Most paying guest (PGs) accommodations and girls hostels in the city lack basic security infrastructure, an audit by Delhi Police has found.
Concerned over the safety of women, especially those living away from their families, the Delhi Police had conducted the security audit. The police have prepared a database of such establishments and issued guidelines, asking them to have proper safety arrangements.
"We have conducted a security audit of all PGs accommodations and hostels for women. Security measures required to be taken have been explained to them. A total of 215 such buildings have been covered," a senior police officer said. During the audit, the Delhi police focused on the door safety and asked the owner to allow only verified people inside.
"We have asked them to install video door phones. The windows should be covered with iron grille. We verified servants staying in these hostels. In most of the hostels, the fences were broken and we got them repaired. We have asked the hostel managements to allow the entry of unknown persons only from a guarded entry and maintain a register of visitors," the officer added.
In areas such as Mukherjee Nagar in north Delhi and Munirka in south Delhi, known as PG hubs, the police asked the beat staff to patrol the areas. "Our focus is to make the Capital safer for women and to protect their right to freedom of movement and safety. Any road map for women safety should focus on violence and harassment in public spaces and the responses, strategies and campaigns to resist them. It must make public spaces safer for women at all times of day and night," the officer further said.
{{/usCountry}}In areas such as Mukherjee Nagar in north Delhi and Munirka in south Delhi, known as PG hubs, the police asked the beat staff to patrol the areas. "Our focus is to make the Capital safer for women and to protect their right to freedom of movement and safety. Any road map for women safety should focus on violence and harassment in public spaces and the responses, strategies and campaigns to resist them. It must make public spaces safer for women at all times of day and night," the officer further said.
{{/usCountry}}Apart from the security audit, instructions have been issued to all police stations to refrain from dissuading women complainants from getting FIRs registered. Also, placement agencies would be kept under watch to curb human trafficking.
"Six student coordinators from the northeast are being given identity cards so that they can reach out to the police without any difficulty," the officer said.