Women in CRPF: issues and challenges; policy framework

Abstract

CRPF is the only Central Armed Police Force in the Country which has four Women Battalions and two are raising battalion. With increasing participation of women in politics, agitation and crime, policemen have been feeling handicapped in handling women agitations especially because even a small, real or alleged misdemeanor on their part in dealing with any matter related to women has the potential of turning into a serious law and order problem. To cope with such eventualities the first Women Bn in CRPF, the 88(M) Bn was created in 1986 with HQR in Delhi. The successful experiment of the 88 (Women) Bn and the ever increasing requirement of a Women component in dealing with emerging law and order situation as well as the Government emphasis to empower the women Department had taken a raising of the second and third Women Bn i.e the 135 (M) Bn with HQR at Gandhinagar (Gujarat) in 1995 and the 213 Bn with HQR at Nagpur (Maharastra) in 2011. In addition each RAF battalion has a Women component consisting of 96 personnel. CRPF is the country's lead force for anti-naxal operations, counter-insurgency operations and other internal security issues. The women are having all these training. The fourth women battalion (232Bn.) has been trained on the same line and deployed in LWE area. In the past, law enforcement was mainly regarded as a male dominated area and the working environment of the police force had evolved suiting the needs of the male police. However, with the induction of more and more women into the police force, it became necessary to provide them with such a working environment that caters to their unique needs so that issues of crimes against women, special needs of women victims of crime and other areas of policing are properly dealt with. While addressing these special needs of women police, it became clear that in order to provide them with a better working environment, first of all, it is necessary to augment their strength in the police force so that women police personnel can have a sizeable number to have their voice heard in terms of better policing and working conditions. 88 women battalion, in spite of being so old, does not have the build up accommodation; they are still living in huts and tents at Delhi. The battalion does not have any infrastructure of its own. Even commandant and all officers below are provided with pathetic accommodation in the HQ. 135 Bn has built up barracks at HQ provided by GC GNR., they too do not have any infrastructure of their own. The latest is the 232 bn, inducted in LWE areas, does not have fans and almirah in their barracks. I strongly favour increase in the strength of women component in CRPF. Women are very hardworking and sincere. They have won laurels for all their work since 1986 and written proud history. But now when it has been decided to increase the strength from 2.13% to 33%, we must also have the vision for their requirements. In order to make women feel proud joining CRPF we must have some perceptiveness and in sights to attract the educated lot. A career in CRPF promises one of the most prestigious and respected positions in the country. Youngsters who aspire to choose a career of excitement, adventure, and challenges can find no better place than Policing to meet all their professional expectations. I conducted a study; a mixed methods approach was used, i.e. integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. Quantitative data came from female participants (n=60) who responded to a survey questionnaire. This provided the sampling frame for the qualitative study, which included 15 in-depth interviews with the various stakeholders. The interviews identified the various stressors, impact on the organization and outcomes not measureable from the survey data. Operational and HR issues as well as sources of stressors were explored. The paper has further suggested the policy options which can be a viable alternative to the current policy.