Republic Day: In first all-women contingent of Delhi Police marches down Kartavya Trail
According to Special Commissioner of Police (Armed Police), Robin Hibu, all participants are participating in the parade for the first time and are “very excited”.
New Delhi: To boost gender equality and women empowerment, Delhi Police will march an all-women contingent on the Kartavya Path during the 75th Republic Day parade on January 26, officials said on Tuesday.
This will be the first time in the history of the force that the marching contingent will consist exclusively of women, they said, adding that 80 percent of the participants this year are from the northeastern states.
According to the Delhi Police, it has a policy of recruiting people from the eight northeastern states to “bridge the gap” between the police and the people of that region.
A woman IPS officer, Shweta K Sugathan, will lead the marching contingent of 194 women head constables and constables of the force, an officer said.
The participants practice daily on the Kartyava trail, he added.
According to Special Commissioner of Police (Armed Police), Robin Hibu, all participants are taking part in the parade for the first time and are “very excited”.
“The marching contingent has been selected from the armed unit of our force and a majority of them are from the northeastern states,” Hibu said, adding that they will represent the people of the northeast in the Delhi Police.
Hibu said that the Delhi Police has added another feather in its cap this year as the women’s pipe band will be led by a woman officer – Constable Ruyangunuo Kense.
This band comprising 135 head constables and constables will play the “Delhi Police Song”, he added.
Last year, a female dedicated pipe band was included in the parade, but it was led by a male inspector, Rajender Singh.
Another officer said the all-female marching contingent during the parade “will definitely be a draw.”
The Defense Ministry had last year asked all armed forces, state governments and departments participating in the Republic Day parade to have women participants in their contingents, bands and scenes.
The Delhi Police marching contingent has the distinction of participating in every Republic Day parade since India became a republic on January 26, 1950, officials said.
It has been named the best marching contingent 15 times – the last was in 2021. Its motto is “Shanti, Seva aur Nyaya”, which means “Peace, Service and Justice”.