Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the 'Singappen Special Force', taking a major step towards strengthening the security of women.

The purpose of this special force is to prevent crimes against women and children. The Chief Minister also announced that drone-based patrols would be introduced for the first time in the state, allowing aerial surveillance of sensitive areas.

Speaking at the Rajarathinam Stadium in Chennai's Egmore, Chief Minister Vijay said his government was following a "zero tolerance" policy towards crimes against women.

He clarified that strict legal action will be taken against those who compromise the safety of women and the justice process will be strengthened by filing charge sheets expeditiously in such cases.

The Chief Minister said that the real progress of any state is not measured only by economic development, but is determined by how safe and respectable the women are living there.

The government will also crack down on drug trafficking, he said, noting the link between crimes against women and drug networks.

The government has approved a budget of over 354 crore rupees for the first phase of the Singappen Special Force. In the second phase, 2,500 new positions will be created for the force. The force will be equipped with modern vehicles, state-of-the-art equipment, and technical resources.

This special force will focus on preventing incidents such as stalking, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and harassment of women in public places and on public transport. The government claims that drone surveillance and the use of modern technology will strengthen women's safety.