It will mark a milestone in the annals of security service
M. Parameswari
Chennai: When M. Parameswari retires as a senior Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector from Chennai division on October 31, it will mark a milestone in the annals of security service. She is the only woman senior RPF inspector in the country.
Parameswari will retire as senior open line inspector, Chennai division, where she had been supervising 30 constables who escort coaches in 28 stations. She has rendered 38 years service. She joined RPF in 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to induct women in security posts.
As M. Parameswari of Thousand Lights, retires as a senior Railway Protection Force (RPF) inspector from Chennai division on October 31, it will mark a milestone for the security service, as she is the only woman senior RPF inspector in the country.
She is retiring as the senior open line inspector, Chennai division, where she has been supervising 30 constables who escort coaches in the 28 stations. Rendering 38 years service, she joined RPF in 1977 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi decided to induct women in security posts.
“I still remember the day when myself along with 20 women constables took part in the passing out parade of the first batch of RPF in Lucknow at the JR academy,” she said sitting in the same office where she first reported as an RPF constable decades ago after completing her training.
Directing constables on the field over phone and signing papers, her last but the third day was business as usual.
“Feel really proud and at the same time I would wish success to all constables in RPF, especially women, who like me will have to face tough times during the initial days of service,” she added. “I was adjudged the best all-round cadet in outdoor subjects and was awarded a bronze medal after three months into service,” she told DC pointing at an article published in the ‘National Herald’ newspaper in June 1977 when she was 21.
“Those were the most challenging days of my life as we had to work in stations like Gummidipoondi, Villupuram and Avadi, which were far from the city and a lot of crime took place there,” she recalled. In 1998, when she was inducted as an assistant inspector, she created history, becoming the first woman to be given an individual charge of an outpost at the busiest suburban stretch – Chennai beach to Chengelpet. “She has a great passion for her job and is a role model for all RPF personnel," said P. Alagarswamy, senior RPF inspector, Chennai division.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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