It will take 300 years for this Indian state’s police force to bring in gender diversity

• Only 8 out of 36 states and union territories in India have over 10% of women representation in police forces, with Chandigarh having the highest share at 18%
  
• Madhya Pradesh will take 294 years to increase the share of women in their police forces to 33% — as recommended by the government earlier this year.
  
• Whereas, Chattisgarh will take 225 years to have 33% of women representation and seven states will take more than 50 years to do so.
  

There are very few policewomen in India. And states are doing little to cope up with it.

If the current tardy pace continues, it will take Madhya Pradesh 294 years to increase the share of women in their police force to 33%. This percentage is recommended by India Justice Report by Tata Trusts.

Chattisgarh will take 225 years to do the same. Seven other states will take 50 years more years, to do so. Simply put, none of us reading this might not see it happen in our lifetime.

^{Source: Tata}

“Women account for just 7% of the 2.4 million police officers in the country, but 6% are at the officer level. Similarly, they account for 28% in the lower judiciary, but this falls to 12% at the High Court level. Over 5 years, 31 states and UTs have improved women's representation in the force. The pace however is much too slow,” said the report.

Low women representation
Only 8 out of 36 states and union territories in India have over 10% of women in their police force. Chandigarh has the highest share at 18%.

Here are the states having more than 10% share of women in their police force

State and UTs	Share of women in police (%, Jan 2017)
Chandigarh	18%
Dadra & Nagar Haveli	14.8%
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	12.2%
Tamil Nadu	12.9%
Himachal Pradesh	12.2%
Daman & Diu	12%
Maharashtra	11.6%

Most states posted a decline in the number of women in the forces. Bihar is the only exception. The number of women in Bihar’s police force increased from 2% to 9% between 2012-2016.

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