Uttar Pradesh Police Mahila Samman Prakoshth · Programme case study
Saathi: Women citizen cadets for gender-sensitive community policing
Saathi created a local bridge between women and district police. Women volunteers brought community concerns to the Mahila Samman Prakoshth and police stations, while helping neighbours understand their rights and routes to support. The role was voluntary and unpaid, with clear limits: cadets were not police officers.
- Local women as community-police links
- Monthly police-station meetings
- Safeguards against personal gain or taking the law into their own hands
The challenge
District police could not address every concern in communities through police personnel alone. The Mahila Samman Prakoshth sought a local bridge to surface gender-related problems and strengthen public participation without conferring police powers on volunteers.
The response
Saathi organised women volunteers as citizen cadets, with mentors drawn from experienced women professionals and volunteers drawn from women with local leadership experience. Cadets linked residents to district police and the Prakoshth, brought concerns to the relevant police station and shared information on laws, government schemes and the Vikalp complaints portal.
Cadets were expected to raise concerns about domestic violence and human trafficking, as well as everyday safety gaps such as missing street lighting or toilets. They also shared information on the Vikalp portal, relevant laws and government schemes, connecting awareness to practical routes for help.
Safeguards and scope
The role was voluntary and unpaid. Cadets were not permitted to take the law into their own hands or use the position for personal gain. Identity cards, monthly police-station meetings, counselling and capacity building formed its operating model. Saathi aimed for ten cadets per police station across 1,500 stations.