Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Mission Shakti 5.0 at the Lok Bhavan auditorium in Lucknow to strengthen women’s safety and empowerment [1].
The program focuses on dignity and self-reliance for women across Uttar Pradesh. By encouraging victims to report crimes directly to the police, the state seeks to reduce the gap between harassment incidents and legal action [1], [2].
Mission Shakti operates through 17 different schemes designed to redefine the role of women in society [2]. These initiatives combine social empowerment with aggressive policing to deter harassment in public and private spaces.
Law enforcement has utilized a network of 1,694 Anti-Romeo squads to monitor public areas [3]. These squads are part of a broader security apparatus that has conducted checks at more than 1.18 crore locations [3].
Data regarding the program's impact shows that over 33,000 arrests have been made under the Mission Shakti framework [3]. Additionally, authorities have issued warnings worth 1.64 crore rupees [3].
The launch of the 5.0 version of the mission indicates a continuing effort to scale these security measures. Officials said the program is designed to ensure that women feel safe and supported when approaching law enforcement agencies.
“Mission Shakti operates through 17 different schemes designed to redefine the role of women in society.”
The expansion to Mission Shakti 5.0 demonstrates the Uttar Pradesh government's reliance on a hybrid model of high-visibility policing and social welfare. By deploying thousands of specialized squads and conducting millions of location checks, the state is attempting to create a deterrent effect against street-level harassment while simultaneously building a formal infrastructure for reporting crimes.
