Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

From district administration and tourism to public grievances and policing, women officers are increasingly occupying important positions in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a notable trend in the Union Territory’s governance over the past six years.

The latest reshuffle in the civil administration and police has reinforced this trend, with women officers taking charge of key departments, districts and specialised police units.

Of the 49 IAS officers in Jammu and Kashmir, 11 are women holding positions such as Secretary to the Government and Deputy Commissioner. In the police, at least five women IPS officers have been posted as Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), according to the latest transfer and posting orders.

Women have also made their mark in other key institutions. Prof. Nilofer Khan became the first woman Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir, Srinagar, while Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi is the first woman Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board.

In the latest civil administration reshuffle, Avny Lavasa, Secretary to the Government in the Hospitality and Protocol Department, has been transferred and posted as Secretary to the Government in the Tourism Department.

Anjali Sehrawat, Mission Director of the Jal Jeevan Mission, has been appointed Secretary to the Government in the Public Grievances Department.

Akriti Sagar, Managing Director of the National Health Mission, Jammu and Kashmir, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC).

Ayushi Sudan, Deputy Commissioner of Samba, has been appointed Commissioner of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, while Shreya Singhal, who was heading the JKTDC, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner of Ganderbal.

With Singhal's appointment, two of the ten districts in the Kashmir division—Ganderbal and Bandipora—are headed by women officers. Indu Kanwal Chib of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) is already serving as Deputy Commissioner of Bandipora.

Mamta Yadav has been appointed Director of Information, Jammu and Kashmir, while Mahima Madan, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Kathua, has been transferred and posted as Additional District Development Commissioner of Anantnag.

Ishita Rathi, who was awaiting a posting in the General Administration Department, has been appointed Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jammu. Seerat Baji, an IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre who was also awaiting a posting, has been appointed Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Srinagar (West).

Leena Padha, Mission Director of the Skill Development Mission, has been transferred and posted as Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Jammu and Kashmir.

Afroza Bano, a JKAS officer serving as Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) in Budgam, has been directed to await further posting in the General Administration Department.

The latest police reshuffle has also brought several women officers into prominent positions.

Bisma Qazi, an IPS officer, has been appointed Senior Superintendent of Police (Traffic), Srinagar, while K. M. Priyanka has been posted as SSP (Traffic), National Highway.

Arshi  Adil has been appointed Commandant of the Women's Wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP).

Two other women officers have also taken charge of new assignments: Anna Sinha as SSP Ramban and Neha Jain as SSP Sopore.

ALSO READ: Why a section of Muslims opposes UCC?

The appointments reflect the growing presence of women in Jammu and Kashmir's civil administration and police, with officers taking on responsibilities ranging from district-level governance and public service delivery to traffic management and police command.