Durg: It is a unique initiative of its kind in policing thanks to the out of box thought of dynamic IPS officer Prashant Agrawal, Superintendent of Police, Durg. He has embarked upon a novel idea to ensure safety of city women in more ways than one through Pink Gasht. “It is a wholesome approach aimed at ensuring total safety of city women. Through Pink Gasht, we want to make life easy and better for city women not only by protecting them from any physical harm but also ensuring that they do not fall prey to fraudulent acts or emotional black mailing,” said  Prashant, while speaking to Rajeev R of Bureaucrats India.

“The members of Pink Gasht share safety tips with girls and women. They also make them aware of different tools they should use to ensure their own safety. We are also telling them how to use different social media platforms in a safe manner,” said he. So the colour pink, which is thought to be a calming colour associated with love, kindness, and femininity, and many people immediately associate the colour with all things feminine and girly, has entirely a different meaning here – empowering women holistically!

Prashant, an IPS officer of 2008 batch, feels that guaranteeing safety to women is not only an important part of policing but a meaningful step towards their holistic empowerment. Needless to say that Pink Gasht comprises only women police officers and personnel. “The idea is to create a better environment for women safety and their empowerment. We also wish to make them aware about the prevention of crime against them and how they can reach out to us in case anything happens before it is too late,”  he said.
 
He said that all women police officers of Durg Police will do Pink Gasht at least once a month in markets areas, malls, public places, and densely habited areas. “They will tell them about various safety and crime prevention tips. I firmly believe that police alone cannot prevent crime unless people join hands with us and also heed our advice. If we work together, criminals won’t dare to do any misdeed. I am hopeful that Pink Gasht will make a positive difference in the life of city women,” Prashant said during his conversation with Bureaucrats India.
 
The SP informed that members of Pink Gasht also distribute pamphlets with safety tips and important numbers including WhatsApp number of Raksha Team members who will resolve their problems in informal ways as well if a woman doesn’t want to lodge a formal complaint with the police. In case they want to lodge a formal complaint, they will be assisted. The Durg Police is also giving them attractive key rings with helpline numbers, social media accounts of the police to make it easy for them to seek police assistance when needed.
 
Bubbling with confidence and enthusiasm as the response from the public has been quite encouraging, Prashant said: “We launched the Pink Gasht on August 13 only. The idea has gone down well with the people. We have two dedicated vehicles for Pink Gasht during evening time in the city. Even our female police officers and personnel are very excited. Policing is after all helping the people in improving their ease of life. With their little support, we can make a great difference in achieving our common goal – a safe environment for all.”