Women exuberate confidence to don uniform

Banderdewa, June 18 (UNI) The Arunachal Pradesh Police (APP) has recruited 155 women constables on compassionate grounds to comply with the National Police Commission's recommendation to have 10 per cent of them in the police force.

The APP currently has a total strength of 6623, including 283 women (little above four per cent of the strength).

Trainees, exposed to the hard realities of life at the Police Training Centre (PTC) near here, said, ''It is a dream come true for them.'' ''I never expected that I will get a chance to serve with uniform on. The repeated attempts since my husband's death in 1993 yielded no result,'' said Koj Rinyo (36) of Dutta village under Lower Subansiri district.

Rinyo, mother of three children, said the job facilitated proper education of her children.

''I am ready to serve in any part of the state against all odds,'' said Yumlam Appa, who had lost her husband in an accident last year.

Awni Murtem of Daporijo, mother of six children, said, ''The job gave my family a new lease of life.'' PTC principal Rakshap Yomcha said, ''Reservations in various quarters that these women would be a permanent liability for the force have been proved wrong.'' The effort of rehabilitating 155 families was taken by DIGP(HQ) Dr N Dillip Kumar and approved by Chief Minister Gegong Apang.

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