DIMAPUR — Among the north-eastern states, Nagaland has the second highest number of women police personnel, with a total of 8,140 recruits in the last three years (2021–23). Assam has the highest number, with 14,155 women police personnel.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has updated that the strength of women police personnel recruited in Nagaland was 2,599 in 2021, 2,955 in 2022, and 2,588 in 2023. The forces include the Civil, District Armed Reserve, Armed, and Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB).
Among the other north-eastern states, the total number of women police personnel recruited in the last three years is as follows: Arunachal Pradesh 3,682, Manipur 6,555, Meghalaya 2,493, Mizoram 1,699, Sikkim 1,463, and Tripura 3,635.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, stated that it is primarily the responsibility of the state governments and union territory (UT) administrations to recruit more women police personnel and improve gender balance.
He stated that the ministry has issued advisories several times since 2013, asking all states to increase the representation of women police to 33% of the total strength. The centre requested state governments create additional posts for women constables and sub-inspectors by converting vacant posts with the aim that each police station should have at least three women sub-inspectors and ten women constables, so that a women's help desk is manned round the clock.
“States have also been advised to strengthen welfare measures for women police personnel and ensure their safety and a conducive work environment, such as the provision of housing, medical and rest room facilities for women police personnel in police stations, to attract women to join the police force,” he stated in his reply.
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