It was the first day of duty for Shiji Baby, Sindu Velayudhan, and Biji K.J., the newly appointed women civil excise officers in the Kattappana range of the Idukki division.
They are among the 365 women officers recruited by the Excise Department. As many as 27 have been allotted for Idukki and 21 joined duty.
The Public Service Commission had conducted the test in 2010. Kollam has the highest number of recruits, 32. As many as six candidates have not joined duty in Idukki. Probably, the long gap between the test and the actual selection may be the reason, sources say.
The department thinks the women officers will help in better and effective enforcement. In districts such as Idukki, drug and illicit liquor dealers have been increasingly using women agents to transport contraband, sources say.
With women officers in the force, the department will be able to conduct searches at houses and establishments, especially small shops, run by women, they say.
There are highly qualified candidates among the new recruits, including Julie Joseph K. who holds an M.Sc. degree and Shiji Baby who has a B.A. and B.Ed., says Deputy Commissioner of Excise Muhammed Siyad.
Ms. Baby says the career option is an unexpected turn in her life and is happy in the new job.
The appointment orders were sent ten days ago and all the officers are expected to join duty in five days, Mr. Siyad says.
“They will be given two days training at the Thodupuzha Range Office. They will then proceed to the Excise Academy in Thrissur for more training,” he says.
The ten range offices, special squads, and the Narcotic Enforcement Squad (NES) does not have women now.
The services of the new officers may be utilised here, sources say. The recruitment is on the basis of a Cabinet decision to reserve ten per cent of the total strength of the force for women.
The retail sale of ganja and liquor in small shops in remote areas is a major menace. This can be curbed if women officers are on the field, Mr. Siyad says.
There are many occasions when culprits escape as there are no women officers in the enforcement team, says an officer. Routine checks in vehicles can also be made more effective with the inclusion of women officers, he says.
