In the male-dominated society of Rajasthan, where sex selective abortions, female infanticide and child marriages are common in rural areas, Sukhpali and her husband stand out.
She is the only woman forest guard in the State working on the field. She guards a portion of the Desert National Park (DNP) in the Thar Desert. She belonged to the second batch of women guards hired by the Forest Department in 2013. The State started enrolling women guards in 2011. “There are many women forest guards, but they are either posted in nurseries or the operations division. I am the only one on the field,” she told The Hindu .
Ms. Sukhpali said her husband, Harpal Singh, allowed her to do the job. “He was the one who got the application form for me when the department advertised, and I was selected under the Scheduled Caste category. We both shifted here from Sriganganagar. I have a regular job here, he works on contract.”
Ms. Sukhpali was born and brought up in Muktsar district of Punjab and married into a family in Sriganganagar. Now, she and her husband live in the DNP. She holds double MA and B.Ed. degrees and had always wanted to be a teacher, but could not despite taking several examinations. “Hopefully, one day I will,” she said.
She was all praise for the men around her. “They respect women. I go patrolling with my colleagues, all men, but I never feel insecure.”
Life is tough in the DNP which has minimal facilities, but Ms. Sukhpali said their needs were taken care of by staffers from Jaisalmer who came here regularly. “I may find it easy because I do not have children, whereas other women have children who need to be looked after.” Having lived in the DNP for a year now, Ms. Sukhpali is familiar with the area, knows the people and understands the language. “I have gained some knowledge of birds and animals from the locals,” she said.
