Their average day involves long hours outdoors, often with no access to drinking water, food or a restroom. And for women traffic personnel who are pregnant or menstruating, some such days can be daunting.

It is with this in focus that the Bengaluru Traffic Police organised an interactive health session for the first time to address health and nutrition issues for women workforce on duty. As many as 250 women police personnel attached to the Traffic Police Department attended the session recently. The department roped in senior doctors from a reputed private hospital to address the issue and provide the women with tips.

“Usually, women police personnel face problems such as not being able to drink water during work to avoid urination as it is difficult to find a proper place to relieve themselves. The problem aggravates during menstruation and pregnancy. However, it is very important for them to maintain their health and stick to a proper diet to stay fit. So, the issue needs to be addressed,” a senior police officer said.

“The interactive session helped the personnel greatly,” said Sara Fathima, DCP, Traffic, North, who organised the session.

“We were given information by experts at the session. However, a lot more has to be done since the situation is different at the ground level,” a traffic policewoman said.

Earlier, at a grievance meeting, women police personnel had demanded separate washrooms for themselves at the station level, which has now been provided at every station, Ms. Fathima added. She also said that in an effort to bring women personnel on a par with their male counterparts, the department is also arranging training classes for the women force in riding and driving two-wheelers and four-wheelers and helping them obtain driving licence.