Hyderabad: Minister Seethakka said women police symbolised commitment and confidence, while stressing the need for reforms to support them. She addressed the first-ever Telangana Women Police Conference at the Telangana Police Academy in Rajendranagar on Wednesday.
The minister said the event itself reflected commitment to women police welfare. She praised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for promoting women’s empowerment as Home Minister. She assured that the government would act positively on the suggestions raised at the conference.
Seethakka recalled that Indira Gandhi laid the foundation for women policing by inaugurating the first women’s police station in Kozhikode, Kerala, in 1973. Since then, such stations had spread across the country, she said.
She acknowledged the conflict women officers face between professional duty and motherhood, calling for exemptions during maternity. She urged officials to provide flexible work hours, weekly offs, and gender sensitisation training every year. She also sought counselling, stress management programmes, and special training in cybercrime and online harassment for women officers.
The minister suggested Tamil Nadu’s model of special uniforms during maternity and post-delivery periods, alongside rest rooms and wellness centres. She called for a study of best practices in other states for implementation in Telangana.
Pointing out that only 7,000 of the state’s 80,000 police personnel are women, she underlined the need to increase their strength. She expressed confidence that the conference would help address challenges faced by women officers.
Director General Abhilasha Bisht, senior officers Charu Sinha, Shikha Goel, Swati Lakra, and 400 women police personnel from constable to SP level attended the programme.
