At a time when complaints of harassment and crime against women are on the rise, Women Police Constables (WPCs) in the city are a demoralised lot owing to lack of promotion for over two decades.
There is no career advancement for WPCs as there are few posts of women head constables and women ASIs. Worse, the male-dominated force does not want them to be part of common seniority list.
“We are forced to salute men who are10 to 15 years junior to us but have become HCs and ASIs,” said WPCs of the city, who have been serving the Police Department for over two decades.
A WPC’s brother-in-law, who had joined the force a few years ago, has already become a HC and her mother-in-law wanted to know what mistake she had committed to be denied a promotion even after 20 years of service. “She was on the verge of committing suicide unable to bear insuls from colleagues and family members,” said her colleague as tears welled up in her eyes.
“We are losing due to the G.O. that says women constables could be promoted only against vacancies that arise from posts allotted to women HCs or ASIs and not against men vacancies. At this rate, most of us may have to retire from service as PCs,” they said.
In 1989, when a test was introduced for promotion of PCs, it was opposed by senior men PCs who went to court against it. The Departmental Order was cancelled and internal tests for promotions were done away with.
“There are flaws in the guidelines for promotion of WPCs. We have written to the State Government in this regard and I hope that the issue will be resolved soon,” Director General of Police B. Prasada Rao said when the issue was brought to his notice by the media.
