Udaipur: Women cops get surprise leave for Karva Chauth celebration

Udaipur: Several police districts in Rajasthan announced half-working day for woman constables so that they could celebrate Karva Chauth. Women cops in Jaipur, Barmer, Banswara and Churu were given a special relaxation for the festival.

Champa stayed at home to celebrate Karva Chauth for the first time in her 12-year long police service.

“It is like a luxury for me and I applied henna on my hands. My husband didn’t let me work so I felt like a queen,” the lady cop told TOI. Champa Roat (35), the constable posted at Garhi police station in Banswara district, is one among her peers who enjoyed the special leave granted to women cops from constable to sub-inspector ranks. "It is a tough job especially for the females who also manage homes. They hardly spend quality time with their family. This surprise leave was granted to the women cops so that they could enjoy the festival," SP (Banswara) Kesar Singh Shekhawat said. There are 52 women constables, 7 head constables and 1 assistant sub-inspector in Banswara. "I observe fast on Karva Chauth every year but it was always a hurried affair due to work. I would run home and perform puja but this time I enjoyed it. I even kept nirjala vrat (fasting without intake of water) which would have been impossible without a holiday," Ambapura constable Bhagwati Kanwar said. Jaipur police’s west, east and traffic zones announced a half-day for the women cops so that they can perform the annual ritual. “Women constables lead a very difficult life because of the mandate of the duty so we decided to give them a half-day on Karva Chauth,” a police official said.