A two-day district-level capacity-building programme to combat gender-based violence was held in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, on 8 and 9 October 2026, bringing together officials and personnel from multiple departments to strengthen coordinated responses for affected women and girls. The initiative aimed to equip frontline functionaries with the skills, legal knowledge, and inter-agency coordination needed to deliver timely, sensitive, and effective support to survivors.

Programme Overview and Leadership

The event was hosted by SP Jyeshtha Maitreyi, who presided over sessions centred on a multi-sectoral approach to addressing gender-based violence. Maitreyi underscored that the dignity, respect, and confidentiality of women and girls affected by violence must remain the highest priority in every institutional response. Officials were urged to listen to survivors with sensitivity, avoid causing additional mental distress, and provide assistance tailored to individual needs.

Experts and resource persons delivered insights into the forms, causes, and consequences of gender-based violence, alongside preventive measures and best practices for case identification and management.

Key Departments and Institutions Involved

The training spotlighted the roles and responsibilities of a wide range of agencies engaged in the gender-based violence response ecosystem. These included the police, District Legal Services Authority, One Stop Centres, the Department of Women Empowerment, Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, Women Safety and Counselling Centres, Sakhi Centres, the Pannadhay Women Safety and Honour Centres, the Medical and Health Department, and various civil society organisations working in women's and children's protection.

The importance of coordination among the Child Welfare Committee, Special Juvenile Police Unit, District Child Protection Unit, and the Juvenile Justice Board was also discussed, reflecting the programme's emphasis on a holistic, child-sensitive approach.

Legal Framework and Victim Rights

Participants were sensitised to legal provisions relating to gender-based violence, the rights of survivors, and the statutory responsibilities of concerned departments. Sessions stressed the imperative of ensuring legal compliance while safeguarding the safety, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality of women and girls. Officials were specifically cautioned against imposing unnecessary procedural hurdles that could deter survivors from seeking help or compound their distress.

The training also examined procedures for responding to varied situations involving gender-based violence, drawing on experience-sharing and practical case discussions among participants.

Awareness and Survivor-Centred Approach

A significant focus of the programme was on raising awareness among women and girls about their rights, available support mechanisms, and pathways to seek assistance. Participants discussed strategies to foster a safe and supportive environment in which survivors can report violence without fear or hesitation. Immediate assistance, protection, counselling, and referral services were highlighted as critical first-response priorities.

As the programme concluded, the overarching message was that preventing gender-based violence and supporting survivors is a shared institutional responsibility — one that demands coordinated, compassionate, and legally grounded action from every stakeholder involved. The district administration is expected to use the training outcomes to improve case-response timelines and inter-agency referral mechanisms going forward.