In Ranchi: 32 women 'munshis' to address women complainants

Here is the Ranchi district police's novel idea to deal with the issue of the growing number of women complainants in the district.  On Thursday, women 'munshis' or police clerks were hired to serve in the city police stations along with their male colleagues. According to Ranchi SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi, the number of policewomen who have been posted at Kotwali, Doranda and Lalpur police stations in three separate batches for training total 32 in number.

"They will be posted in 16 town police stations after a week-long on-campus training during which they are expected to pick up the skills of a trained and efficient munshi," Dwivedi said, reported by TOI.

As per the TOI report, across Jharkhand the posts of 'munshi' are filled by men many of whom stay on in their posts even after transfer orders, because they have 'good connections'. Initially these women munshis would work with their male colleagues, to assume charge. Mostly policewomen in their 30s have been selected and trained at the police line by experts from the police training college by senior police officers including DIG Ranchi R K Dhan.

"During the on-campus training, the policewomen will apply the theories of FIR, handling case dairies and critical documentation and application of basic criminal laws they learnt at the police line," said DSP sadar Vikas Chandra Srivastava.

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The women 'munshis' would help in dealing with the complaints of women regarding loss of passport, job police verification, loss of mobile and documents. In these cases it has often been found that the male munshis are rude in their behaviour in dealing with the complainants.  "A victim of sexual harassment or domestic violence can report her case in detail with least inhibitions when the munshi is a woman," said Kamal Kishore, former general secretary of Jharkhand Police Association. A female IPS officer said, "Women munshis will check the male habit of using abuses in conversations. The women munshis will also ensure sanitation at the police stations."

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Many women IPS officers serve Jharkhand at top posts, but it has been observed that the lower rung of officers and constables lack sensitivity in dealing with brutal cases. To counter this, the state police has reserved 33% seats for women in all recruitment. Currently, women make up around 5% of 70,000 state police personnel force.

Feature Image Credit: swapsushias.blogspot.com