Women police personnel are the “last-mile link” between the police force and the public, and their workplace concerns must be addressed to build a more sensitive and effective policing system, former Karnataka Director General of Police Raghavendra H. Auradkar said on Thursday.
Delivering the keynote address at the third edition of the National Women’s Conference on Safety and Security 2026 in Bengaluru, Mr. Auradkar, who is now Chairman and Administrative Member of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT), said women police personnel, from constables to inspectors, need better workplace facilities and institutional support.
He highlighted the need for dedicated restrooms, safe transportation for women working night shifts, access to mental health counsellors, periodic health check-ups, and stronger mechanisms to address sexual harassment both in public spaces and workplaces.
Mr. Auradkar also called upon police agencies to move from reactive policing to preventive safety measures, including regular safety audits of public places, public transport, educational institutions, and workplaces.
He suggested exploring an integrated women’s safety model similar to the Telangana Police’s Bharosa initiative, where multiple support services are made available under one roof.
The two-day conference, being held at the Senior Police Officers’ Research and Training Institute (SPORTI) on Magrath Road, is themed “Gandhiji Revisited: Women’s Safety & Security in Free India – Deepening Sensitivities.”
Responding to the concerns raised by Mr. Auradkar, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh said the city police had already introduced several welfare measures, including mental health counselling, mobile toilets, and regular health check-ups for personnel. He said the remaining issues raised at the conference would also be examined.
The first day featured discussions on workplace safety and the use of technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve women’s safety. Experts said AI could assist in early intervention, evidence collection, and policing, but stressed that technology must complement, and not replace, a victim-centric approach.
During a panel discussion on the gap between reporting and conviction in crimes against women, Public Prosecutor Shailaja Nayak said police file charge sheets in nearly 75–85% of cases, while convictions often fall to 15–20% during trial.
She attributed the low conviction rate largely to pressure faced by victims and stressed the need to protect survivors while maintaining a balance with the right to freedom of speech. Ms. Nayak said she had handled around 60 sexual assault cases, of which only three ended in conviction, two lapsed, and the remaining cases were still on trial.
Pratima Jagadeesh, Founder and Director of Crecers Academy, said the larger challenge was not the absence of laws, but a lack of awareness and poor coordination between departments.
Women and juvenile rights advocate Anjali Ramanna, founder of Astitva Legal Trust, said she had dealt with 18 dowry harassment cases, of which 13 involved IT employees, underscoring that violence against women cuts across professional and social backgrounds.
During a session on police reforms for women’s safety and security, S. Savitha, DIGP and Additional Commandant General, Home Guards, and Ex-Officio Deputy Director of Civil Defence, said molestation accounted for the highest number of reported crimes against women, with 4,262 cases. She said the other four categories among the top five were cruelty by spouse, violations under the Dowry Prohibition Act, rape, and dowry deaths.
The inaugural session was attended by former DGP Dr. Jija Harisingh, DGP and IGP Dr. M.A. Saleem, CID DGP Dr. Pronab Mohanty, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, and other dignitaries.
The conference will continue on Friday with further thematic discussions and solution-oriented sessions on women’s safety and security.
Published – September 24, 2026 10:14 pm IST
