Hyderabad City, Telangana: Sri V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City and Chairman of the Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC), launched “Margadarshak”, a community-based guidance initiative aimed at strengthening support systems for women, children, and other vulnerable individuals. The program is designed to facilitate timely access to institutional assistance and enhance community participation in ensuring women’s safety.
Addressing the gathering, Sri V.C. Sajjanar, IPS, emphasized the importance of community participation in strengthening women’s safety and ensuring that individuals in distress receive timely support. He stated that responsible citizens can play a crucial role in guiding victims toward appropriate institutional mechanisms. He further advised volunteers that while providing guidance and counseling, they must direct victims to police authorities, legal experts, and official support systems, and should strictly refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
The Margadarshak initiative has been conceptualized to bridge the gap between individuals in distress and formal institutional mechanisms. While serious crimes are reported and acted upon through established legal procedures, many women facing harassment, intimidation, domestic disputes, stalking, workplace pressure, or relationship-related issues often hesitate to approach authorities due to fear, social stigma, or lack of awareness about available legal remedies.
To address this challenge, the initiative introduces a structured guidance mechanism through trained community volunteers known as Margadarshaks. These volunteers will function as responsible referral guides, providing initial guidance to individuals in distress and directing them to appropriate institutional platforms such as police authorities, legal services, counseling support, and emergency response systems.
Margadarshaks will also help create awareness about women’s safety mechanisms, relevant legal provisions, cyber safety, and available helplines, while encouraging victims to report incidents in a timely manner before situations escalate. By guiding victims toward the appropriate authorities and support systems, they will help ensure that assistance becomes more accessible, approachable, and victim-friendly.
The program follows a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model, promoting collaboration between Hyderabad City Police and civil society through the Hyderabad City Security Council. It complements existing institutional support systems such as Women Safety Wing, SHE Teams, Bharosa Centres, Legal Services Authorities, and various emergency helplines, thereby strengthening the overall safety ecosystem for women in Hyderabad City.
The launch event was attended by Shri Shekar Reddy, Secretary General, HCSC; Smt. N. Swetha, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order); Dr. Lavanya NJP, DCP, Women Safety Wing, Hyderabad City Police and Convener, Women’s Forum, HCSC; Smt. Khyati Naravane, Joint Secretary, Women’s Forum, HCSC, along with other dignitaries and volunteers.
Our Citizen Reporter – Telangana
Mr. Bharath Reddy
