‘Udaan’ Takes Flight: Bihar Police and Neetu Chandra Champion Women’s Empowerment

Patna: An interactive session, ‘Udaan,’ focused on women’s empowerment, security, and respect, was held on Tuesday at the Bihar Police Headquarters auditorium. The event saw participation from senior police officials, including Director General of Bihar Police Vinay Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Crime Investigation Department) Parasnath, Additional Director General of Police (Vulnerable Sections, CID) Amit Jain, ADG and Special Secretary of the Home Department KS Anupam, DIG of Special Branch Harpreet Kaur, and Superintendent of Police (Vulnerable Sections, CID) Aamir Javed. Bollywood actress Neetu Chandra attended as a special guest, engaging with hundreds of women police personnel present at the event.

Women’s Safety and Participation in Law Enforcement

Speaking at the event, DGP Vinay Kumar highlighted the impact of the state government’s cycle scheme, introduced in 2007-08, in increasing school attendance among girls. He credited the initiative, along with police support, for transforming the security perception in rural areas. He also noted that Bihar is the only state in India where every district has a dedicated Mahila Thana (women’s police station), run by women officers, ensuring a safer and more approachable law enforcement system for women.

Vinay Kumar called for collective action against societal obscenities, particularly objectification in public performances. He condemned vulgar song lyrics and stage shows that promote misogyny and stressed that such cultural elements contribute to crime against women. He urged women to take a stand against these practices and emphasized the importance of parental vigilance in monitoring children’s mobile usage. He also noted that Bihar leads in implementing the POCSO Act and announced that Rs 550 crore has been allocated for strengthening Mahila Thanas.

Neetu Chandra Urges Women to Share Their Achievements

Neetu Chandra, addressing the audience, encouraged women police personnel to share their professional accomplishments on social media to highlight the positive contributions of women in law enforcement. She criticized the spread of obscenity through Bhojpuri songs and emphasized the need for social awareness to combat such trends. Chandra, who has filed a PIL against vulgar songs, lauded the Bihar Police’s recent order banning obscene content and urged collective action to eliminate its influence.

Call for Gender Equality and Awareness

Amit Jain, ADG (Vulnerable Sections, CID), addressed misconceptions about Bihar’s crime rate against women, citing NCRB data that reflects lower crime rates than in many other states. He pointed to the installation of CCTV cameras and the effectiveness of the Dial 112 emergency response service as key measures in enhancing women’s safety. Jain emphasized that law enforcement alone cannot ensure women’s security and called for collective societal effort.

KS Anupam, ADG and Special Secretary of the Home Department, reinforced the importance of early education on gender equality. She stressed that genuine women’s empowerment begins at home and urged families to nurture an environment that fosters equality.

Education and Financial Independence

DIG (Special Branch) Harpreet Kaur emphasized the role of financial independence in women’s empowerment, urging women to become self-reliant through education. She encouraged parents to instill confidence and awareness in their daughters from an early age, teaching them to resist oppression rather than endure it silently.

The session concluded with an interactive segment, where women police personnel posed questions to Neetu Chandra, fostering an engaging dialogue on women’s rights and empowerment.