Telangana’s SHE teams: A Beacon of hope for women’s safety

Hyderabad: In the last decade since its inception in 2014, Telangana’s SHE teams received 66,617 petitions and has been a torchbearer on using the technology for the safety of women. From QR codes in metro stations to WhatsApp helplines and dedicated mobile applications, these specialized units have transformed from traditional police patrols into a tech-savvy force.

Speaking on the occasion, Shikha Goel, Director General of Women Safety Wing (WSW), said she is extremely privileged to expand the vision of SHE Teams across the State. Goel emphasized, “SHE Teams of Telangana continue to be the first stop for support for women facing harassment in public and cyber spaces.”

The initiative started in Hyderabad City as part of the Telangana State Police’s friendly policing approach. It has expanded significantly over the past decade. Currently, 328 officers operate across 30 police units statewide, with plans for further expansion to police sub-divisions and major police station limits.

According to the data revealed by the Telangana police SHE teams, in the last ten years, there were 6,319 FIRs, 17,460 petty cases, and 15,343 individuals. Additionally, 16,169 minors were warned and released, while 13,895 cases were caught red-handed.

Tech-savvy SHE teams transform women’s safety in Telangana

Technological innovation has been crucial to the team’s success. In 2021, the SHE Team Application Software was implemented and has processed 6,157 petitions. The state’s WhatsApp number 871265685 received 549 complaints in 2024 alone, regarding mobile and social media harassment, domestic violence, and Eve-Teasing.

Another notable initiative is the QR code mechanism, with over 40,000 code boards/stickers in Telugu/English/Urdu placed strategically across metro trains & stations, TSRTC bus depots and stands, buses, Hospitals, PHCs, UHCs, major railway stations, and Metro stations. A total of 424 complaints were reported, including 84 through QR codes, making reporting more accessible to women.

Since its 2020 launch, 10 online counseling sessions were held quarterly with top-notch professional counselors. A total of 4488 respondents attended the counseling sessions. Of them, 4176 were major respondents and 312 minor respondents.

The success of Telangana’s SHE Teams is due to its core mandate. The first part of the mandate is Scan Hotspots. SHE Teams visit the pre-enrolled hotspots daily in their jurisdiction where offences against women and children occur frequently. The second part of the mandate is Red-handed cases. SHE Teams move in the hotspots in mufti dress and nab the accused who harass women or children, based on collected photographic or videographic evidence.

In addition to that, FIR/Petty cases can be registered through SHE Teams at the concerned police station. Complaints can be raised either directly or through social media, WhatsApp, or dial 100.

“If the accused is a minor and the gravity of the offense is less, the juvenile boy is counselled and warned in the presence of their parents. In case of insufficient evidence, the accused is warned and let off, with possible monitoring,” explained Goel.

These statistics don’t fully capture the deeper impact She Teams have brought to Telangana society in the last 10 years. Their impact extends beyond urban areas, reaching rural communities where women are more aware of their right to safety and access to justice.