Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) will form a national standing committee consisting of researchers from various police organizations and other institutions to work on measures needed to bring gender neutrality in law enforcing organizations.

The decision was taken during the Eighth National Conference for Women in Police (NCWP), which was held at Judicial Academy at Ranchi on Tuesday.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony Director General of BPR&D AP Maheshwari said the committee comprising of at least 20 experts would include members from TATA Institute of Social Sciences and IITs and other leading organization.

The DG said BPR&D will also frame standards for achieving gender-neutral environment at work place adding the police organizations would be ranked on basis of the norms.

Governor Draupadi Murmu, who was Chief Guest on the occasion, stated that women constituted half of the country’s population adding their uplift was necessary for country’ growth. She expressed hope that one day women would comprise half or more of the staffs in organizations.  She stated that women are talented but many of them do not get proper facility to prove themselves.

ADG B Sandhya said the mandate of NCWP is to provide gender neutral workplaces in all police organizations adding BPRD& D would pursue it very hard. 

Jharkhand DGP DK Pandey stated that starting from a scratch Jharkhand police have taken special measures for women police while pointing out hostels for women police have been made in eight districts.

He expressed hope that a situation would come when the women would think that there is no discrimination and sexual harassment in the force.

It is possible when police become more social oriented, he added.

During a session on sexual harassment earlier in the day Chairperson of National Commission for Women Rekha Sharma stated that problem is rooted in the patriarchal mindset of people.

She added that there are loopholes in the existing laws. The chairperson also said local complaint committee has not been formed in most of the districts.

It may be stated here after the two-day conference NCWP has came up with several recommendations for women police personnel which includes enabling gender neutral and customized support system condusive for self actualized functioning, inclusive gender mainstreaming at policy level, promoting empowered work place for women, establishing required indicators along with gender budgeting and leveraging technology for achieving gender neutrality.