Mumbai school rape: Cops will continue ‘didi’ initiative, teach girls to tackle sexual abuse

Mumbai city news: The move comes after a three-year-old girl was allegedly raped by the trustee and class teacher of her school in Andheri

Mumbai police said they will continue their ‘police didi’ initiative, in which women officers and constables educate minor girls on how to be alert and prevent abuse and harassment. The move comes after a three-year-old girl from an International school in Andheri was allegedly raped by the school’s trustee and class teacher.

Girls are being taught to differentiate between good touch and bad touch, spokesperson for Mumbai Police, woman deputy commissioner of police, Rashmi Karandikar told HT. (HT File Photo)

The initiative was introduced by Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar last year. “The police are spreading awareness among minor girls so sexual offences against them can be prevented. Girls are also being taught to differentiate between good touch and bad touch,” spokesperson for Mumbai Police, woman deputy commissioner of police, Rashmi Karandikar told HT.

Like last year, police will focus on students who live in slums, where they are more vulnerable to such offences.

Additional commissioner of police, south region, Pravin Padwal said the teachers, students and parents responded positively to the initiative last year. “This year, we have visited two schools so far,” Padwal told HT.

An officer, who did not wish to be identified, said the initiative helps bridge the gap between the police and the young students. It also makes students more confident of approaching the police to report crimes against them.

“A girl recently told her police didi that a man had been molesting her. We registered a case and arrested the offender,” he said.