In a major boost to women's safety, Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary flagged off 4,700 vehicles for the 'Abhaya Brigade' to intensify patrolling near educational institutions.

  • 4,700 two-wheelers flagged off, including 2,700 scooters specifically for women police personnel.
  • The 'Abhaya Brigade' will focus on patrolling schools, colleges, and high-risk hotspots.
  • New initiatives include PhD fellowships and startup grants for women.

Patna: In a decisive move to bolster women's security, the Bihar government on Wednesday officially launched a massive deployment of two-wheelers for the 'Abhaya Brigade', popularly known as 'Police Didi'. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary flagged off the vehicles at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, marking a significant milestone in the state's efforts to curb eve-teasing and harassment near educational hubs.

According to the Home Department, the fleet consists of 4,700 vehicles: 2,700 scooters allocated to women police personnel and 2,000 motorcycles for male constables. Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar emphasized that women's safety remains the police force's highest priority, noting that nearly 40,000 trained women have already joined the force across various districts.

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Strategic Patrolling and Rapid Response

The deployment is not merely about presence but about strategic timing. The police have implemented two-hour patrol beats specifically designed to coincide with the arrival and dispersal hours of schools and colleges. During off-hours, these teams will pivot to monitoring markets, parks, and isolated transit points.

The deployment of specialized female-led squads is designed to create a psychological deterrent against street harassment.

BozokMedia analysis shows that this localized patrolling model, where each unit is headed by a woman Sub-Inspector, allows for more effective community engagement and faster response times. The state has also reported that the emergency response time for Dial-112 has dropped below 10 minutes, with a target to reach 5-7 minutes.

Beyond Safety: Empowering Bihar's Daughters

The event also served as a platform for broader socio-economic reforms. CM Choudhary announced the Chief Minister Balika PhD Fellowship, providing ₹10,000 monthly to 1,000 women scholars for four years. Furthermore, the 'Bihar Ki Beti Startup Challenge' was launched to provide financial assistance ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh to 2,100 budding women entrepreneurs.

Did You Know?: The Bihar government aims to integrate one crore women into livelihood opportunities through sectors like dairy and animal husbandry.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the composition of an Abhaya Brigade unit?

Each unit is led by a woman Sub-Inspector and supported by three constables (one woman and two men).

2. Where will the 'Police Didis' primarily patrol?

Their primary focus will be around schools, colleges, university campuses, and identified harassment hotspots.