25.6.14

Somewhere in Gujarat....

Anandiben Patel, first woman chief minister of Gujarat, provided a shot in the arm to women empowerment when she declared that recruitment norms would be revised and relaxed for women to ensure 33% of jobs for them in the khaki force.
Gujarat will become the first state in India to have implemented such a provision, senior state police officials said. Currently , women constitute less than 7% of the state law enforcement agencies including police and state reserve police (SRP).
The announcement came after the CM presided over the passing out parade of 134 police officers including 96 armed police sub-inspectors (PSI) and 38 intelligence officers (IO) at Gujarat Police Academy (GPA), Karai. The officers included 25 women -15 PSIs and 10 IOs. The function was attended by top brass of state police and bureaucracy .“It is necessary to empower women for their uplift in the society. We have decided to provide 33% reserva tion to women in the police recruitments,“ Patel said while interacting with media.

S K Nanda, additional chief secretary (home), said that the provision for reservation was proposed some time back but male-centric recruitment rules like height, weight, capacity to high jump, running etc proved deterrent for women. “We aim to increase women presence in police force to 10% by the year end. Rules will be revised and relaxed for more women to be employed. Reaching up to 33% level will take some time,“ he said.

State director general of police (DGP) P C Thakur said the decision is historic and first in country . “In light of recent cases of crime against women and children, this step would ensure police officers are more approachable and sympathetic towards women victims,“ he said.

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