Question : Women in Police Forces

(a) whether any action has been taken by the Government to incentivise higher employment of women in the police force and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has any proposal to use discretionary grants as a mechanism to incentivize higher number of women personnel and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) whether any study has been undertaken by the Government to assess glass-ceilings faced by women personnel in terms of promotions to higher posts and if so, the details thereof along with the details of women in Police Forces at all levels, State-wise?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (c) “Police” is a State subject falling in List-II (State List) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. It is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/Union Territory (UT) Administrations to recruit more women police personnel including improvement of gender balance. The Centre also issues advisories to the States/UTs for increasing number of women in the police forces. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued advisories dated 22.04.2013, 21.05.2014, 12.05.2015, 21.06.2019 and 22.06.2021 to all the State Governments/UT Administrations to increase the representation of women
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L.S.US.Q.NO. 4224 FOR 29.03.2022
police to 33% of the total strength. All the State Governments/UTs Administrations have been requested to create additional posts of women Constables/Sub-Inspectors by converting the vacant posts of Constables/Sub-Inspectors. The aim is that each police station should have at least 3 women Sub-Inspectors and 10 women police Constables, so that a women help desk is manned round the clock.
States have also been advised to strengthen welfare measures for women police personnel and ensure their safety and a conducive work environment such as provision of housing, medical and rest room facilities for women police personnel in Police Stations to attract women to join the Police Force. “Police” being a State subject, it is responsibility of the State Governments/UT Administrations to ensure promotions of women police personnel in various grades in terms of their extant rules.
As per data on Police Organisations compiled by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D), out of the actual strength of 20,91,488 police personnel in States/UTs as on 01.01.2020, the strength of women police personnel is 2,15,504 which is 10.3% of actual strength. The details of women police officers at each level in the States/UTs is at Annexure.
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