Punjab Police’s Saanjh Rahat Kendras Support Over 1,000 Women in Two Years; DGP Gaurav Yadav Highlights Human-Centred Community Policing
Punjab Police’s Saanjh Rahat Kendras have quietly emerged as one of the state’s most impactful community policing initiatives, offering hope, protection and rehabilitation to women facing violence, abuse and other forms of distress. Over the last two years alone, these specialised centres have extended assistance to more than 1,000 women, providing not just immediate police intervention but also counselling, legal guidance, shelter, medical support and long-term rehabilitation.
Sharing the achievements of the initiative on Thursday, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer, said the programme has evolved significantly since its humble beginning in Mohali. What started with only two trained counsellors has today expanded into a multi-district support network that combines policing with social care, ensuring women receive comprehensive assistance during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
According to the Punjab Police chief, the initiative reflects the department’s broader vision of making policing more compassionate, accessible and community-oriented while ensuring that women experiencing domestic violence, harassment or abuse are able to seek timely help without fear or hesitation.
Initiative Expanded Beyond Mohali
The Saanjh Rahat Kendra project was first launched at the Civil Hospital in SAS Nagar (Mohali) as a pilot initiative designed to provide integrated support services under one roof. Encouraged by its positive response and growing demand, Punjab Police gradually expanded the programme to other districts.
At present, Saanjh Rahat Kendras are operational in four districts:
SAS Nagar (Mohali)
Ludhiana
Fatehgarh Sahib
Jalandhar
The expansion, according to DGP Gaurav Yadav, demonstrates Punjab Police’s commitment to strengthening community policing while ensuring that vulnerable women have access to professional support services close to their homes.
Unlike conventional police intervention that often focuses primarily on registering complaints, these centres adopt a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together counsellors, legal experts, police officials and rehabilitation agencies to address every aspect of a survivor’s needs.
More Than 1,000 Women Received Assistance
The figures shared by Punjab Police underline the growing importance of the initiative.
During the last two years:
1,069 cases were formally registered at the Saanjh Rahat Kendras.
1,656 women were screened for counselling, intervention and support.
Officials explained that every woman approaching the centres undergoes an assessment to determine the nature of assistance required. Depending on individual circumstances, support may include psychological counselling, legal aid, police protection, temporary shelter, medical referrals, rehabilitation assistance and follow-up monitoring.
This coordinated response enables authorities to intervene early in cases involving domestic violence, marital abuse, emotional trauma or other forms of exploitation before situations escalate further.
Punjab Police believes that such early intervention not only helps safeguard victims but also increases access to justice while reducing repeat incidents of violence.
Beyond FIRs – A Holistic Support System
One of the distinguishing features of the Saanjh Rahat Kendras is that they are not limited to handling criminal complaints. Instead, they aim to address the emotional, psychological, legal and social challenges faced by women in crisis.
Officials say many survivors often require counselling before they are emotionally prepared to pursue legal remedies. Others need immediate shelter, medical care or help reconnecting with supportive family members.
Recognising these diverse needs, the centres provide a comprehensive package of services rather than relying solely on traditional policing methods.
This integrated model has helped improve confidence among women seeking assistance while strengthening trust between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Real-Life Interventions Demonstrate Impact
DGP Gaurav Yadav highlighted several real-life cases that illustrate how timely intervention by Saanjh Rahat Kendras has transformed lives. In one case, a woman approached the Mohali Saanjh Rahat Kendra after allegedly being physically assaulted and threatened by her husband. The response team acted immediately to ensure her safety.
Officials arranged secure transportation, escorted her safely to her parental home and simultaneously initiated legal proceedings against the accused.
The prompt action prevented further harm while ensuring the victim received both legal and emotional support. Another case demonstrated the initiative’s long-term rehabilitation approach.
A pregnant woman who had reportedly been abandoned by both her husband and family was admitted to hospital in a critical condition. The Saanjh Rahat Kendra coordinated with medical authorities and facilitated her admission to PGIMER Chandigarh, where she remained under treatment for nearly two months.
Even after she tragically suffered a miscarriage, counsellors continued to support her emotionally throughout her recovery. The assistance did not end with medical treatment. Once she regained her health, officials helped her secure employment and also worked towards reconnecting her with her family, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on rebuilding lives rather than merely responding to emergencies.
Punjab Police officials say such cases demonstrate how sustained counselling and rehabilitation can significantly improve outcomes for women experiencing severe emotional and social distress.
Broader Push for Women’s Safety and Child Protection
The Saanjh Rahat Kendras form only one component of Punjab Police’s wider strategy for improving women’s safety and protecting children across the state.
Alongside these centres, Punjab Police has launched several outreach initiatives aimed at creating awareness, encouraging reporting of crimes and educating young people about personal safety.
Among the most prominent is the Jagriti Programme, implemented through Punjab Police Mahila Mittars. During the past two years, the programme has recorded an extensive outreach across educational institutions.
Its achievements include:
Coverage of 12,482 schools across Punjab.
Awareness sessions reaching 11,75,010 children between Classes 6 and 12.
Participation by 76,299 principals, teachers and school staff members.
The initiative educates students about personal safety, responsible behaviour, protection against abuse and the importance of reporting inappropriate conduct.
Officials believe that sensitising children at an early stage helps build safer communities while encouraging greater awareness among parents and educators.
Women Help Desks Continue Massive Public Outreach
Punjab Police’s Women Help Desks have also become a significant pillar of its community engagement strategy. Over the last five years, these desks have organised an impressive 69,329 awareness programmes covering a wide range of social and legal issues affecting women and children.
Topics addressed include:
Cybercrime awareness
Domestic violence
Child sexual abuse
Child marriage
Juvenile justice
Drug abuse
Gender sensitisation
According to officials, these campaigns have played an important role in educating communities about women’s legal rights, child protection laws, online safety and the various support mechanisms available through Punjab Police and other government agencies.
The outreach programmes have also encouraged greater public participation in crime prevention while reducing hesitation among victims in approaching law enforcement authorities.
SAANJH Ecosystem Strengthening Police-Public Partnership
Speaking about the initiative, Special Director General of Police Gurpreet Kaur Deo said the broader SAANJH ecosystem, launched in 2011, has significantly strengthened the relationship between Punjab Police and local communities over the years.
She noted that several programmes operating under the SAANJH umbrella have promoted greater citizen participation in policing.
These include:
Yuva Saanjh
Jagriti Programme
Student Police Cadet Scheme
According to her, the extensive network of Saanjh Committees functioning across Punjab has become an important bridge between citizens and the police.
She observed that the Saanjh Rahat Kendras have filled a long-standing gap by providing integrated counselling, legal support, police intervention and rehabilitation services for women experiencing violence, abuse and emotional distress.
Their holistic approach, she said, ensures that survivors receive support at every stage of recovery rather than being left to navigate complex systems on their own.
Human-Centred Policing Becoming the Focus
Punjab Police officials believe the growing success of the Saanjh Rahat Kendras demonstrates how modern policing is increasingly moving beyond crime registration towards citizen welfare and social intervention.
By combining police assistance with counselling, legal guidance, medical referrals and rehabilitation, the initiative aims to reduce repeat incidents of violence while empowering women to rebuild their lives with dignity.
Officials say this integrated model also helps strengthen public confidence in law enforcement by making policing more responsive, empathetic and accessible.
As the network continues to expand across Punjab, the Saanjh Rahat Kendras are expected to play an even greater role in supporting women in distress while reinforcing the state’s commitment to community policing, gender-sensitive governance and citizen-centred public service.
