Women police officers unhappy with state DGP's order to make shirt and trousers compulsory instead of the khaki sari

It's now official. All women police officers have to wear the khaki uniform: the crisp shirt and trouser instead of the traditional sari.

Nearly 11 years after the compulsion was made, the enforcement order has now become a punishable offence.
The order issued by the State DGP A N Roy a fortnight ago has made it mandatory for women officers to wear the khaki uniform.

However, exceptions have been made for those with medical problems or women who are pregnant. The order states that a khaki uniform makes a greater impact on the public than a sari.

Sari good enough
A PSI, who did not wish to be named, said that a uniform is secondary and it does not affect the efficacy of our work. "I am working for the last 20 years in a sari and I had been rewarded by my seniors in the past when I busted several robberies," she said.

"Our job is to compile data, and not on-field patrolling. Then why should we wear trousers?" asked another female officer.

Kusum Dev, the first woman PSI in the state, who is settled in Pune, said, "There should be no discrimination in the force regarding the uniform. A trouser and shirt for women police will help in free movement. During a crime investigation or handling mob in bandobast duty, a trouser is more comfortable than the sari."

Meera Borwankar, IGP, State CID, admitted that the khaki uniform is compulsory in the IPS category. "The order issued by the DGP office must have a reason to make the uniform compulsory even at the constabulary level," she said.

Pants are better
Bharati Kurade, ACP, State CID, is also of the same opinion that at work place, khaki uniform is always best and the issue should not be related to any age of the woman cop. "It is, however, understandable for some female officers to be worried," she said.

Pramila Sathe, a government officer, said that instead of uniform the women cops should also have an option of wearing salwar-kurta like the women police in Jammu and Kashmir.