Female power to the fore: 79 police outposts, PAC battalions & more to come up in UP districts

The state will soon see 79 new female police outposts for the convenience of citizens and counselling centres to maintain harmony amongst public in 74 Uttar Pradesh districts. Along with this, three women's Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) battalions are also slated to come up, under Mission Shakti. Recruitments for the latter are underway for some 3,786 posts.

While some of the aforementioned have been established and linked with stations operated by female officers, others are undergoing the process and are expected to be functional soon.

"The battalions are being established in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, and Badaun, and the recruitment process is underway. As many as 3,786 posts have been sanctioned by the government for the three proposed battalions," a police spokesperson stated.

Following the steps, Lucknow's outpost will be linked to Hazratganj's women station. Three outposts have been installed and are functional in Ghaziabad.

At the same time, one such outpost has come up in Meerut and linked to the mahila thana there. "The mahila thanas are often not accessible to those who live in the rural areas. The chowkis are being set up to make it easier for them to access police services," Inspector Brajeshlata, who oversees Meerut's Mission Shakti programmes stated.

For those who are wondering, UP-PAC battalions are usually equipped with INSAS infantry arms, with personnel carrying lathis to control mobs during unrests. Outposts, on the other hand, are something like sub-police stations that fall under police stations.

Overall, the steps are aimed at creating a safe environment for female citizens and make them more comfortable. Another objective of the move is to empower women across the state.