Mani D’mello

Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria’s order permitting lady constables of the age of 35 years and above to drape themselves in sarees instead of the smart-looking trousers and shirt uniform is believed to have brought a huge relief among the women constabulary. 

Maria, who is credited for introducing a number of reforms ever since he took over the reins of Mumbai police commissioner, learnt that a number of women constables were feeling uneasy at work.

A senior police officer told Media Eye that Maria noticed a large number overweight women constables especially those with bulges and girt around their waist were experiencing awkwardness while working on the field. Therefore, he granted permission to women constables of the age of 35 years and above who desired to change their uniform attire from trousers and shirt to saree.

Mumbai police decision to alleviate the woes of the women members in its force by facilitating improvement in the comfort levels of uniform attire is likely to be replicated in the state force.  

Maharashtra with 14.89 percent of women in its police force is incidentally the highest in the country. By 2018, the strength of the women in the force is expected to touch 30 per cent. Currently, Maharashtra has around 20,500 policewomen, which is the highest in India.

A number of policewoman are posted in less physical strenuous jobs like Missing Persons Bureau, Juvenile Aid and Protection Unit, Traffic department and especially in the wake of the August 11, 2012 riots, where lady police personnel were allegedly molested by rioters, precautions have been adopted by the administration.

“In Mumbai, on an average at least 10 per cent of the force in each of the 89 police stations in the commissionerate is women.  Though it not difficult for the women to operate in the shirt and trousers uniform and nor is uncomfortable, yet Maria decided to give the women policewomen an option since many of the women had put on a little excess weight post-natal. Purely, since these women personnel who had developed a bulge and felt awkward wearing trousers and pants were given a choice of opting for the saree,” said a senior police officer.