The all-women police force named ‘Singappen’ to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces will function under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Tuesday inaugurated a special all-women police force named ‘Singappen’ to enhance the safety of women and children in public spaces. The force, aimed at strengthening preventive policing across the state, will function under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.
Launching the initiative in Chennai, Vijay said the newly formed unit would focus on preventing crimes before they occur. The word ‘Singappen’ translates to “a woman as brave as a lioness”.
The force will specifically target offences such as stalking, sexual harassment, attempted abductions, public obscenity, harassment in crowded places and public transport, and other forms of violence against women.
“For me, the complete success of a government does not lie solely in infrastructure growth or economic development. The true success of a government lies in whether women and children live with dignity and respect,” Vijay said during the launch event.
Describing the initiative as “very close to my heart”, the Chief Minister said ensuring the safety of every “mother, sister and girl child” was not merely an election promise, but a sincere commitment.
“We have zero tolerance towards crimes against women. Those who think they can harass women and escape will not be tolerated. Strict punishment will be ensured and charge sheets will be filed rapidly,” he warned.
Linking women’s safety to the issue of narcotics, Vijay said crimes against women, the spread of drugs and law and order issues were interconnected.
“When we analysed why such crimes happen, the root cause repeatedly pointed towards drug abuse. This problem has existed for years because it was ignored for a long time,” he said, in remarks seen as an indirect attack on previous DMK and AIADMK governments.
Women’s safety was one of the key poll planks in Vijay’s campaign, and he had repeatedly attacked the previous DMK government over crimes against women.
The special unit will be headed by Inspector General of Police K Bhavaneeswari and operate under the Chief Minister’s direct supervision.
As part of the first phase, the Tamil Nadu government has allocated over Rs 354 crore for the initiative. The government will also create 2,545 new posts exclusively for the force, including inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables. Personnel recruited for the unit will undergo special training.
Initially, 70 units of the force will begin operations across Tamil Nadu with 140 sub-inspectors and 420 constables. Each patrol vehicle will have an all-women team comprising one sub-inspector, two head constables and a driver.
The Singappen personnel will wear a special uniform consisting of khaki trousers and blue shirts. Vijay also unveiled the unit’s insignia featuring the image of a lioness and a policewoman, and flagged off patrol vehicles for the force. The Chief Minister also drove one of the patrol vehicles for a short distance within the venue.
