National Police Commemoration Day: Meet The Gutsy Women Police Officers Of India!

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When Kiran Bedi became the first female Indian Police Service officer, the whole country went gaga over her.

And it’s been more than four decades, several female police officers have followed her steps and are changing the way we imagine women officers in Indian Police. On the occasion of National Police Commemoration Day, Infano introduces you to a few of the women police officers whose actions inspired many of us!

Aparna Lavakumar

When the Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO) of Irinjalakuda, Thrissur met a student of Class 5 during one of her awareness camps at a local school, she was revealed that the boy was a cancer survivor. The kid lost his hair to chemotherapy and was trying to come to terms with his bald appearance and was ridiculed by his classmates for the same.

A few days later, she was spotted in a beauty salon chopping her hair off entirely. She donated her hair to an NGO which prepares wigs for cancer survivors. But that was not the only thing — her main agenda was to normalise the baldness which society often perceives with mockery.

“Going bald can be severely traumatic for children with cancer, who are already battling for life at such a nascent age. I wanted to support them by proving that baldness is not a matter of shame, earlier, I had cut off my hair partially to donate for the cause. This time I felt like having a full-fledged tonsure to stand in solidarity with the patients,” she said in an interview with TBI.

Although as per the Kerala Police’s uniform regulations, officers are not allowed to shave their heads. But, the then Thrissur police chief made an exception in Aparna’s case due to her laudable gesture.

Nazia Khan

The recipient of several National and State Awards, Khan is known for her bravery and social work. She was appointed as a Special Police Officer of UP Police at the age of 18. The young officer has also won the national bravery award earlier for taking on a drug and gambling ring in Agra.

Anjana Choudhary & Rekha Mishra

A Railway Protection Force (RPF) Officer, Anjana is often found around Borivali railway station on Mumbai’s Western line. She is generally seen patrolling the station platforms to spot children who might be in trouble.

Another RPF officer Rekha patrols around Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station and spots kids wandering around the platforms to help.

The duo has managed to rescue over 600 children so far. Most of these children were either kidnapped, became victims of child trafficking or ran away from their homes. Mishra, the 2014 batch officer, has rescued over 400 children single-handedly. Their admiration got them the nickname ‘Mother India’.

Sonia Singh

When the Nagaland Police felt that the local residents were more scared of them rather than trusting, they decided to change this perception with ‘Police Ke Pathshala’ — an initiative aiming to bring the student community and police closer.

This initiative was led by Sonia Singh, Inspector General of Police (Range), who took the responsibility of conducting these sessions at schools and colleges personally. The primary objective was to change the perception of the student community for the police, but it was not limited only to that.

“We are looking to build trust by raising their awareness about procedures of law and criminal acts like domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, cyberstalking, revenge porn and drug abuse, etc. This is about building trust with them so that they can share any vital information with the police without any hesitation,” Sonia said.

M Deepika

The IPS Officer behind the implementation of Andhra Pradesh’s Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, ‘Disha’, M Deepika started at the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Disha Cell created within the state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID).

“The government is appointing special public prosecutors to help with the drafting of chargesheets, improving the capabilities of forensic labs, hiring quality medical doctors, particularly gynaecologists since we have trouble getting timely reports and enlisting quality cyber experts. It will include local women residents and a Mahila Mitra coordinator from our side, and bring to the notice of the police any serious crimes against women,” says the 2014 batch IPS officer.

Dr Suman D Pennekar

Hailing from the Beed village of Belagavi, this IPS Officer rescued over 4,300 people stranded at the devastating floods of Kodagu. Previously, the team led by this fearless SP arrested the kingpin of the timber mafia, Kallichanda Noban, and seized timber worth Rs 1 crore following a raid on his property.

Despite the unlimited warnings from the mafia, she enforced the rule of banning the felling and transportation of trees. Dr Suman is also a qualified Ayurvedic doctor who strives at improving the living standards of rural India.

On this day, Infano also salutes and pays tributes to the policemen and healthcare professionals who, being the frontline soldiers, lost their lives on duty. We owe you! #InfanoWomen

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Winter has set in. The cold air brings in relief from the heat, but it also brings along with it the possibility of various skin problems that affect women’s health.

