A system must ensure timely assistance and the assurance of justice for every woman in distress: Chief Minister Rekha Gupta
CM stresses an integrated support system from helplines to rehabilitation, technology-driven monitoring and time-bound resolution of complaints
New Delhi, October 2026 : Delhi Chief Minister Smt. Rekha Gupta shared her views on women’s safety and empowerment at the two-day departmental summit on Women and Child Development, attended by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. She said women’s safety requires a coordinated and sensitive system that ensures timely assistance to every woman in distress, prompt action on her complaint, and continued support through the processes of justice and rehabilitation. The Chief Minister said women’s safety was a shared responsibility of the police, administration, local bodies, concerned departments and society. Better coordination and accountability among all institutions are essential to creating a safe environment for women.
Referring to how women’s empowerment under Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership was advancing towards women-led development, CM said girls across the country had grown more confident and were coming forward to play their part in education, employment and nation-building. She said ensuring women’s safety, respect, dignity and equal opportunities was essential to achieving the goal of a developed India.
Women in Distress Must Not Have to Run from One Agency to Another
Emphasising the need to make women’s safety mechanisms more accessible and effective, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said a woman facing a crisis should not have to approach multiple institutions to get help. Helplines, police, healthcare services, legal aid, counselling and shelter facilities must be linked so that women can access the support they need through a coordinated system.
She highlighted the role of Women Helpline 181, One Stop Centres and Shakti Sadans. Referring to the assistance provided to 15.95 lakh women through 998 One Stop Centres and 3.36 lakh women through 431 Shakti Sadans across the country, she said these institutional support systems needed to become more sensitive, accessible and effective. Linking Women Helpline 181 with emergency service 112, Child Helpline 1098 and other support services is also aimed at ensuring timely assistance to women in need.
Chief Minister Outlines Five Key Action Points
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said institutional mechanisms must be continuously strengthened to ensure women’s safety and dignity. Drawing on discussions at the summit and ground-level experience, she outlined five key action points: individual care plans for every victim, better integration of women’s helplines and One Stop Centres, easier access to counselling and legal aid, elimination of child marriage, and effective implementation of laws to prevent sexual harassment at workplaces.
The measures include connecting the remaining One Stop Centres with women’s helplines, improving access to counselling and legal advice through Tele-MANAS and Tele-Law, and expanding the use of SHe-Box. The aim is to ensure that women in distress receive the right assistance, through the appropriate institution, at the right time and according to their needs.
Delhi Taking a Multi-Pronged Approach to Women’s Safety
Highlighting the need for better coordination among departments and agencies, Chief Minister also outlined the steps being taken in Delhi to improve women’s safety. These include arrangements such as bus marshals and panic buttons in DTC buses, identifying dark and unsafe locations through CCTV surveillance, deploying women police personnel on special buses for women during evening shifts, and conducting self-defence training and capacity-building workshops in schools.
She said better coordination among transport services, police, local bodies and other concerned agencies was essential to ensuring women’s safety. Equally important was making the public aware of the safety services available to them so that they could seek assistance in time when needed. The Chief Minister also stressed the need to learn from successful initiatives in different states and Union Territories and adopt effective models in other areas.
Technology to Strengthen Complaint Resolution Mechanisms
CM Rekha Gupta said the use of technology should not be limited to creating portals. Its real benefits would be realised only when women were aware of these facilities, could easily file complaints and track their progress. Referring to the SHe-Box portal, she said its wider use was essential for addressing complaints related to women’s safety and sexual harassment at workplaces. The portal allows women to file complaints online and track their status. She particularly emphasised expanding its reach in the private sector and strengthening online complaint reporting. The Chief Minister said every woman at every workplace should know where to report a problem and have the confidence that her complaint would be addressed fairly.
Elimination of Child Marriage and Safe Workplaces Remain Top Priorities
The Chief Minister identified the prevention of child marriage and women’s safety at workplaces as two important pillars of women’s empowerment. She said every girl should have the opportunity to fulfil her dreams and progress according to her abilities. Eliminating social evils such as child marriage requires active community participation alongside government efforts, she said. She stressed the need to accelerate efforts under the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign to make villages, towns and cities free of child marriage. This would require coordination among government departments as well as active participation from local communities.
The Chief Minister also referred to efforts in Delhi to involve Anganwadi workers in preventing child marriage at the community level. These workers are being engaged to help identify cases of child marriage in their areas in time, counsel affected families and strengthen necessary interventions. She said grassroots awareness and timely action could help address this social challenge effectively.
