SHIMOGA: A three-day workshop on "Gender sensitisation and people friendly police," a project being implemented by the Police Department in association with United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF), began here on Monday.

Somasekhar Hawaldar, facilitator of the project, who formally inaugurated the workshop, said the project is being implemented to make police personnel people-friendly by being more sensitive and responsive, particularly to the problems of women and children.

He said the project, which is being implemented in 10 districts in the State, will be extended to other districts also.

Under the project, at least three policemen from each police station will be sensitised to the problems of women and children.

Unnatural death

Referring to the decline in female population, Mr. Hawaldar said it can be attributed to the rising instances of unnatural death among women, including female foeticides and infanticides. He pointed out that the men and women ratio of 1000:933 points to the alarming trend towards foeticides and infanticides. Studies have shown that this ratio is noticeable in districts such as Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Hassan.

Mr. Hawaldar said prostitution is one of the major areas of harassment of women where only those engaged in it are being punished without addressing the reason for the problem.

The other problems that women suffer are domestic violence and sexual harassment at workplace or public place, which should be tackled by the police.

He said similarly there are problems concerning children such as child labour, children seeking care and support and offences coming under the Juvenile Justice Act, which should be treated by the police with more care and concern. He stressed the need for the involvement of non-governmental organisations, which are engaged in women and children welfare activities, in sensitisation of police personnel.

Additional Superintendent of Police S.N. Siddharamappa, who presided over the function, said it is not enough if the police become proficient in legal aspects of the cases, they should also become more humane and courteous. "For this, there is a need for special counselling for them to make them more polite and courteous to those who frequent to police stations with complaints," he added.

Police Inspector Jagdish welcomed the gathering.

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