Akka Force to be launched on November 19: Karnataka Minister

Minister for Women and Child Development and Udupi district in-charge Laxmi Hebbalkar said the Akka Force for the protection of women and children will officially be launched, in Bengaluru, on November 19.

Speaking at the Karnataka Rajyotsava district-level celebrations in the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium at Ajjarkad, Udupi, on November 1, Ms. Hebbalkar said the force would initially be raised in Udupi, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Belagavi, along with Bengaluru.

Udupi district in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar speaks at the 70th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Udupi on November 1, 2025. 
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

An initiative of Women and Child Development and the Police departments, the Akka Force aims to prevent violence against women and children, create awareness about safety, and offer immediate support to women and children facing abuse.

The initiative was launched on a pilot basis in Bidar in 2023.

Greeting people on the occasion of the 70th Rajyotsava Day, Ms. Hebbalkar recollected the contribution of political stalwarts, writers and the general public towards the unification of Karnataka. Besides conserving the State and the language, there is a need to further enrich the language and culture, she said.

Udupi district in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inspects aguard of honour at the 70th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Udupi on November 1, 2025. 
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Stating that Udupi district has witnesses massive growth in the education sector post-independence, Ms. Hebbalkar said people from the region who migrated to Mumbai and the Middle East have not only earned income, but also spread Kannada language and culture in those regions. People in the district are also ahead in social service, besides cultivating and fostering unique culture and practices, she said.

Ms. Hebbalkar expressed happiness that the male to female ratio in Udupi district has been 1000:1004. It is heartening to note that the district continues to have a matriarchal family system, she said.

Udupi dDistrict in-charge Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar offers garland to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari at the 70th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Udupi on November 1, 2025. 
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The Minister said that the five guarantee scheme of the government of Karnataka have given a new dimension to women empowerment improving the standard of life of 70-95% of poor women. The money saved through the Shakti and Gruha Jyoti schemes, and the Gruha Lakshmi payment are being used to buy food and ensure proper nutrition, she said.

Ms. Hebbalkar said the government will celebrate the golden jubilee of anganwadis on November 19 as the system completes 50 years of inception.

Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Deputy Commissioner T. K. Swaroopa, Zilla Panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal, Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar and others were present.