Hebbalkar inaugurates Akka Pade in B’gavi

Belagavi: Women and Child Welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inaugurated the ‘Akka Pade' in Belagavi on Tuesday. She said women protection teams have existed under names like Channamma Pade, Obavva Pade and Durga Pade, and all these forces are now unified under Akka Pade to strengthen and expand safety measures for women and girls.Speaking after launching the Akka Pade at Kittur Channamma Circle on Tuesday, the minister said that Akka Pade is a symbol of women's strength and self-respect and will soon be expanded to taluk level across the state. The mission of Akka Pade is to prevent violence against women and children and create a fear-free environment with legal protection.
Teams with different names were formed in different districts for the protection of women and children. The district SP assigned women personnel, and formed teams with names like Kittur Rani Channamma Pade, Obavva Pade, Chamundi Pade and Durga Pade. However, it did not have permanent staff, vehicle arrangements, or a specific duty structure. In 2025-26, the Akka Pade is implemented in 31 districts, and 5 additional Akka Pade teams are set up in 5 commissionerates, she said.Akka Pade started in a few places on a trial basis and is receiving a good response. Akka Pade will be expanded to the taluk level after approval in the upcoming budget. It imbibes Akkamahadevi's thought and the courage of Rani Channamma, she said.The primary objective is to provide immediate protection to vulnerable women and children. Driven by compassion and community service, it functions as a responsive safety unit and an educational force in society.If illegal acts against women are found, they are sent to the concerned police station for appropriate action. The teams will visit schools, colleges, bus stands, parks and cinema halls and conduct awareness programmes continuously. They make children aware of laws like the Pocso Act, child labour act, child marriage prohibition act, prohibition of prostitution act, domestic violence act and dowry prohibition act. They also create awareness against the use of drugs, among school and college children about 112 emergency services, children's helpline number 1098, women's helpline number 181, cyber helpline number 1930, and the senior citizens' helpline number 1097.City police commissioner Bhushan Borase, SP K Ramarajan, traffic DCP, senior police officers and district administration officials were present.