Policing in Delhi is Centre's responsibility: Dikshit

New Delhi: Days after Union minister Jairam Ramesh complained about Delhi's "most dubious" reputation from women's safety point of view, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday said policing in her state is the responsibility of the Centre.

In her reply to Ramesh, who last week gave suggestions to improve women's security in the national capital region, she also asked the Rural Development Minister to use his good office to persuade the Centre to restore people's confidence in the law and order set-up.

"While appreciating your concern for the safety of women in Delhi, you are aware that policing in Delhi is directly under the administrative control of the central government. You may, therefore, like to take up the matter with the central government for taking urgent steps to restore confidence in law-and-order machinery," she said.

In her letter, Dikshit narrated the steps taken by her administration to improve the security of women after the December 16 gangrape incident. She said the '181' helpline cell is now fully operated by women and well-trained female staff have been deployed to make the helpline efficient and user friendly.

"Necessary instructions have also been issued to Delhi Police regarding the '181' helpline and for taking timely and suitable action on the calls/complaints forwarded to police by the women in distress cell," she said emphasising that '181' is a "helpline and is meant to complement the existing facilities".

In his letter to Dikshit, Ramesh had suggested that the women helpline should only have women telephone operators so that a caller can convey her problem without any hesitation. Replying to Ramesh's suggestion for "women special buses

and deployment of trained women drivers for these specials, the chief minister said Delhi Transport Corporation is operating 23 ladies special buses between major residential hubs and major hubs of office and other important destinations.

The number of DTC buses plying during the night has been increased to 89 on 22 routes (from 38 buses plying on 8 routes earlier) and home guards have been deployed in them.