Shielding her future: State Women Commission plans safety campaign

Taking note of the disturbing rise in crimes against women, the State Commission for Women is preparing to roll out a comprehensive awareness campaign across Himachal Pradesh, with a special emphasis on regions identified as vulnerable. The initiative aims to educate women and communities about various forms of violence, the early signs of danger and practical preventive measures, so that potential victims are better equipped to protect themselves.

Voices against violence

• A sweeping state-wide awareness campaign is set to reshape how communities understand and respond to crimes against women. From classrooms to remote panchayats, the Women's Commission will reach thousands with guidance on recognising threats, seeking help and supporting survivors
• The initiative zeroes in on high-risk pockets and areas scarred by recent brutal incidents. With rising cases of assault, abduction and harassment, the campaign aims to break the silence, spark vigilance and empower women to move through life with confidence, dignity and safety

The commission’s outreach will span a wide range of locations: educational institutions such as schools and colleges, rural belts at the panchayat level and urban pockets that have recorded consistently higher crime rates. Chairperson Vidya Negi said the heightened frequency of grave offences has underscored the urgent need for widespread community sensitisation. She added that the campaign would prioritise areas that have either seen recent heinous incidents or continue to report elevated numbers of assaults.

Negi confirmed that the commission is in the final stages of preparing an outline and full action plan for the awareness drive. “The objective is straightforward — reduce crimes against women by ensuring people understand the forms of violence, the vulnerabilities and the practical safeguards,” she said. She stressed that safety cannot be left to policing alone; it must also grow from informed communities that actively prevent such crimes.

Describing women’s safety as an immediate and collective responsibility, she said it was time to rebuild confidence among women so they can live, work, move and aspire without fear. “Every woman deserves dignity. Awareness is the first line of defence,” she noted.

The urgency behind the commission’s move is evident in the recent data. From January 1 to October 31 this year, the state registered 1,533 cases of crimes against women. These include 22 murders, 336 rapes, 397 cases of kidnapping and abduction, 445 molestation cases, 20 instances of abetment of suicide, 138 cases of cruelty, 119 of eve-teasing, nine involving immoral trafficking, three of chain snatching and one dowry-related case. Additionally, 41 cases have been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The brutal assault in Hamirpur on November 3, which led to the victim’s death during treatment at PGIMER, Chandigarh, has particularly shaken public sentiment, making the commission’s push both timely and necessary.