Malkajgiri Police Launches ‘Sahachari’ Community Policing Initiative, Trains 3,000 Women SHGs

Commissioner of Police Malkajgiri B. Sumathi launches ‘Mee Suraksha – Sahachari’ community policing initiative at Imperial Garden, Bowenpally, Hyderabad on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR

The Malkajgiri police on Tuesday launched Sahachari, a community policing initiative aimed at empowering women to become partners in preventing crime and promoting security in their neighbourhoods.

Organized in coordination with the Urban Poverty Alleviation Mission (MEPMA) and the Society for the Eradication of Rural Poverty (SERP), the program was held simultaneously in Bowenpally for women participants from Malkajgiri zone and Nagola for women from LB Nagar and Uppal zones. Nearly 3,000 women self-help groups from across the Commission’s border participated.

The initiative seeks to create a local network of community safety ambassadors by equipping women with awareness of their legal rights, personal safety and support services offered by the police.

Participants were briefed on issues related to women and child protection, cyber crime prevention, drug awareness, emergency response, offenses under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO) and Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), community policing, Bharosa centres, SHE teams and women police stations.

Police officials urged women to work closely with law enforcement agencies, report crimes without hesitation and spread awareness in their communities. The session also discussed the functioning of women police stations, women’s domestic and economic empowerment centres, anti-trafficking unit, SHE teams and Bharosa centers along with counselling, legal aid, rehabilitation and victim support services provided by these institutions.

Addressing the participants, Commissioner of Police Malkajgiri B. Sumathi said that effective policing requires active participation of the public and urged women to approach the police without fear. She said Sahachari will strengthen police-community relations, improve crime reporting and increase the safety of women and children.

MEPMA Additional Mission Director N. Yadagiri Rao welcomed the initiative and urged SHG members to discuss security-related issues and spread awareness among women in their communities in their monthly meetings.

Senior police officers including Deputy Commissioners of Police from Malkajgiri, LB Nagar, Uppal and Women Safety along with officials from MEPMA and SERP participated in the programme.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 23:31 IST