Working in night shifts is not a problem when it comes to women police personnel. For years, women police from the ranks of a constable to an officer have been working in night shifts.
There are around 750 women police personnel, which is close to ten per cent of the Goa police strength. Out of the total women police personnel, around 53 are of the ranks from a police sub-inspector to superintendent of police.
According to police officials, compared to the industries or any other private employment, policing is a totally different job. There are no fixed working hours involved and often police personnel have to work beyond the shift timings depending on the situation, said a police officer.
“When we joined the police force we were mentally prepared and aware that it is a 24×7 job. We were also aware of the extended working hours owing to the nature of duty,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Suchita Dessai. “For us, working in night shifts is nothing new. There are barracks for women police personnel at the police stations where they can take rest after the working hours,” said Dessai adding “as far as facilities are concerned, there has been no problem working in night shifts.”
Panaji women police station in-charge police inspector Sudiksha Naik said that earlier, police personnel would look for accommodation nearby depending on the place of posting or stayed in barracks at the police station, which they still do. Also, now the police personnel have their own vehicles to go home.
“There are no issues working in night shifts, as it is a part and parcel of the duty being police personnel. Like men, the women police are also posted on night patrolling, naka bandis and also as duty officers,” said Naik. She said that the police personnel are physically as well as mentally trained for the nature of police duties.
The Panaji women police station has 23 police personnel of which 17 are women police including two police sub-inspectors and one police inspector.
The state government has decided to amend the Factory Act, 1948 to allow women to work on the shop floor from 7 pm to 6 am.