UP Women's Commission proposes new safety measures: Female staff and CCTV in boutiques, gyms and school buses

PTC Web Desk: The Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission has put forward a set of measures to bolster women's safety, which includes preventing male tailors from taking women’s measurements and limiting male trainers from coaching women in gyms and yoga sessions. Additionally, the commission has recommended deploying female security personnel on school buses and employing female staff in women’s clothing stores to strengthen security in both public and commercial settings.

These safety measures were discussed during a meeting held on October 28 in Lucknow, where  Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission members considered various strategies to enhance women’s safety, as reported by The Times of India. Maneesha Ahlawat, a commission member, said the discussions were in an early stage and that the practicality of these recommendations was still under review. Once finalised, they would be presented to the government for policy development and potential implementation.

Hamid Hussain, Shamli district probation officer, has already instructed local businesses to start applying new safety protocols. These include appointing female trainers in gyms and yoga centres, placing female teachers or guards on school buses, and installing CCTV systems with DVR capabilities for surveillance. Additionally, boutiques are now required to employ female tailors for taking women’s measurements, alongside CCTV monitoring.

Coaching centres in Shamli must now ensure CCTV surveillance and proper restroom facilities for women, while stores that sell women’s clothing have been advised to hire female staff for customer service. 

In a related effort, the Haryana police launched a real-time location tracking feature on WhatsApp as part of the state’s Emergency Response Support System. Reviewed by DGP Shatrujeet Kapur, this feature allows women, particularly those travelling alone at night, to share their live location with police in Haryana and Gurgaon for increased safety. This tool was developed following discussions on a trip monitoring system for women in Gurgaon.