Towards equality: priority issues of concern for women in policing in Assam

Police departments must foster diversity, inclusion, and equality of opportunity for all within their ranks. In India, women comprise nearly half the population but are poorly represented in the police across most states. Set in the context of the state of Assam, this discussion paper outlines priority issues of concern in relation to the situation of women in the Assam Police. These are grounded in the lived experiences and perspectives of women police themselves, gleaned through interactions with women police across ranks and in different units. Specifically, it examines issues of concern linked to:  women’s representation in the police  general trends in deployment of women and the degree of opportunities available to them  working conditions and the challenges women face We begin this paper by briefly outlining the organizational structure of the Assam Police and the current legal and policy framework – both Central and state – in place that sets standards and benchmarks for women’s representation in the police. We move on to discussing highlights of the extent of representation of women in the Assam Police through available statistics (as of 2016), and presenting the priority issues of concern which are affecting women’s working lives and opportunities for growth within the police. Finally, we provide a set of preliminary recommendations towards bettering the conditions and opportunities for women police.