Life is already challenging for police personnel, across the nation. It becomes even more difficult for police officers who are also working mothers and must leave their young children behind, in the care of others, or even alone at times, in order to carry out their duty towards the country.
The Surguja Police, under the leadership of SP Bhavana Gupta, has come up with an innovative initiative under community policing to bring relief to the working woman cops and strengthen their capacity to deliver better.
HAMAR BETI HAMAR MAAN
The goal of the “Hamar Beti Hamar Maan” project is to support the state’s female police officers so they may perform to the best of their abilities, produce positive results, and engage with the community to help prevent crimes in general against women.
One of the most difficult challenges that working police women confront is having to leave their young children behind every day in order to accomplish their duties. Furthermore, the facilities provided to the junior staff are simply poor.
“They are expected to complete their 8-10 hour jobs and immediately go on to fulfil their household duties as a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. All of us face this at different levels, and therefore I decided to do something which could bring, at least, a bit of difference into the lives of these women who are already struggling so much,” Ms. Gupta stated in an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds.
SNEH CHHAYA DAY CARE CENTRE
After a proper discussion with the force, one problem which rose in front of the officer was the young children of the women police personnel, who had to be left alone at home, throughout the day, while their parents were at work.
“I am also a working mother. I have a two-year-old child; therefore, I could understand the pain of these women who had to leave their young ones behind, with no one to take care of them. That’s when the idea of opening a daycare centre came to my mind,” shared Ms. Gupta.
The officer prepped up some space in the female barrack of the police line and with the help of some NGOs and other experts, redesigned the whole place, giving it a more child-friendly look. Eventually, the barrack was turned into a daycare centre outfitted with secure lodging, nourishing food, entertainment, and educational resources for the kids.
A PLACE FOR FUN AND CREATIVITY
In addition to attractively marking the subjects related to primary education on the walls, children will be able to live in a family environment with colourful pictures. Specially trained female caretakers have also been appointed to look after them.
The primary goal of Sneh Chhaya is to assure the children’s better growth by providing them with proper care, entertainment, and other educational activities. Additionally, the centre has been making efforts to keep children engaged in creative activities since childhood.
Different activities will be run in the centre in two shifts, in which children will be taken care of and entertained in the first shift, from 9 am to 2 pm. From 2 pm to 4 pm, children will be provided training in computer, painting, dance, and arts.
“We have a small pantry, a sleeping facility, smart TV, and it is equipped with computers which children can learn from. In our daycare centre, we also celebrate different festivals with the young children which even gives a chance to the senior officials to mingle with the juniors,” stated Ms. Gupta, who is also sending her own child to the daycare and is motivating others to do the same.
IPS officer Ajay Yadav, the Inspector General of Police for the Surguja Range, declared the Sneh Chhaya Day Care Center to be the outcome of the Surguja Police’s expansive thinking when he inaugurated it. Officers and employees of the police department have expressed their gratitude to the senior police officers for this new facility.
