‘Paree Express’ gets warm response in Malkangiri

MALKANGIRI:‘Paree Express’, the specially designed vehicle meant to sensitise people on various laws to deal with sexual abuse of girls and women, received warm response in Malkangiri.

The vehicle, which had reached Malkangiri on June 4, after travelling the length and breadth of the district, left for  Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The campaign vehicle, on its return from Maoist infested Papermetla in the cut-off region on the other side of Chitrakonda reservoir, was accorded a warm welcome at Balimela town by a gathering of around 2,000 people, including schoolgirls and women from all walks of life.

Hundreds of girl students in ‘paree’ costumes and boys in police uniforms along with Orkel police personnel were seen receiving the chariot when it arrived at Balimela on Sunday. Drone cameras were seen flying in the sky to capture the enthusiasm of the people.

Speaking at a function held in the Balimela Town Hall, Chitrakonda  SDPO Manas Ranjan Barik said the campaign, an initiative of the State police and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is aimed at creating massive awareness against rising incidents of sexual harassment of women and girls in the State and the country. “The objective of the campaign is to sensitise people about various stringent laws to deal with sexual abuse”,  he said. The chariot later left for Bhubaneswar in the afternoon via Khairput.