Sangli, Aug 2026 : Women’s safety and empowerment are a priority for the state government. In this regard, Guardian Minister and State Minister for Higher and Technical Education and Parliamentary Affairs Chandrakant Patil today inaugurated Hirkani rooms established with funds from the District Planning Committee, as well as six e-bikes received as a donation for the police department’s Damini Squad.
MLAs Dr. Suresh Khade and Sudhir Gadgil, District Collector Dr. Mainak Ghosh, Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi, Additional Superintendent of Police Kalpana Barwakar, District Women and Child Development Officer Varsha Patil, Special Officer to the Guardian Minister Balasaheb Yadav, along with officers and employees of the police and Women and Child Development departments, were present at the programme held at the Police Headquarters.
20 Hirkani Rooms Established Through DPC Funds
Following the directions of Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, 20 enclosed Hirkani rooms have been established at different locations in Sangli district through the Women and Child Development Department under the District Annual Plan. An amount of Rs 2 crore 12 lakh 18 thousand has been made available from the three per cent earmarked fund for the initiative. Through the police department, 11 Hirkani rooms have been established at the Superintendent of Police’s Office in Sangli, Sangli City Police Station, Miraj City Police Station, Jat, Tasgaon, Vita, Atpadi, Kadegaon, Palus, Islampur and Mahatma Gandhi Chowk Police Station in Miraj. The Transport Department has established nine Hirkani rooms at Jat, Islampur, Ashta, Tasgaon, Kavathemahankal, Kadepur, Kadegaon, Khanapur and Palus. A representative inauguration of these facilities was held on the occasion.
The primary objective of the Hirkani rooms is to provide pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers visiting government offices with a safe and private environment for breastfeeding, enable women to rest, and provide adolescent girls with safe and necessary facilities during their menstrual cycles.
Damini Squad Strengthened for Women’s Safety
The Damini Squad, operated by the police department for the safety of women and girls, has received six e-bikes as donations. The vehicles will enable the squad to respond more quickly to complaints related to women’s safety and reach crowded areas, markets and sensitive locations more efficiently.
The e-bikes for the Damini Squad were sponsored by Dr. Vinod Paramshetti of Paramshetti Charitable Trust, Miraj; Dr. Milind Parekh, Secretary of Ushahkal Hospital; and Vijay Patil, President of the Maharashtra Medical Association. Shrikant Tarlekar of Siddhi Showroom provided a discount of Rs 15,000 on each bike and also donated six helmets. Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil felicitated all the sponsors in recognition of their contribution.