Our skin loses a lot of moisture because of cold air, low humidity, and high winds outdoors. Bacteria and viruses are prevalent in the cold season. Our immune system needs to work harder in order to fight these germs. This makes the immune system weaker, which can cause more problems with your skin than usual. Paying a little more attention to skin care in winter can help in reducing these problems and preventing skin infections which add to women’s health woes.

Common Skin Problems that affect women’s health in the winter

1. Dry skin

Dry skin in winter becomes a common skin problem with increasing age. As the skin becomes thinner with increasing age, it can no longer absorb as much moisture from the air.

Due to the dry air and lack of moisture, the skin becomes irritated and dehydrated, causing itching and scaling. In some cases, it tends to become red and swollen too and can be painful. Chronic skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis are also aggravated by cold, dry air.

It may be a good idea to invest in a humidifier if you are one of those who get severe itchiness. In many cases, it is the dead skin cells on the body that cause itchiness. Taking a shower with hot water opens up the pores. Exfoliating the skin when showering can remove the dead skin cells and give relief from itchiness.

2. Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin problems that affect people of all ages in winter. Acne can happen on any part of the body, but it is most common on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and upper arms. It can sometimes be painful and unsightly. The major reason for acne is the overproduction of oil that can lead to clogged pores, dead skin cells, and bacteria on the skin.

It is a natural tendency to reach out and touch the affected area, especially on the face. But it can be noticed that reducing the times we touch our face reduces acne as well. Gentle cleansers and moisturizers can also help pesky acne that is caused by the cold. A dermatologist can also provide antibiotic treatments to help rid your skin of acne issues.

3. Chapped lips

Splitting and cracking can also occur in severe cases, which is painful and can sometimes even cause bleeding. One of the most common mistakes people make is licking their lips while out in the cold. This causes severe lip irritation and can make the chapping worse. The best way to prevent this is by using a good lip balm that will moisturize the lips and provide them with extra hydration.

4. Dandruff

During winters, there is a lack of moisture content in the air, which makes it dry. And this eventually leads to dryness of the skin and also the scalp. Drying of the scalp leads to dandruff.

We also tend to consume less water during winters. This causes dehydration. Dehydration is also a reason for dandruff.

Wearing a cap or a hat, especially one that’s made of wool and infrequent hair wash are also other causes of dandruff.

Keeping the hair and scalp clean, and regular oiling can give some relief for dandruff. However, when severe and in need of personalized treatment, it is recommendable to see a dermatologist.

5. Dull Skin/Oily Skin

Dull skin is a common complaint in winters. This is because the dry weather lessens the natural oils from our skin that usually keep the skin smooth and healthy.

We should try to avoid using excessively hot water in winters, as it opens up pores and further reduces the natural oils. Instead, it is advisable to use warm or lukewarm water to wash your face so we don’t strip away essential oils. Use a gentle facial cleanser every day with no strong fragrances or perfumes added is recommended.

Many people also tend to experience oilier skin during winters. This is because the oil glands tend to secrete more oil to combat the dry skin, and sometimes they tend to go overboard. This causes the pores to enlarge and the skin to look greasy. Use a cleanser with oil control in such cases.

6. Dry and irritated nose

Cold air not only dries out your skin and chaps your lips, but it can also dry out the nose and causes irritation. Winter is also a bad time for people with pollen allergies which cause a runny nose. Cold and flu are also rampant in winters resulting in a dry and irritating nose.

The use of a humidifier inside the house goes a long way in reducing dryness. In addition to treating the source, tips like using saline solution to keep the nasal cavities moistened can provide some relief to the symptoms.

7. Cracked heels

Painful, cracked heels are a common skin condition, especially in winter. They are often caused by dry skin. In some cases, dry cracked feet can lead to infection or make walking painful.

Moisturizing the feet by frequent application of petroleum jelly can help. Putting on a pair of socks overnight is also a tried and tested remedy. Medicinal applications are also available to treat cracked heels.

Some Tips to Prevent Skin Problems in Winter

Each problem requires a unique treatment depending on the severity. But here are some preventive measures that we can take to avoid skin problems in winter –