Lucknownama

Gender equality or liability?
The government’s decision to set up a women’s battalion in PAC and also recruit 20,000 women constables over the next few years was the topic of discussion at a meeting of senior police officers held last week. Some argued that the government is courting disaster. The Mahila police stations had turned out to be a liability,they said. Also,women constables were “inefficient” and “indisciplined”,but their male superiors dare not take any action,fearing allegations of harassment. Other officers argued that if women could do well in paramilitary forces,they could do well in the UP Police as well,provided they were given responsibility and the men in the force dealt with them in a professional fashion. But you can’t reason with misogynists. The DGP reportedly ended the debate with a remark that it was a waste of time because the decision had been taken and it had to be implemented.

Birds of same feather cannot flock together
Some time ago,a bureaucrat who is retiring shortly,reportedly contacted senior Congress leaders and explained how his special knowledge in a particular subject could be an asset for the party. The leaders were impressed,and assured the babu that the party would utilise his services. This has made some other leaders uncomfortable. For,these leaders claim to be specialists in the same subject and if the bureaucrat is accepted in the party fold,their monopoly would end and their importance decline. A quiet campaign has begun to stall the bureaucrat’s entry into the party. Guess who the bureaucrat is.

In state’s good books?
Have no worry
During the Domariyaganj Assembly by-election,the Election Commission removed IPS officer Gyan Singh as the SP of Basti for reportedly playing host to ministers who went there for campaigning. He has now been appointed SP of Hardoi. Since Hardoi is close to Lucknow,it is regarded as a good post. Clearly,the government knows how to take care of its loyalists. In Domariyaganj,Gyan Singh proved his loyalty a second time. During the Lok Sabha election last year,the Election Commission had removed him as SP of Kushinagar.