KOZHIKODE: In a bid to end gender discrimination within the police force, the word 'Police Officer' has been removed from the Passing Out Parade oath of the Kerala Police. The word 'Police Officer' will henceforth be replaced by ‘Sena Angam’ (member of the Police force).
In the earlier assessment, the word ‘police officer’ was found to be patriarchal, only representing male officers. Additional Director General Manoj Abraham issued a circular in this regard on behalf of the Home Department.
The oath at the passing out parade was 'I solemnly pledge to perform the duties and responsibilities assigned to me as a police officer'. It was changed to 'as a member of the police force'.
Earlier, the use of the word 'woman' with the title of female police officers was banned. Addressing officials as women constables and women SIs was also banned by the state police chief in a 2011 order. It was earlier instructed that women soldiers in the battalion should also be called Havildar. When the Kerala Police observed 2020 as Women's Friendly Year, the then DGP also gave strict instructions to avoid discriminatory choice of words while addressing officers.