Bhubaneswar-based NGO Centre for the Sustainable use of Natural and Social Resources (CSNR) has submitted a memorandum to the Odisha DGP urging him to address the problems of women police personnel in the State and increase their number in the police force.
The organisation recently conducted a study titled “Challenges of Women Police Personnel Working in Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand”. The study found that 61.33% of women cops don’t have clean washrooms and 94.66% do not have rest rooms, 76% seek transportation facility during odd hours, 91% feel the need of crèche facility, 43% are not allotted quarter, almost 80% work more than 10 hours, 67% are not aware of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC), 64% face different problems during monthly period, 84% don’t get sanitary dispenser and 24% are not equally treated like their male colleagues.
The memorandum also highlighted the challenges faced by women police during law enforcement. These included shortcomings like absence of mobile toilets facility during law and order duty and near traffic posts.
The probe team members included CSNR secretary Dhirendra Panda, researcher Prof Dr Susmita Parija, Dr Prangya Pramita Jena, Ranjit Sutar and coordinator of Police Reform Campaign Pallishree Dash. The CSNR’s efforts aim to create a more inclusive and gender-equal police force ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both female officers and the communities they serve.