WASPS loses its sting in Mohali district

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 4

After being introduced with much fanfare one year-and-a-half ago, the Punjab Government’s WASPS has lost its sting, at least in Mohali district.

The much-celebrated scheme, ‘Women Armed Special Protection Squads’ (WASPS), which was launched by Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on April 22, 2013, is a far paler version of how it was initially introduced. Twenty-four women commandos, accounting for approximately 85 per cent of the special commandos posted in the district under the scheme, have been sent for Punjab Chief Minister's security.

A total 28 women ‘commandos’ were provided to the district police, especially to check crime against women. Now, only four women ‘commandos’ have been left with the district police. To continue the scheme, the Mohali Police have deputed 10 women constables from within the police force.

Now with just 14 policewomen, performing their duty under the scheme to ensure safety of women in the district, the staff has been curtailed by 50 per cent.

What is interesting is that most of the policewomen are unaware of what exactly is their duty. “When we receive a call from the women helpline to visit some spot, we go there. If we find something serious, we call the police control room”, said a policewoman on the condition of anonymity.

Notably at the time of the launch of the scheme, Sukhbir Badal had also started a special ‘Women Helpline’ (1091) to deal with cases related to women, especially the eve-teasing outside schools, women institutes, markets and other public places.

“We use to receive 10 to 15 calls on the special ‘helpline’ every day”, said an official.

Earlier, the ‘commandoes’, who roamed on two-wheelers in teams of two in an Army-like uniform, were armed with pistols. “Now these policewomen have been armed with polo sticks”, said a senior officer of the Mohali Police.

“The idea behind providing them the Army-like uniform and weapons was to give them an ‘impressive look’. However, their role is just to make women victims comfortable while getting details of the crime, particularly outside the institutes, to imbibe a sense of safety among girls”, he said.

When asked about any special achievement of these policewomen so far, the officer terse reply was ‘negligible’.

“Is it possible for just 14 policewomen to ensure safety of women of the town, which has a population of around 20,000 young girls, more than 20 schools, three institutes for girls and two colleges”, added another officer.i