Tamil Nadu orders ‘Singappen’ task force with dedicated police wing to boost women’s safety

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered the creation of the “Singappen” Special Task Force to strengthen women’s safety and implement preventive protection measures across the state.

According to the official government order, the newly formed unit will function under the direct supervision of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

The move marks one of the first major administrative decisions taken by the new government, just a day after Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu’s 13th chief minister.

Special unit structure

In the first phase, the government has sanctioned several posts for the task force at Police Headquarters, including:

• One Inspector General of Police
• One Superintendent of Police
• Two Deputy Superintendents of Police
• Four Inspectors
• Eight Sub-Inspectors
• Twenty personnel from other ranks

The order states that the unit has been created to improve women’s safety and strengthen “primary prevention and protection strategies” across the state.

“The government, after careful consideration of the proposal submitted by the Director General of Police, hereby orders the creation of the ‘Singappen’ Special Task Force,” the order said.

Administrative appointments

In a parallel development, the Tamil Nadu government has appointed senior IAS officers to key roles in the Chief Minister’s office.

P Senthilkumar has been appointed Additional Chief Secretary and Secretary-I to the Chief Minister, while G Laxmi Priya has been named Secretary-II.

Both appointments carry elevated administrative status under the IAS (Pay) Rules, 2016.

Senthilkumar, who previously served in the Health and Family Welfare Department, and Laxmi Priya, who was serving in the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, have been transferred to their new positions.

The government order also declared that the posts of Additional Chief Secretary/Secretary-I and Secretary-II to the Chief Minister will hold status equivalent to the cadre posts of Chief Secretary and Registrar of Cooperative Societies respectively.

The announcements underline the new administration’s early focus on governance restructuring and women’s security initiatives.