Next Up, The Khaki Ceiling – on women representation in police

Source: This post has been created based on the article “Next Up, The Khaki Ceiling” published in The Times of India on 14^th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

News: This article discusses the need and the possible positive impact of increasing women’s representation in India’s police in the wake of the recent Women’s Reservation Bill.

Why is political representation of women not enough?

The women’s reservation bill is a giant step ensuring women will now be represented more in Indian legislatures, but safety at home and in the streets is still a concern.

Countries like Rwanda, South Africa and Mexico rank high when it comes to women in parliaments. But they are not safe places for women to be in.

For instance, women leaders in Rwanda came to the fore because of an unplanned shortage of men due to civil war, however, the masculine ethos and cultural prejudice have not changed.

Similarly, South Africa has among the highest recorded rates of sexual violence in the world.

Why is there a need for increasing representation of women in the police?

1) Lower crimes against women: If women in Parliament and police work together, crimes against women would fall.
For instance, Sweden, Australia and the Netherlands show that these countries protect women’s interests best because they are well represented both in their parliaments and in their police.

2) Lack of Empathy: Male Police officers cannot handle cases of crime against women with the empathy they deserve.

3) Increased filing of cases: When it comes to filing crimes against women, women police officers are more active and willing. This may be because women find it easier to open up to another woman.

4) More crimes against women come to light: If women had a sympathetic policewoman’s ear, more women would come forward.

Keeping this in mind, Punjab police established Saanjh Shakti and Punjab Police Mahila Mitter Committee. Here, a woman can approach an all-women helpdesk to register her complaint.

After Parliament, women must be at least one-third of the police, to push back stubborn patriarchy and ensure safety of women.