Despite State Chief Minister Harish Rawat announcing several times that women’s representatives in the police department would be increased, the recruitment of women sub-inspectors and constables has been pending before the State administration for months. Police have sent several proposals to the State administration over the past few months, the top cops of the State claim. But things are vegetating because of lack of coordination between police headquarters and State administration, they lament.
Sarojini Kaintyura, chairperson, Uttarakhand State Women Commission, said that she had recently urged the State Government to appoint at least one woman police officer at each police station. “This is an imperative as cases of atrocities on women are on the rise. Our experiences say that the women complainants would feel more confident to confide in the women police officers than their male counterparts,” she said.
State DGP BS Sidhu said that the department is mulling to appoint two women sub-inspectors at each of police stations based in the plain districts as women- related cases are on the rise. “Considering the fact that such cases are still not much in the mountainous districts, one woman police officer for two police stations there will suffice. Earlier, we sent a proposal on recruitment of around 100 women sub- inspectors to the State Government. Once we receive the go-ahead, recruitment of women SIs will start. However, things are hanging in balance with the nod not coming from the State administration,” he added.