Helping road accident victims with pride

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, March 7

Anisha Rani (28) and Manpreet Kaur (27) have shattered stereotypes and realised their dreams of serving in the Punjab Police. They are posted with the Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) in Jalandhar Range.

Anisha Rani, a former national-level player in fencing and a graduate from HMV College Jalandhar, harboured a longstanding ambition to join the police force. Despite numerous challenges, she pursued her goal and ultimately succeeded in joining the State Armed Police in 2021. Following a gruelling 14-month training period at the PAP and then additional three-month training for the newly established SSF in Kapurthala, she fulfilled her aspiration of wearing the uniform.

Notably, Anisha is the sole woman SSF personnel within the Jalandhar Range possessing driving skills. Along with handling rescue operations, she actively participates in driving and is posted with her team on the Tanda-Hoshiarpur route.

Sharing her journey, Anisha said period from 2016 to 2021 was challenging for her. She appeared for State Armed Police exam in 2016, but could not qualify.

“However, my family’s support kept my dreams alive and encouraged me to start afresh,” she said.

She said it had been a month since she officially began her duties as SSF personnel. “I strongly believe that the presence of women SSF personnel not only ensures the safety of women driving on highways, but also provides a sense of security to women accident victims,” she said.

Similarly, Manpreet Kaur’s journey to the Punjab Police was marked by determination. A postgraduate in political science and currently posted on the Lambra-Nakodar route, she says she drew her inspiration from a photograph of a fellow district resident adorned in parade uniform at her school’s notice board in 2011. At that time, she envisioned her own place of honor.

Pursuing her aspiration through participation in the NCC, she earned recognition as one of only 12 girls selected from Punjab for the Republic Day parade in Delhi in 2013. She said despite her family’s constant opposition, she pursued her goal, ultimately earning acceptance into the State Armed Police in 2021.

Anisha and Manpreet expressed that since their joining in the SSF, their lives had gained purpose and they find great satisfaction in serving others. They emphasised that attending to accident victims promptly, offering assistance and administering first aid were noble cause.