Despite quota, parity, only 3% women in central forces
The percentage of female constables posted in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), against the total strength, remains a meagre 3 per cent. This is the situation almost nine years after the government had decided to reserve 33 per cent of posts, at the constable level, to be filled by women in the CRPF and CISF, and 15 per cent in border guarding forces — BSF, ITBP and SSB.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ data, as of March 31, of the total posted strength of 9,53,831 in the CAPF, the number of female constables posted are 31,355, which is just 3 per cent.
Among the CAPF, CRPF has the lowest percentage of women posted as constables, ie 2 per cent. There are only 6,513 women among the 2,98,921 personnel in the CRPF.
The CISF has the highest representation of women at 6,287 or 4.1 per cent of the total 1,51,080 personnel.
Sources within the Home Ministry said that despite offering accommodations such as exempting all female candidates from payment of application fees, and even relaxations in physical standard tests as well as physical efficiency tests for recruitment (in comparison to male candidates) the representation of women had remained low.
This is despite the fact that one female member is detailed as a member of the CAPF recruitment board for hiring women personnel.
Besides, the CAPF women personnel are also entitled to all the facilities available through the Centre such as maternity and childcare leaves. Sources added women personnel were given equal opportunity when it came to career progression — promotion and seniority at par with male counterparts.
Moreover, a woman candidate who is 12 weeks pregnant, has been declared temporarily unfit and her appointment is held in abeyance until the ‘confinement’ is over, is re-examined for physical efficiency six weeks after the date of confinement. If found fit, she is appointed to the post kept reserved for and allowed the benefit of seniority in accordance with the norms, sources added.
