9 women SHOs set new Delhi Police benchmark

NEW DELHI: For inspector Poonam Pareek, 55, the recent elevation as a station house officer (SHOs) in Delhi Police, is more than just a new posting. “It’s important for me not only because I’ve been posted as SHO at Vivek Vihar police station. Instead, it is a matter of pride that as many as nine women officers like me have got key role in active policing. In my 26-odd years’ service in Delhi Police, I have never seen so many women SHOs serving at the same time,” she said.

Inspector Kamini Gupta, SHO of Badarpur police station, described it as “breaking of a big glass ceiling”. “We are no longer being relegated to ‘side-lined’ posts just because we are women,” she said.

Before this, the highest number of women SHOs in Delhi, serving at the same time, was five in May 1986, according to Delhi Police data.

The change was effected after a reshuffle by Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana in September. In addition to the police station in-charges, six women IPS officers are currently serving as deputy commissioners (DCPs) in different districts. There are 15 police districts in Delhi, each headed by a DCP.

Priyanka Kashyap, DCP (east), said, “Nine women SHOs...is a milestone. Women have been kept away from such important field jobs for far too long.”

DCP (south), Benita Mary Jaiker, said one of the critical areas where women can make a difference is addressing violence against women and sex crimes. “For example, in sexual assault cases, the survivors feel it easier to talk to a woman officer. But that can’t always happen because there aren’t enough women in the force,” she said.

Of the 80,000 personnel in the Delhi Police, there are about 7,400 women officers. Currently, special commissioner Sundari Nanda is the second senior most officer after Asthana.

Retired Delhi Police commissioner Ajai Raj Sharma said such postings would encourage young women to join law-enforcement services. Sharma, who has also served as the director general of Uttar Pradesh Police and the Border Security Force, said, “Giving challenging jobs to women officers will not only help the police to assert a people-friendly image, but also inspire young girls to join law enforcement.”

Asthana said the time has come to move away from tokenism and ensure that women get a central role in the police. “A gender-diverse force is a must for creating a safe and secure environment for women and achieving the larger national development goals... Also, the women officers can help improve policecommunity relations...,” the Delhi Police chief said.

Giving challenging jobs to women officers will inspire them to join the law enforcement services. AJAI RAJ SHARMA, retired Delhi Police commissioner