As Gurugram gets its first woman Police Commissioner in IPS officer Kala Ramachandran, the population of the upwardly mobile city watches with interest as to what next. Will having a woman at the helm of law and order bring in refreshing changes? Some are more curious to know about the officer and what qualifies her for this post. Amid all these curiosities, Indian Masterminds takes a look into the life and career of the new CP.
EARLY LIFE
Born and brought up in the state of Tamil Nadu, Ms. Kala Ramachandran completed her schooling and early education in the state itself. It was her childhood dream to crack the UPSC Civil Service Examination and serve her country.
She finally achieved her dream in 1994 when she cracked the examination and became an IPS officer. Initially, she worked in her home cadre, Tamil Nadu, and a few years down the line, she married senior IPS officer Navdeep Singh Virk, an officer of the Haryana cadre. Post marriage, Ms. Ramachandran got an inter-cadre transfer and moved to Haryana, where her ascent to newer and greater heights began. A climb that’s been tough for this lady officer, but one that she managed with ease and grace.
STINTS IN HARYANA
It will not be wrong to say that Haryana proved to be an accelerating point in her career. She was posted as Superintendent of Police in important districts like Rewari, Fatehabad, and Panchkula, in her initial years in the state.
She was also on central deputation to Intelligence Bureau from 2001. The officer is well known for heading the North Eastern Police Academy in Meghalaya and has also served as ADGP CAW Headquarters, and PS Transport & ADGP Vigilance.
The most important turn in the officer’s career came when she was nominated to the post of Transport Secretary, a post that is usually offered to officers belonging to the IAS cadre, in September 2021.
Though her career remains largely dominated by her stint with the Intelligence Bureau, the journey to this place spanned across departments and was full of a variety of experiences.
From the year 2017 to 2020, she headed the NEPA in Meghalaya and then returned to her home cadre as ADGP (crime against women and vigilance) in August 2020 at Haryana police headquarters.
PLANS FOR GURUGRAM
The officer has already devised a map for the changes that she wishes to bring to the city. Gurugram is not a new district for her as her husband was also posted as the CP of the city, a few years ago. She knows the city in and out and understands the areas that need to be worked upon.
With her aim to make Gurugram a safer and better city for its residents, especially women and children, she wants to focus on traffic problems, one of the key concerns, and road and cyber safety for all residents.
“I will spell out my detailed plans when I join and meet my team, but my basic goal of strengthening basic policing is very clear. As a police officer, I would ensure that the entire force works towards making the city and its residents safe and secure,” she said in an interview with a media organization.
She further talked about making lives easier for the people and facilitating ease of doing business, “Gurgaon is a city with a diverse milieu, from rural to corporate to industrial to urban residential, the focus will be on facilitation of ease of doing business and to make life easier for everyone. The focus of the police should be on improving the lives of common citizens.”
She also hinted at coming down heavily on street crimes such as hooliganism, snatchings, eve-teasing, and drunken driving. She reiterated that economic offenses and cybercrimes, and the security of women and minors would be the key priority areas. “Women should be safe. That’s the sign of a mature society, that women can go out of the house without fear.”
About the plan of action, she said that after discussing with police officers on the ground, a better evaluation of major issues and concerns would be made, and, accordingly, plans would be formalized to curb crimes in the city.
