre established by the Karnataka Social Welfare Advisory Board had handled over 670 cases, mainly those concerning women, with 630 being settled amicably.

These statistics, pertaining to the period between June 1993 – when the centre was set up at the police commissioner’s office – and April 1996, speaks volumes about the efforts of the family counselling centre.

Prompted by the success of this centre, the city police top brass wrote to the government for setting up more such full-fledged centres in all the five police divisions, besides upgrading the existing centre with permanent staff.

According to the detailed proposal of police commissioner T Srinivasulu, a woman assistant commissioner of police and six women inspectors in each centre would be assisted by 30 counsellors, recruited directly or through deputation.

While the proposal did not even find any takers among top government officials as well as politicians, another proposal by the then Deputy Inspector General Jija Hari Singh for a crisis centre for women in distress at the city police control room also was not considered.

The proposal for five all-women police stations also evoked little response from the government.

The lone women police station in the city to handle dowry and other related cases concerning women is overburdened with cases. Women from far-flung areas have to travel long distances for filing complaints here.