Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma rallies youth, women against drugs and cybercrime
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday, 18 August called on youth and women volunteers across the state to lead the fight against substance abuse and cybercrime, asserting that Rajasthan is on a steady path toward becoming a crime-free state through coordinated civic and police action. The event, held at Birla Auditorium in Jaipur, brought together young members of Community Liaison Groups (CLGs) and Suraksha Sakhis — women volunteers deployed to promote public safety — from across the state.
What Was Launched
At the event, Chief Minister Sharma unveiled the Women's Safety Pledge Campaign booklet, a new initiative designed to formalise the role of community volunteers in protecting women and girls. Suraksha Sakhis and CLG members shared ground-level experiences and suggestions with the Chief Minister. Sharma called on them to treat their responsibilities as a commitment to social service, not merely a civic duty.
Scale of the CLG and Suraksha Sakhi Networks
The Youth CLG initiative targets individuals aged 18 to 29 and has so far enrolled more than 61,000 members at the beat level, over 11,000 at the police station level, and approximately 2,000 at the district level across Rajasthan. The Suraksha Sakhi scheme, described by Sharma as a key Rajasthan Police initiative, has selected between 20 and 30 volunteers per police station, with approximately 22,000 Suraksha Sakhis enrolled statewide. The network draws from ASHA Sahyoginis, Anganwadi workers, ANMs, teachers, principals, and other female staff members.
Key Government Claims on Law, Order, and Employment
Sharma said his government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to address examination paper leaks, which has so far arrested 569 people. He added that 410 examinations have been conducted during his tenure without any paper leak. On employment, appointments have been made to more than 1,89,000 posts, recruitment is underway for over 1,22,000 posts, and preparations are in place for an additional 70,000 posts. The private sector has reportedly created approximately 4,50,000 employment opportunities.
Women's Welfare Schemes Highlighted
The Chief Minister cited several ongoing welfare measures: the state has distributed 14 lakh bicycles to encourage girls' education and provided scooters to 46,000 meritorious female students. Under the Ma Voucher scheme, more than 4,82,000 coupons have been issued to provide free sonography services to pregnant women. Additionally, more than 19 lakh women have been brought into the Lakhpati Didi category, aimed at enabling financial self-reliance.
Broader Vision: Developed Rajasthan 2047
Sharma framed the community outreach within the state government's larger goal of a Developed Rajasthan by 2047, invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. He urged CLG members to extend their role beyond crime prevention to include traffic management, blood donation drives, tree plantation, promotion of sporting talent, and support for senior citizens. The Chief Minister reiterated a zero-tolerance policy toward criminals while emphasising dignity and sensitivity in police dealings with victims. Outstanding community volunteers, he said, would be formally honoured.