Telangana police vow structural changes to support women officers

The Telangana Police have held its first-ever Conference for Women in Police, a three-day event at the RBVRR Telangana Police Academy, which brought together over 400 women officers and senior officials from across the State.

The conference that concluded on Friday (August 22), was described as a ‘historic milestone’ in the journey towards gender-inclusive policing. The event featured participation from officers of all ranks in both Civil and Armed Reserve Forces, alongside eminent experts and senior officers from other States.

Minister for Panchayat Raj and Women & Child Development Danasari Anasuya or Seetakka inaugurated the conference and said that it marked ‘a new chapter’ for women in police force. “This is not just an event, but a firm commitment by the government to address and resolve the challenges faced by women officers,” she said.

Challenges in male-dominated profession

In her welcome address, Director of the Academy Abhilasha Bisht underlined the challenges of working in a male-dominated profession and called on participants to use the platform to voice concerns and push for reforms.

Deliberations were structured around five themes, ranging from gender bias and workplace harassment to infrastructure, work-life balance, and organisational culture.

Senior women officers, including Additional DGPs Swati Lakra and B. Bala Naga Devi, chaired discussions that produced a series of recommendations for both immediate and long-term reforms. These included a push for gender-sensitive training, better facilities at police stations, stronger mechanisms to address harassment, and a clearer path to leadership roles.

The conference also celebrated success stories of Telangana’s women police, from the record induction of 2,338 women constables last year to the impact of SHE Teams and Bharosa centres in tackling harassment and supporting victims. Delegates highlighted women officers’ achievements in UN peacekeeping missions, sports, and frontline operations like formation of an all-women SWAT team in Hyderabad.

Despite these successes, the forum acknowledged persistent challenges such as low representation, currently just 8.6% of the State’s force, lack of facilities, and heavy workload. The recommendations included uniform recruitment targets of 33%, regular gender audits, expanded training opportunities, crèche facilities, and wellness initiatives ranging from stress management to nutrition support.

Closing the conference, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka assured participants of the government’s commitment to translating recommendations into policy. “Investments in social progress demand a strong law and order foundation, where empowered women officers are vital,” he said.

Special Chief Secretary Ravi Gupta, DGP Jitender, and senior women IPS officers joined the valedictory session, signalling institutional support.