DGP PUNJAB GAURAV YADAV LAUNCHES ‘SAANJH RAHAT PROJECT’ TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

CHANDIGARH: In a significant step towards empowering women affected by domestic violence as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Thursday launched the ‘Saanjh Rahat Project’— aimed at identifying and supporting victims of domestic violence, providing essential psycho-social-legal aid to empower them and enable them to lead violence-free lives. It will play a crucial role in connecting victims with necessary resources and services to help them in making decision regarding their future lives.

The project is a collaborative initiative between Punjab Police’s Community Affairs Division (CAD) and Nai Shuruwat, an Indore-based NGO focused on women’s empowerment with key partners include the Health Department, Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development, State Legal Services Authority and District Legal Services Authority.

Kumar Rahul Secretary , Health and Family Welfare Punjab graced the occasion as guest of honor. Special DGP Community Affairs Division and Women Affairs Punjab Gurpreet Kaur Deo welcomed the guests and provided an overview of the initiative.

DGP Gaurav Yadav, while launching the project from Punjab Police Officer’s Institute, said that initially, the project has been started in Civil Hospital, SAS Nagar, as a pilot program and eventually be expanded statewide.

He said that Saanjh Rahat initiative will empower women to make informed decisions for a violence-free life. Two dedicated counsellors have been stationed at Civil Hospital, Mohali, to identify and support victims of domestic violence thereby filling up an existing gap in support services to women affected by violence, he added.

Notably, to facilitate effective implementation of this project, Punjab Police signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nai Shuruwat on April 25, 2024.

Sharing more details, Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo said that this project will help in providing support to the victims of Domestic Violence, in a coordinated manner and to further build a network of organisations and individuals for need based support to women victims of Domestic Violence. Sensitization training sessions for women police officers and Station House Officers (SHOs) are also being conducted, she added.

Pertinently, a one day sensitisation training program of women police of SAS Nagar, was held later in the day on Thursday along with the 10 SHOs of the district, while, a similar technical session is being held on Friday for women police officers and SHOs of Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib. The Police will work in coordination with the Saanjh Rahat Resource Centre at Civil Hospital SAS Nagar to take legal action whenever required.

A detailed Presentation regarding the background and concept of Saanjh Rahat Project was given by Trustee, Nai Shuruwat Amulya Nidhi. Renowned experts, including Jaya Velankar, Dr Rangoli Gupta, and Shailaja Aralkar, also led sessions on critical topics including ‘Gender Equality and Violence Against Women’, “Inter-Sectoral Coordination’, and ‘Women-Centered Approach to Violence Against Women’. A discussion and participants view session was also held at the end of the training sessions.

The launch event was attended by prominent officials, including Director Principal Medical College, SAS Nagar Dr Bhavneet Bharti, Psychiatrist of Civil Hospital SAS Nagar Dr Mantaj Kaur . SP/CAD Deepika Singh thanked the chief guest and other dignitaries for their presence.