StandWithHer campaign: Women Safety Wing begins trainer programme at Osmania University

Hyderabad: The Women Safety Wing (WSW) of Telangana Police began a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme at Osmania University on Thursday. It forms part of the #StandWithHer campaign, which operates under WSW head Ms. Charu Sinha, IPS, DG (CID, ACB & WSW). The programme will equip students and faculty members with practical skills to promote safety, equality, consent and respectful relationships. It will continue on October 30.

Osmania University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Kumar Molugaram, Ms. Charu Sinha, IPS, and Ms. Asiya Shervani, Head of Training & Content Development at the WSW, attended the inaugural session. Faculty members and students from degree colleges across Telangana are taking part.

Molugaram highlighted the role of educational institutions in fostering inclusive and safe learning environments. He said women make up nearly 40% of the university’s faculty. He also pointed to an initiative to construct exclusive high-rise hostel facilities that can accommodate 1,500 women.

Sinha said women’s safety requires more than law enforcement. It calls for a collective shift in mindsets, social attitudes and everyday behaviour, she said. She encouraged young people, particularly men, to challenge harmful stereotypes and recognise inappropriate behaviour. She also urged them to become active upstanders against harassment and discrimination.

The programme facilitates conversations on gender, sexuality, consent, identity, personal boundaries and power dynamics. It recognises that safety and inclusion are shared responsibilities across the gender spectrum.

Skills beyond awareness

The ToT programme goes beyond awareness. It develops transferable skills such as active listening, empathy, communication, facilitation and handling difficult conversations. These skills strengthen leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and professional development. They are valuable in academic, personal and career settings.

The two-day programme will cover four batches with over 250 participants. They will later conduct awareness sessions at their own institutions. Through this multiplier approach, the initiative aims to engage over 2,000 participants within the next six months. It seeks to build a network of trained facilitators who can sustain conversations on safety, dignity, equality and accountability.

Through #StandWithHer, the WSW seeks to help students and faculty members turn awareness into action. It also aims to contribute to safer, more inclusive educational institutions and communities across Telangana. The campaign describes women’s safety as a shared responsibility and calls on everyone to listen, challenge harmful norms and work towards a culture of dignity, consent and mutual respect.