Beating all odds and rising to become Pakistan's first Hindu woman deputy superintendent of police, Manisha Ropeta is thrilled to have "proven wrong" her relatives and is looking forward to take on new challenges: to be a "women protector" by leading a feminism drive and encourage gender equality in a patriarchal society, reports PTI.
Ropeta, 26, who is from Jacobabad in interior Sindh province, believes women are the target of many crimes and are the "most oppressed" population in male-dominated Pakistan. Physical and sexual violence, honour killings and forced marriages make Pakistan one of the worst countries for women. The 'Global Gender Gap Index' of the World Economic Forum, had ranked Pakistan third from the bottom a couple of years ago. Pakistan was ranked 151 out of 153 countries.
Ropeta cleared the Sindh Public Service Commission examination last year. She ranked 16th on a merit list of 152 successful candidates. She is undergoing training and will be posted as the DSP in the crime-infested area of Lyari. "From childhood, I and my sisters have seen the same old system of patriarchy where girls are told if they want to get educated and work it can only be as teachers or doctors," she said.
Belonging to a middle-class family, Ropeta says she wants to end the notion that girls from good families should refrain from joining the police service. Ropeta feels her working as a senior police officer will empower women. "I want to lead a feminism drive and encourage gender equality in the police force."
Before Ropeta, Pushpa Kumari from Umerkot district had passed her examination and joined Sindh Police as the first Hindu assistant sub-inspector.
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