A hundred new police units rolled out of Constitution Club, Jaipur on Sunday, 18 October 2026 — each one dedicated to keeping Rajasthan's women and girls safer on the streets. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma personally flagged off the 100 newly activated Kalika Patrolling Units and held a direct dialogue with unit commanders, signalling that women's security sits at the top of his government's agenda.

Sharing the moment on X, CM Sharma wrote: 'Mahila suraksha ko sashakt banana aur pradesh ki har beti ko surakshit, bhaymukt evam garimamay vatavaran pradaan karna hamari prathamikta hai' — ('Empowering women's security and providing every daughter of the state with a safe, fearless, and dignified environment is our priority.')

What the Kalika Patrolling Units do

The Kalika Patrolling Units are specialised police squads designed for targeted patrolling in urban zones and other areas where women face heightened risk. Unlike general beat policing, these units are configured specifically to deter and respond to gender-based offences — harassment, assault, and stalking among them. Today's flag-off brought the cumulative deployment to at least 100 units operating across Rajasthan.

The CM's direct interaction with unit commanders — rather than a purely ceremonial handover — underscores an operational focus: ensuring on-ground personnel understand the mandate and feel the political weight behind it.

Rajasthan's wider push on women's safety

The Kalika initiative fits into a broader national pattern. Across India, state governments have steadily expanded dedicated women's-safety infrastructure — all-women police stations, 112 emergency helplines, and specialised patrol units — in response to persistent public concern over gender-based crime. Rajasthan, a large state with both dense urban centres and sprawling rural districts, has particular ground to cover.

CM Sharma, who took office in December 2023, has positioned women's security as a flagship governance commitment. The Kalika units represent visible, localised policing — a form of deterrence that puts uniformed presence where it can be seen and felt by residents and potential offenders alike.

What to watch next

The rollout of 100 units is a headline number, but the harder test is district-level reach. Observers will watch whether the government follows through with data on deployment coverage and, crucially, whether official figures on reported crimes against women in Rajasthan show measurable movement in the months ahead.

If the Kalika model proves effective, it could become a template for further scale-up — and a political benchmark the CM's government will be held to.