In a move aimed at enhancing the safety and security of children, especially girls, the Meghalaya government has announced the rollout of self-defense training programs in schools across both rural and urban areas on a mission mode. This comes amid rising concerns over crimes against women and the growing need to empower communities to actively participate in public safety initiatives. The decision was taken in a recent meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
The initiative, which will be coordinated closely with the police department, the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, and local institutions such as Durbar Shnongs, reflects the government’s renewed focus on integrating community engagement with law enforcement mechanisms.
Adviser to the Social Welfare Department, Paul Lyngdoh, elaborated on Friday, “Self defence training programmes for girls to be rolled out in schools in both rural and urban areas on a mission mode and there will be coordination with the police department and the department of Sports and Youth Affairs.”
“Yes, I had mentioned and mentioned that we will be closely coordinating with the Department of Education and the Department of Sports and Affairs and also through the local institutions, the Durbar Shnongs, we will reach out to them because we want to make sure that all girl Children Come forward, all female kids come forward and be part of this very important initiative to ensure the safety and Security of children. So it’s a major project,” Lyngdoh added.
Highlighting the broader security framework, Lyngdoh said, “Apart from that, I think you also would like to take more of the fact that the latest meeting of the cabinet also came up with, renewed Focus on the Village Defence Parties (VDPs). I kept stressing about the Village Defence Party as a linkage between the community and the police department. Now, we talk about increase crimes against women, when we talk of the incidents of drug traffickers, taking advantage of the Gap in policing and thereby causing their criminal activities, all of that can be taken care of, if members of the community Come forward to be part of policing. And this is not an isolated case, you have even metropolis like New York, which has neighbourhood watch. What is neighbourhood watch? It is the same concept as the VDP, You become part of the policing system but the best part here is that today the government has from Rs 800 per month has now decided to increase the incentives to Rs 3000 per volunteer per month.”
Explaining the operational aspect of the VDPs, Lyngdoh noted, “And these volunteers need not be present on the roads on the streets 24×7. They will be there to just give that sense of security and safety to the residents and their service will be Utilised Based on inputs received from say a hotspot. It’s not going to be 12 hrs job or even an eight-hour job as and when they are required, they’ll be present. But the whole point is, they become our contact point and a linkage between the local community and the police department.”
