Kerala Police has formed a special task force to respond to domestic violence through confidential complaints, dedicated officers and coordinated support for survivors, with Inspector General Ajeetha Begum placed in charge of the initiative.
Called Speak Up, the programme will focus on preventing domestic violence, providing legal assistance and counselling, and helping survivors access safe accommodation and livelihood support. It is also intended to assist women who face difficulty lodging complaints because of economic dependence, family pressure or safety concerns.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said domestic violence caused serious mental and physical harm to women and that the police would ensure that no woman was denied justice because of economic or family-related fears. The task force will move away from conventional policing procedures by prioritising the privacy of survivors during the initial response.
Once information about a case is received, police officers are expected to contact the survivor in civilian dress. A designated officer will be assigned to each case and will personally review its progress, including access to counselling and livelihood support, once a week. The arrangement is intended to create a single point of contact instead of requiring survivors to repeatedly navigate different police units.
A central command centre is also planned to speed up complaint registration and assistance. Complaints and requests for help will be received through a digital helpline, WhatsApp and a dedicated mobile application. The police said survivors’ personal details would be kept confidential, with protections described as similar to provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The Home Department order cited in the report said 92 women had died in Kerala because of domestic violence over the past seven years. Speak Up will help complainants understand how to file a complaint, the legal assistance available to them and the procedure that will follow. The programme also envisages shelter homes and employment training centres in cooperation with local self-government institutions.
The initiative places police response within a wider support system involving counselling, housing and livelihood assistance. That structure is significant because the programme is designed not only to register cases but also to address the practical barriers that can prevent survivors from seeking protection or continuing with proceedings.
Ajeetha Begum said stringent measures were being considered against people convicted in domestic violence cases, including denial of police clearance certificates and passports. The task force builds on Kerala’s history of specialised women’s policing, which began with the introduction of a women police system in the state in 1973. The next steps include setting up the command centre and developing the planned digital, shelter and employment-support mechanisms.
