Compassion of this RPF policewoman knows no rules, bounds  

By means of a timely soothing touch, Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Parvathy A. won a lot of hearts on Wednesday. Ms. Parvathy was on duty at the Rajadhani Institute of Engineering and Technology, Attingal, where the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) exam was on, when the wails of a baby rent the air.

The mother of the two-month-old was taking the exam, while the father was desperately trying to console it. Moved by the baby’s plight, the policewoman, a feeding mother of a one-and-a-half-year-old, offered to feed the baby. Without hesitation, the father handed over the baby, and the comforting maternal touch was enough to calm the baby instantly. She breastfed the baby, who slipped into sleep soon, relieving the father’s hours-long anxiety.

Ms. Parvathy said the mother of the child, Anjana S. Krishnan, had to report to the exam hall between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. to complete the log-in formalities. “By 8.45 a.m., the father approached the invigilator with the crying baby, but the instructor was helpless as rules do not allow candidates to leave the exam hall after log-in,” she said, elaborating on her decision to intervene.

Soon after, her humane and timely intervention was appreciated by the exam centre supervisor, Ani Chandran. The incident was then reported to higher-ups, and the RRB Chairperson appreciated her contribution and service above and beyond the call of duty by handing over a certificate and a gift from the board.

Ms. Parvathy, who hails from Kollam, joined the service five years ago and got transferred to Thiruvananthapuram from Coimbatore a year ago. Her husband is a State government employee with the Public Works department in Malappuram.