Women CPO rank holders set to protest over pending appointments

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Following the protests by ASHA and Anganwadi workers, now women police rank holders are preparing for a protest. With just a month remaining before the rank list expires, candidates from the Women Civil Police Officer (CPO) rank list, where less than 30% have been appointed, are set to protest in front of the Secretariat. The rank list expires on April 19.

Out of the 967 candidates in the Women CPO rank list, only 259 have received appointment recommendations so far. In comparison, 815 candidates were appointed from the previous rank list. Despite repeatedly approaching offices to report vacancies, there has been no result, the candidates allege. While in previous years, male police rank holders led similar protests, this time, it is the women CPO rank holders who are preparing for agitation. The candidates warned that if no action is taken by March, they will begin their protest from April.

The government had promised in the LDF manifesto to increase women's representation in the state police force to 15%. Although a 9:1 ratio was implemented this time to support this promise, the actual appointments fell drastically short. The practice of appointing women only when male police appointments happen has affected the rank holders. Out of the 56,000-strong police force in the state, there are only around 5,000 women. Each station requires at least 6 women CPOs, but most of the 454 police stations in the state don’t have even half that number.

Actual appointments only 213

The rank list prepared by the PSC included 967 candidates—674 in the main list and 293 in the supplementary list. Out of the 259 recommended appointments, 46 were NJD (No Joining Duty) vacancies. The actual number of appointments stands at only 213.