New period in schools for interaction with experts

Hyderabad: Discussions are in progress at the Centre over introducing a period in schools from the next academic year which will be used to promote interaction between students and experts from different walks of life.

Addressing the three-day International Women in Law Enforcement Conference, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani said the idea is to inspire students to engage with experts from different walks of life.

She also welcomed the idea of a national police university and promised to present the idea before the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ms Irani was responding to the queries of conference participants. Around 100 women police officers from 23 countries attended the meet.

“We hope to have a period in our schools to engage community leaders and students, which would help the students to explore various aspects of development,” the minister said.

Responding to queries via video conferencing she said that allowing children to engage with farmers, police officers, Army personnel, firemen and others could lead to an increase in the number of female officers. States will be sensitised to engage children through these programmes.

SVPNPA director Aruna Bahuguna said the meet inspired officers to explore ways to strengthen their leadership skills.

When a Rajasthan cadre officer explained how the Rajasthan police collaborated with schools to teach girls self defence, Ms Irani said, "The project could become a case study for others and we can implement the same in 3-4 states as a pilot project and later make a test run across the country."

SVPNPA director Aruna Bahuguna said that many issues concerning law enforcement are complex and that the conference inspired officers to explore ways to strengthen their leadership skills.

Meet helps lady cops to  learn new techniques

The three-day International Women in Law Enforcement Conference at the Sardar Vallabh-bhai Patel National Police Academy gave a chance to officers to know women policing methods in different countries. Many participants were inspired by the victim support system in Bangladesh.

Home department Special Secretary Dr Soumya Misra said this programme was the first of its kind in India.

“Officers in Bangladesh are doing wonders especially with the victim support system. This conference also boosted our morale and helped us to understand the importance of networking which would help us to learn from one another,” said Dr Misra.

Some officers felt the need for more women in the police. “We need more women officers. In addition to this NGOs should be actively involved to assist officers,” said additional CP Swati Lakra.

Many officers also expressed their willingness to be a part of the International Associ-ation of Women Police which coordinates with women cops globally.