There is a quiet transformation happening on the streets of Hyderabad, and it doesn’t wear a khaki uniform.
At a time when urban safety requires more than just traditional patrolling, everyday citizens are stepping up to become the vital link between their neighborhoods and law enforcement. At a landmark ceremony held at the TGICCC auditorium in Banjara Hills, the Hyderabad City Security Council (HCSC), alongside the Hyderabad City Police, officially certified its first inaugural batch of over 80 community volunteers.
Known as Margadarshaks (meaning “referral guides” or “pathfinders”), these trained safety ambassadors are paving the way for a deeply collaborative approach to safeguarding the city.
What Does a Margadarshak Do?
A Margadarshak is explicitly designed to act as a trusted “force multiplier” within local communities, residential areas, and workplaces. Rather than taking the law into their own hands, these volunteers undergo structured training modules to serve as informed, empathetic bridges to official law enforcement support systems.
Their specialized training spans four critical pillars:
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Women’s Safety: Guiding victims of stalking, harassment, or domestic disputes to specialized wings like SHE Teams and Bharosa Centres.
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Cyber Awareness: Educating citizens on digital safety and directing victims of online fraud straight to the Cyber Crime Units.
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Emergency Response: Acting as crucial first-contact points during medical crises or public safety hazards.
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Public Safety & Engagement: Fostering proactive communication to defuse local safety anxieties before they escalate.
Scaling the Vision: A Dual-Engine Upgrade
The graduation of the first batch isn’t just a minor milestone; it is the launchpad for a massive city-wide expansion. Highlighting the incredible community appetite for this program, the HCSC simultaneously launched its second cohort, which has already attracted 280 eager participants.
To support this rapid scaling, Hyderabad Police Commissioner and HCSC Chairman VC Sajjanar announced two game-changing additions to the framework:
1. The Police Mentors Programme
To ensure that volunteers are never left navigating complex legal or safety situations alone, a designated police constable will be stationed at every single police station across the commissionerate. These constables will serve as dedicated ground mentors, providing continuous guidance to active Margadarshaks.
2. Project Spandana
A specialized, all-women first responder system designed to establish an ironclad safety net specifically across educational institutions, corporate offices, schools, colleges, and gated communities.
A Model for the Rest of India
What makes Hyderabad’s approach stand out is its reliance on collective civic intellect. Commissioner Sajjanar revealed that the framework is expanding its network to intentionally rope in retired police officers, educationists, and seasoned corporate professionals to mentor the growing cohorts.
“By empowering citizens to act as force multipliers, we are successfully bridging the gap between victims and support systems.”
— VC Sajjanar, Hyderabad Police Commissioner
As HCSC Secretary General C Shekar Reddy noted, this proactive blueprint is precisely why Hyderabad is increasingly being recognized globally as a deeply safety-conscious, collaborative urban hub. To maintain the integrity of the system, DCP of the Women Safety Wing, Lavanya NJP, personally briefed the cohort on strict behavioral boundaries and protocols, ensuring these ambassadors remain reliable guides rather than vigilantes.
With HCSC Joint Secretary Khyati Naravane confirming plans to aggressively scale up the initiative in the coming months, the message from Hyderabad is clear: True safety isn’t just policed—it is co-created.
