Gender challenges in Karnataka state police: a human resource management perspective

Abstract

Offences against women and children pose grave challenges to the policy makers and Law Enforcement Agencies alike, apart from shocking the Collective conscience of Society. There is need for a strong Gender Empathetic Police force to tackle the same. The major gender challenges in Karnataka State Police from a Human Resource Management perspective are Representation, Equity and Fairness and Discrimination. This paper has reviewed the sensitive and complex issue from the dimension of global and national trends, incorporating the various Declarations of the United Nations , the mandates of the Constitution of India, the Vision Statement of the Karnataka State Police and above all the field observations of Karnataka police and society - all from the strategic perspective of Human Resource Management as an Instrument to improve the Operational Efficiency of the Karnataka State Police to enable it to serve society better amidst complex contemporary challenges. The focus of the study was to review Representation, Fairness, Equity and Discrimination from the Human Resource management perspective and suggest policy interventions after evaluating various policy alternatives. Key Recommendations are: Set up a Special Cell under the Command of a Gender Empathic Senior IPS officer to monitor the Gender Equity Audit of the Karnataka State Police with the objective of curbing Crimes Against Women and Children with an iron hand. Special recruitment Drives to fill up vacancies of Women Police. Reservations in promotions to ensure representation at all levels. Extraordinary emphasis on Gender, Welfare and protection from Sexual harassment at workplace as per Vishaka Guidelines