National Conference For Women In Police

Valedictory Address : Shri Shivraj V. Patil,
Hon'ble Minister for Home Affairs, Government of India

I am extremely happy to be amidst this august gathering on the occasion of the closing ceremony of the 2nd National Conference for Women in Police. It is, indeed, befitting that such an important national even is being hosted by Uttaranchal Police, which has the singular honour of being headed by a women DGP. This Dev Bhumi or abode of Gods is fortunate to have an elder statesman like Shri Narayan Dutt Tiwari guiding its destiny in its formative years and I must congratulate him for his progressive decision to appoint Smt. Kanchan Choudhry Bhattacharya as head of the state police.

All over the world women are entering the organized workplace in larger and larger numbers including the so far highly male dominated areas like Police and army. This transition in the gender composition at workplace has thrown up several issues such as discrimination, equality of opportunity, harassment and so on. I understand that the women police personnel from all over the country have deliberated on some key issues affecting their work environment including Gender mainstreaming, life style management, Training opportunities and discrimination or harassment at the workplace. I am sure that this conference has provided a unique opportunity to further learn, analyze and deliberate on various aspects affecting Women in Police.

Law enforcement today is a very complex and stressful job. The police in our country have no longer only to deal with crimes and maintain law and order. They have to tackle issues like organized crimes, cross-border terrorism, left wing extremism and also implement service oriented or community policing and meet the rising expectations of a right sentient democratic set up. It is here that policewomen can play major role in changing the image & indeed the very character of their profession.

It has been demonstrated world over that women police officers rely on a style of policing that uses less physical force, are better at defusing and de-escalating potentially violent confrontations with citizens, and are less likely to become involved in problems with use of excessive force. Women officers often possess better communications and persuasive skills and are better able to facilitate the cooperation and trust required to implement a community police model. In the next couple of years I personally expect that there will be more and more Women police officers deployed at the public interface of the police duties. Undoubtedly, more female officers in the police will improve law enforcement's response to not only the violence against women and reduces problems of sexual harassment and discrimination within the police force, but also will bring a tremendous change in the public perception of the police. I am grad to know that this conference has deliberated at length on the ways to improve the level of participation of women in police forces across the country. I request the National Commission for Women in India, officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the state
governments to prepare a blueprint for implementation of all the recommendations of this Conference in a time bound manner.

I have studied the details of the statement arrived at and the recommendations made at the conclusion of the 2nd conference. The thrust area of police women's concern include
>> Encouraging increasing professionalism in policing;
>> Emphasizing the issue of merit, a concept which must be free of any gender bias;
>> Accommodating the special needs of women(and others) through flexible working practices and family-friendly policies;
>> Providing equitable access to a range of training and development initiatives;
>> Openly accepting ,within the department, and externally, the special skills and traits that women officer policing and the diversity of policing activities.
>> Eliminating discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace;
>> Addressing the need for equality of opportunity in recruitment and job roles, in training and development opportunities.

We unhesitatingly endorse each one of these areas and will do the needful. I would also like to assure you that in the light of your recommendation to increase the representation of women in police from the present national average of less than 3%, a phase wise increase in the strength of women in police in all ranks through recruitment would be appropriate.

I would like to reiterate here that it is the declared policy of our government to reach out to the vulnerable sections of our society, especially women and children. We feel that if women and children are insecure or in distress, it is a stigma on our society. We are also aware that legislations connected with trafficking in women and children, juvenile justice, female infanticide, dowry, rape, molestation, eve teasing, child marriage, pornography, etc. have not received the attention of an overworked police force.

My government, therefore, feels that while 33 % representation for women in the police, in 10-15 years should be the overall objective, within the next five years every Police Station in the country should have a women police wing of at least 2 women Sub- Inspectors and 6 women constables. I am happy to note that some of the states have already made a beginning in this regard. However, most of the states are yet to take tangible steps in this direction.

The work environment of the police also needs to be redesigned to adapt to the steadily increasing influx of women. The women in policing should not feel compelled to come one of the boys, or adopt "macho" style characteristics, in order to be accepted and succeed in the organization. For this work ethos and professional competencies have to be tailored to the service that police is expected to provide. Crime prevention and reduction initiatives have evolved to encompass the tenets of community and intelligence-led policing. These new models of policing require skills and values from officers that
have traditionally been defined as feminine, for example; collaboration, networking, building alliances, adaptability, flexibility, and conciliation. These abilities take on greater primacy as police agencies seek to build partnerships within their communities and maintain order, rather than simply enforce the law.

To expect a police woman who is not only a professional, but also a manager of her household, we have to ensure that she is given the adequate wherewithal & opportunity to take care of both. For this it would be gainful to provide housing on priority and also ensuring that it is close to her work place. The facility of crèches is also a necessary in this context.

I am directing the BPR & D to prepare projects in this regard and evolve a blueprint that would lead to a systematic recruitment & training policy so that the police force sees the increase in the ranks & numbers of professionally competent women, who can hold their own in any given adversity, and truly enhances the human resources of the force.

To impart the women with training that not only strengthens them physically but also mentally, which equips them with greater self confidence, it is essential that their special training needs be recognized. Women's training must be given a greater fillip & comprehensiveness than is being done. In this context I think it naturally fit that Uttaranchal should have the privilege of getting the first training institution of a national character that is dedicated to this end .The BPR&D should also examine the feasibility of interstate, international training, exchange programmes that gives the police women an opportunity of widening their world views through exposure to different cultures. I firmly believe that in the long run inducting more; well trained women will change the entire profile of our Police force. I solemnly assure you that the issue of resources will not be allowed to come in the way of protecting our women and children.

For the emancipation of women, economic independence is of paramount importance. However, equal emphasis needs to be place on the recognition of their vital role at home. Society must respond and change its attitude so that a harmonious balance between work and home is available to the women. It is precisely in this context that I would like to emphasize the growing importance of women in uniform. On the one hand, you are the role models for millions of women across the country and on the other, your professionalism acts as a deterrent to many of those passive trouble makers. On this historic day, I salute all the brave and competent women police officers of India for their dedication and positive contribution towards better policing. May their tribe increase!

To conclude, I once again thank the Uttaranchal Government and all its police officers and other for organizing this stellar Conference & function and inviting me to share my thoughts on a subject of enormous relevance and importance. I am sure the participants from all the states and central police forces have thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of DGP Uttaranchal and her team. I look forward to more such occasions in future.

Thank your and Jai Hind.