Bihar’s ‘Police Didis’ get their own ride as government seeks to bolster women’s safety

On Wednesday, Bihar launched 4,700 two-wheelers for the police's 'Abhaya Brigade', or Police Didi, aiming to enhance women's safety, particularly around educational institutions. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the vehicles at a Patna event prior to Raksha Bandhan. Out of the total vehicles, 2,700 scooters were given to women police personnel, while 2,000 motorcycles were allotted to male constables, according to the Home Department.

Director General of Police Vinay Kumar emphasized that women's safety is the police's top priority, noting that nearly 40,000 women have joined the force and are deployed across districts. The new vehicles will enable women police personnel to conduct focused patrols, primarily around schools, colleges, and university campuses, as well as surrounding areas.

Patrols will be scheduled during school and college arrival and dispersal hours, with two-hour beats set up in cities centered around colleges. The Abhaya Brigade was introduced in December 2025 by the Bihar Police Headquarters following a pledge by the then Home Minister, Samrat Choudhary, to deploy special squads outside schools and colleges to curb eve-teasing.

Each Abhaya Brigade unit is led by a woman Sub-Inspector and supported by three constables, including one woman and two men. These teams are responsible for pinpointing harassment hotspots, isolated routes, markets, parks, and transit points, taking legal action against offenders, and maintaining contact with educational institutions.

They also promote awareness about the Dial-112 emergency service. Home Secretary Pankaj Kumar described the vehicle deployment as a significant milestone in strengthening women's security through the Abhaya Brigade, aiming to control minor incidents of violence against women in streets and lanes near colleges in cities. The effort also marks the launch of the Chief Minister Balika PhD Fellowship, which will provide Rs 10,000 a month for four years to around 1,000 women students pursuing higher education and research.

Additionally, the Bihar Ki Beti Startup Challenge was introduced, offering financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh to 2,100 women entrepreneurs. The government aims to connect one crore women with employment and self-employment opportunities, including dairy and animal husbandry, to bolster their livelihoods.