“I want to be happy with my work,” says IPS Officer Apoorva Rao, while talking about different roles working women must play.
The challenges faced by women are different from the challenges faced by men, she believes. “Despite all the challenges, if we can move forward with the right attitude, it is a level playing field out there,” she says.
The 2014 batch officer is relatively new to the scene of policing. She decided to pursue her dreams of joining the force when she was in her final year of graduation. She cleared her exam in her second attempt while still at a day job with TCS.
“While the field is definitely male-dominated, men and women have similar physical training plans; and by the end of the day, you don’t feel unequal or less capable of anything,” says Rao, who has become the first woman IPS officer of Telangana.
Rao’s goal is to work with integrity and never to lose touch with reality. She says, “The wide range of activities, from administrative to enforcement, and dealing with people from different walks of life provides a dynamic learning environment. Every day, I get to learn new things.”
Talking about striking a balance between the personal and professional life, Rao says, “Work is an important part of life but that’s not everything. At the end, what will remain after a career are family and relationships. For me, it is important to live up to my expectations not just as an officer but also as a daughter, wife and a mother.” She adds, “My family guided me during my physically-demanding training.”
Does this engineering graduate think that the police force has changed, in terms of the number of women joining the police? She says, “More women are joining the police force these days. However, it’s not enough. I feel most women have the qualities of being successful police officers, such as perseverance, ability to multitask and commitment."
Elaborating on the qualities required in an aspiring candidate, Rao explains, “For an aspiring civil servant, a mindset to serve the people, positive attitude, ability to make the best out of the worst circumstances, are important.”
