Chaitra Teresa John realises her IPS dream

KOZHIKODE: Determination to achieve a difficult goal is what distinguishes Chaitra Teresa John from the rest. The girl from East Hill, Kozhikode, who entered Indian Railway Traffic Service in 2012 had bagged the 111th rank in the civil services exam last year to join the Indian Police Service. Ms John has now emerged the 'best all-round woman probationer' and the 'best woman outdoor probationer' during the training at the National Police Academy (NPA), Hyderabad.

A post-graduate in sociology from the University of Hyderabad, Ms John said IPS is not unachievable for ordinary girls. "It needs planning and determination to pass the examination as the syllabus is vast." On the tough life at the NPA, she said a sedentary lifestyle will make the physical training a tough proposition there at the Academy. "At the beginning, I was a bit doubtful whether I could match the standards of physical training," she said. "But the support structure at the Academy was wonderful." Ms John is expected to join the service in December in the Kerala cadre and she hoped to contribute to solving the gender issues.

On her priorities in policing, Ms John said, "I think the women officers could better tackle the increasing number of gender issues the state is facing."  Ms John, daughter of Dr John Joseph, chief commissioner, Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru port),  Mumbai, and Dr Mary Abraham, additional director, animal husbandry department, studied at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kozhikode. Her only brother, George Allen John, is doing MS orthopaedics at Thrissur Medical College. A total of 109 IPS probationers, including 26 women, will pass out from the academy on Friday. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be the chief guest at the passing out parade.