IPS officer Violet Baruah has become the first woman to become the Inspector General (IG) of Police in Assam.
Baruah who received the President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service this year has been promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Police with effect from January 1, 2022.
The 59-year-old officer believes that while gender empowerment has been taking place everywhere, the need of the hour is gender mainstreaming. 'It requires personal initiative also. I personally opted for a field job and I did not face any barrier in that. Nowadays many women have come forward to join the police, but I feel more should come,' said Baruah in her interview with the media.
She has served as the superintendent of police in four districts -- Morigaon, Goalpara, Cachar and Barpeta, besides working in the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police. 'I have never said no to any posting or task in my career. Rejecting a job has never been my style of functioning. That is why I was out of Guwahati (where state police headquarters is situated) for most of the period of my service,' she added.