The Haryana Government would recruit 1,000 more women police personnel soon and would also institute four medals exclusively for
women police personnel in recognition of their outstanding performance.
Besides, the State Government would celebrate ‘Mahila Police Divas’ and the medals would be known as ‘Sarvotam Seva’ Medal and would be given away on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Saturday announced the decisions after presiding over a meeting to review the functioning of Women Police Stations in the State here. He said that while two medals would be given away in the category of constable and head constable, the other two would be for Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASI), Sub Inspectors (SI) and Inspectors.
Khattar also announced that ‘Mahila Police Divas’ would be celebrated every year on the eve of Raksha Bandhan in all districts of the State where Women Police are functional. He also announced that such police stations would be set up at all big Sub Division headquarters in the State whereas in case of other Sub Divisions, Police Help Desks would be set up which would remain functional from 9 am to 5 pm.
He said that Tamil Nadu was the only State to have police help desks, but while taking a step further, the Haryana Government has decided to set up women police stations in all districts.
The process to recruit 1,000 women police personnel is already going on and is near completion. Apart from this, the process for the recruitment of 100 women Sub Inspectors has already started.
Khattar said that the State Government is actively working to gradually achieve 33 per cent reservation of women in the State Police. At present their contribution is four per cent and this would increase to 10 per cent with the induction of these 2,000 new women police personnel in the State police. He said that with a view to further improve the functioning of women police stations, 50 women PCRs and 100 Scotey would be made available to all these police Stations.
Describing police as the face of the Government, the Chief Minister said that their behavior with the people should be more friendly. He exhorted them to create awareness among the people on various issues as this would significantly help in reducing incidents of crime.
He also expressed concern over the use of drugs by the youth in some areas of the State and said that Haryana had so far remained untouched with this menace but it has started raising its ugly head in few areas adjoining Punjab. “In such circumstances, the women police stations could play a vital role in educating the youth about the ill effects of drugs,” added Khattar.
The Chief Minister said that the State Government has also decided to implement a new scheme under which Women Police Volunteers would be appointed in every village and wards of the city to maintain close coordination between the police and the people. The parametres for the selection of women police volunteers are being finalised.
He also emphasised the need to introduce pre-training on the pattern of National Defence Academy for the recruitment of police personnel in the State so that the youth could directly join the police force. He suggested that like the NCC, the subject of Police Certificate Course should also be introduced in the curriculum at school level so that the youth could get job in the police on the basis of the certificate.
Khattar directed the police to install CCTV cameras at public places like bus stands, railway stations, schools and colleges so as to keep a check on anti-social elements. Besides, he also asked them to organise camps in schools and colleges and impart training in self defence to the students, especially to the girls.
He also asked them to include the newly elected women panchayat representatives in the councelling process at village level as their involvement could result in significantly reducing the crime against women. He also urged them to ensure the effective implementation of various flagship programmes, including Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Swachchhta Abiyaan.
The CM said that as a result of the efforts made by State Government and cooperation of people, the sex ratio in the State has increased to 900 from 837. A target has been fixed to further increase it to 950.
Women and Child Development Minister, Kavita Jain said that Haryana is the first State in the country where women police stations have been set up in all districts. Apart from this, Haryana is also the first State in the country where Protection Officers have been appointed in all districts adding that cases pertaining to domestic violence could be easily disposed off through councelling.
Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi said that though various welfare schemes have been implemented by the State Government during its over one-and-a-half year tenure yet setting up of women police stations in all districts is a historical initiative. He hoped that this unique initiative of the State Government for empowerment of women would also be followed by other States.
DGP KP Singh said it was for the first time when any CM had established a dialogue with women police officers of the level of Station House Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police. He said that after the setting up of Women Police Stations in all districts, the cases of crime, especially against women have reduced considerably.
Giving statistics in support of their claim, he said 6,758 cases of crime against women were registered in the State from between September 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 as against 6,915 cases registered during September 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015 thus showing a reduction of 157 cases. Similarly, 3,898 cases of crime against women were registered from January 1 to June 30, 2016 as against 4,210 cases registered during the corresponding period previous year thus showing a reduction of 392 cases.