Rajasthan Empowers Women: 33% Quata in Police Force Approved

Women's Reservation in Rajasthan Police Force

• The Rajasthan government, led by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, approved a 33% reservation for women in the police force on September 4, 2024.
• This decision fulfills a promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2023 Assembly election campaign.
• The Rajasthan Police Subordinate Service Rules, 1989, will be amended to implement this reservation.
• The move aims to increase women's representation in law enforcement and provide more employment opportunities for women in the state.
• Minister Jogaram Patel emphasized the government's commitment to empowering women and promoting gender equality within state law enforcement agencies.
• This decision aligns Rajasthan with other states like Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha, and Maharashtra, which have implemented similar quotas.

Need for Women in Police Force and Challenges

Need:

• Legal Mandate: The POCSO Act and major criminal laws require female police officers to record and investigate sexual assault cases.
• Improved Reporting: Women officers may foster trust among female victims, encouraging them to report crimes.
• Better Community Relations: Women officers are less likely to use excessive force.

Challenges:

• Stereotypes: Women are often perceived as unfit for the long, unpredictable hours of police work.
• Policy Gaps: Absence of reservation policies in many states (Police is a state subject under the 7th Schedule of the Constitution).
• Implementation Gaps: For example, Bihar provides 35% reservation but has only about 17.4% women in its police force.

Current Statistics:

• As of 2022, women made up about 12% of Rajasthan's state police.
• Chandigarh had the highest representation at 22%, while Jammu and Kashmir had the lowest at 3.3%.

Additional Cabinet Decisions and Initiatives

• Solar Energy Project: Approval for land allocation for a 3,150 MW solar power project, boosting renewable energy efforts and job creation.
• Pension Benefits:
  • Names of specially-abled children, siblings, and dependent parents can now be added to the Pension Payment Order.
  • Approval of 5% additional allowance for pensioners aged 70-75 years.
• Athletes' Benefits: Extension of job reservations for high-performing athletes.

Central Government Initiatives:

• • Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) advised states/UTs to establish at least one all-women police station in each district.
  • MHA recommended increasing women's representation in police to 33% of total strength.
  • Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) provided creches and day care centers for women employees.
  • Female candidates exempted from application fees in CAPF exams.

Political Context and Opposition Response

• The decision was made by the BJP-led government, which came to power in the 2023 Rajasthan state elections.
• The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, took place on September 4, 2024.
• Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa and Minister Jogaram Patel briefed the media on the outcomes.
• The government addressed a paper leak scandal related to a 2021 sub-inspector recruitment exam but decided not to cancel the results.
• The opposition Congress party demanded changes to the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), citing corruption concerns.
• The government defended the RPSC, stating its constitutional role and the need for careful consideration of any major changes.