Officer Makes Women Safer Without Spending a Rupee

In Bongaon, West Bengal, IPS officer Dinesh Kumar proved that protecting women doesn't require millions in funding. It just requires someone willing to rethink everything.

Kumar launched Dashabhuja, named after the ten-armed Goddess Durga, by rebuilding his district's safety systems with resources already at hand. No new budget. No fancy technology. Just smart planning and fierce commitment.

The results speak louder than any proposal ever could. Rakshak teams now reach women in distress within minutes of a call. Over 1,000 girls have completed safety training programs in their schools.

Kumar didn't stop at emergency response. He established Internal Complaints Committees, installed CCTV networks, and created counseling services for survivors. Each piece strengthens the others, building a web of protection across the entire community.

The genius lies in the approach. Rather than waiting for government funding or new infrastructure, Kumar mobilized what already existed: officers, community volunteers, school systems, and local resources. He proved that intent matters more than budget lines.

The Ripple Effect

Dashabhuja transformed more than response times. It changed how an entire community thinks about women's safety.

Schools that once treated safety as an afterthought now train girls in self-defense and awareness. Officers who patrolled reactive routes now work proactive protection plans. Community members who might have looked away now stand as active guardians.

The initiative created a cultural shift where protecting women became everyone's responsibility, not just the police department's problem. Neighbors look out for each other. Families know where to turn. Girls walk with more confidence.

Other districts are taking notice. If Bongaon can rebuild its safety systems without new funding, any district can. The model scales because it relies on resourcefulness, not resources.

Women in Bongaon now have three hotlines they can call for help: 100, 112, or 7319224450. But more importantly, they have something money can't buy: a whole community standing guard.

Kumar's work answers a question that stumps many bureaucrats: what if the solution to women's safety wasn't more money, but more imagination?