Telangana lags behind in women cops

HYDERABAD: Telangana has the lowest number of women cops on its rolls of all states in the country.  Just 2.47 per cent of its sanctioned strength of 60,700 personnel are women, according to a report released by the Union home ministry based on the previous year’s data. In Uttar Pradesh, the country’s most-populous state, the sanctioned strength of the police force is 3,65,000, of which 3.81 per cent are women.

Tamil Nadu has the highest number of women police personnel, and the situation in Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa is relatively better. The figures have emerged at a time when crimes against women in Telangana increased by 18 per cent in 2017.  About 14,528 cases were registered last year as against 12,281 in 2016.

The crimes include rape, murder, stalking, domestic violence, sex abuse and cyber crimes against women. Ironically, in important cyber crime stations in the city and districts there are no women investigation officers to deal with cases of online abuse of women. The situation is pathetic despite the Union home ministry sending advisories in 2009, 2012 and 2016 to all state governments and Union territories to increase the strength of women police personnel to 33 per cent, a senior home ministry official said. 

All state and UTs have also been requested to create additional posts of women constables and sub-inspectors and fill up vacancies by recruiting women.  To encourage more women to join the police force, the state government has reserved 33 per cent vacancies for women. 

“Already, about 700 women cadets recently completed their training and joined their new postings. We are planning to induct 8,000 women personnel in the next two years. In every notification 33 per cent seats will be for women,” said a senior police official from Telangana police. To encourage more women to join the police force, the state government has reserved 33 per cent vacancies for women.   “In the next couple of years, we expect that women will comprise 33 per cent of the police force in TS. The women will be posted in civil and armed reserve units,” said the official. Another batch of women sub inspectors is also undergoing training at the academy and will join this year on completion of the course, he said. In AP, too, the government is planning to recruit more women constables. to strengthen the police force.