Gender sensitisation classes for 'rough' Delhi Police cops

Better late than never! Delhi Police are planning to conduct special lessons on gender sensitization for those personnel who talk "rough" while dealing with women and senior citizens.

Be it a constable or inspector, every policeman will have to attend these classes.

Senior Delhi Police officers told IANS that the classes were being started following numerous complaints received by Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi against the conduct of the personnel while dealing with women and the elderly.

"The classes will be attended by not only the staff at the police stations but also the men and women posted at police control rooms," Special Commissioner of Police Kishan Kumar told IANS.

"Guest lectures will be delivered by professors from universities and colleges. Districts heads have been asked to make arrangements in their areas," Kishan Kumar added.

The Delhi Police, with a strength of over 80,000, has divided the city into 11 districts.

The force is often criticized for being insensitive towards women and the elderly people.

Recently, social activist and former chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), V. Mohini Giri, had complained of being a victim of Delhi Police's apathy when she tried to save a woman from a few men who were molesting her.

She told IANS that on seeing a group of boys molesting a girl by tearing her clothes near Vasant Kunj, she had intervened and had tried to protect the girl as a dutiful and responsible citizen.

Giri added that when she tried to stop a passing PCR van to draw its attention, the driver refused, saying that his officer was busy.

Determined to help, Giri pleaded with the occupants of another PCR van stationed nearby to help. But they also refused to intervene.

Giri was even hit by someone in the crowd.

"The police needs to be sensitised on gender issues. It is high time they be trained and taught how to talk to a woman," Giri added.

Police officers said that from time to time they take gender senstitisation classes for the force. But it has never been in a large scale.

"It has always been in small groups. This time the scale is huge," the officer added.

One such initiative was taken after the Dec 16, 2012, gang rape of a 23-year old physiotherapist trainee by six people, including a juvenile.

As part of the initiative, senior police officers will also train the constabulary on behaving with senior citizens.

"Senior citizens who are living away from their families need to be treated courteously by their local area beat policemen. In the classes, our men will also be taught on how to behave with them while communicating," said another officer.

Of Delhi's 80,000 policemen, 60 percent form the constabulary.

(Alok Singh can be contacted on alok.s@ians.in <mailto:alok.s@ians.in>)