India reserve 33 percent police force jobs for women

Aimed at providing better protection to women, the Indian Government has announced a reservation of 33 percent of jobs in the police force for them.

The decision by the Cabinet yesterday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pave the way for more women in uniform, especially in the capital here which currently only has 6,300 women, out of the total 80,000 police personnel.

The Times of India quoted the Federal Government's announcement that the strength should be between 25,000 and 27,000 women police personnel, and urged all other state governments to make such reservation as well.

Under the Indian Constitution, law and order is a state subject (jurisdiction) and such a decision will have to be taken by state governments.

According to the daily, besides making the police more gender-sensitive, the government hopes this move will instil confidence in women to approach the police for protection or assistance without hesitation.

Quoting further a home ministry official, a skewed police force is a major practical barrier in effective implementation of legislation intended for the protection of women.

After the December 2012 gang rape incident which stunned the nation, the Indian Government made several amendments to its Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and other relevent Acts for better probe and trial in cases of crimes against women.

“More women in the police will help fulfil that mandatory requirement of the laws,” said the official.

According to the official, out of 6,300 women personnel in Delhi’s police force, 95 were inspectors, sub-inspectors (390), assistant sub-inspectors (380) and constables (3,800).