Mahila Police Volunteer was created by the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development and is a cooperative project with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The Mahila Police Volunteers programme aims to establish a connection between the local people in villages and the police authorities through police volunteers who will be women specifically trained for this role. Their main responsibility will be to monitor instances in which women in the community are harassed, denied their rights and entitlements, or whose growth is impeded. In the fiscal year 2016–2017, Haryana is the first state to undertake the programme at Karnal and Mahindergarh District on a pilot basis. Additionally, the plans for the implementation of MPVs from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh have also been approved.
Features of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
- To reduce crime against women and to boost reporting and reaction to crime cases.
- To report incidents of violence against women, including dowry harassment, child marriage, domestic violence, and violence experienced by women in social places.
- To compel women to report acts of violence and to advise them of their legal options before they approach the police with their accusations.
- To encourage a welcoming atmosphere for women both inside and outside of the police or other authorities.
- To offer a reliable substitute for receiving assistance and support for prejudice and violence.
Benefits of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
- In order to fight crime against women, MPV will act as a public-police interface.
- The incident of abuse against women, including domestic violence, are to be reported using MPVs.
- MPVs aid in lowering crime rates, including those related to child marriage, dowry harassment, and assault against women in public places.
- A Mahila Police Volunteer is a prestigious post.
Eligibility of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
- A woman should serve as a Mahila police volunteer.
- She must be at least 21 years old and hold a diploma from at least the 12th grade.
- She cannot be in prison or have been found guilty of breaking any laws.
- There must not have been any criminal charges brought against her.
- She shouldn’t be a member of any political organisation.
Documents of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
- A passport-sized photo
- Aadhaar card, PAN card, driver’s license, voter ID card, etc.
- Passport, Aadhaar Card, etc.
- Educational qualifications certificates
- Bank account details (copy of bank passbook).
- The female candidate must not be listed as a defaulter in any bank’s records.
Application Process
The Senior Superintendent of Police will choose the MPVs at the district level after consulting with the State’s General Director of Police. The process is shown below. The female applicants must speak with the appropriate authority. The following offices will distribute the notice:
1. Local Thana
2. Police Chowki
3. Panchayat Office
4. Municipal Office
5. Publicity through Tahsildar Office
6. Block Development Officer
7. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)
8. Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs)
9. Accredited Social Health Activist
10. PS/OP/DySP/SP Offices
11. DM Office.
- After giving at least a month’s notice, applications from qualified individuals will be requested.
- The Superintendent of Police (SP) of the region will receive all application forms. The district level would implement a suitable process based on the standards for choosing and rejecting applications.
- The Screening Committee will conduct the short-listing of the qualified applicants.
- The candidates may be invited by the Superintendent of Police chairing the committee for the interview and selection process after the verification of all the credentials of the shortlisted applicants.
- The SP will then send the chosen applicants their appointment orders.
- The chosen candidates must provide all of the original documents listed above along with a “Self-Declaration” certifying that they are not currently the subject of any criminal investigations or political affiliations.
Objectives of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
- To increase reporting and response to criminal cases, as well as to combat crime against women.
- Domestic violence, dowry harassment, child marriage, and violence against women in public places are all examples of violence against women.
- To encourage women to report incidents of violence and to provide information on how to file complaints with police authorities.
- To encourage a woman-friendly environment within and outside of the police or other authorities.
- To provide an effective alternative to receiving support and assistance for violence and discrimination.
- To increase the clarity of women in the police force, the government has carried forward the initiative to provide 33% reservation to women in police departments by implementing it in all UTs and spreading it throughout the States.
Note:
- Anganwadis: India’s rural child care centers are known as anganwadis. In order to fight child hunger and malnutrition, the Indian government began them in 1975 as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services program.”Anganwadi” means “courtyard shelter” in Hindi.
- Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM): In India, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, also known as nurse hybrids or ANMs, are female village-level health workers who serve as the first point of contact between the locals and the medical system.
Frequently Asked Questions on Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme:
1Q. Mention some of the Mahila Police Volunteer’s Activities.
- Any woman who is voluntarily and socially committed to the empowerment of girls and women, willing to raise her own voice against gender-based violence, and willing to support the police force in creating
- A gender-just society free of violence and discrimination, can be an MPV.
- The MPVs will be chosen by the respective State/Home UT’s Department through the Superintendent of Police of the district authority. The MPV will report directly to the Circle Inspector at the Police Thana
- Make people aware of the existing services available to children and women.
2Q. What are monthly allowances and training for Mahila Police Volunteers?
- Monthly Allowance, Training, Reward, and Recognition of MPVs, as well as other ancillary expenses, will be provided.
- A lump sum of up to Rs.1000/- per month will be credited to the MPV to cover her out-of-pocket expenses for mobile phones and local transportation.
- The MPVs will receive a three-day training, as well as a one-time travel allowance and dearness allowance of Rs.400 per day for the duration of the training.
- A cash reward of Rs.10000, Rs.5000, and Rs.3000 will be given to the three outstanding performers chosen from all the MPVs in the district in the order of merit for the MPV Reward and Recognition.
3Q. What are the benefits of the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme?
- In order to fight crime against women, MPV will act as a public-police interface.
- The incident of abuse against women, including domestic violence, are to be reported using MPVs.
- MPVs aid in lowering crime rates, including those related to child marriage, dowry harassment, and assault against women in public places.
- An MPV is a prestigious post.
4Q. What are the Eligibility criteria for the Mahila Police Volunteer?
- A woman should serve as a Mahila police volunteer.
- She must be at least 21 years old and hold a diploma from at least the 12th grade.
- She cannot be in prison or have been found guilty of breaking any laws.
- There must not have been any criminal charges brought against her.
- She shouldn’t be a member of any political organisation.
5Q. What is the Funding pattern for the Mahila Police Volunteer Scheme?
- The fund will be released from the Nirbhaya Fund to the States at a cost-sharing ratio, except in the case of the North Eastern States, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, where the share of the Centre and the State/UTs will be equal.
- In the case of Union Territories (UTs), 100% Central Assistance will be provided.
- The MWCD will transfer the funds to the State Government’s consolidated funds after receiving a proper appraisal from the empowered committee formed to consider and approve the proposal under the Nirbhaya Fund.
- The Mahila Police Volunteers initiative will have its own bank account managed by the State Government.