Dr. Meeran Chadha Borwankar, IPS (Retd.)

? Is currently the Independent External Monitor (IEM) for the Union Bank of India (UBI) and National Aluminium Company limited (NALCO). Was earlier the IEM for Indian Oil Corporation, Gas Authority of India and Air India.

? Is on the board of different educational institutes.

? Retired as Director General, Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD) and National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) at New Delhi.

? Worked as Director General Legal & Technical, Maharashtra state Oct 2015-May 2016.

? Worked as the first woman Chief of Maharashtra State Prisons Department from 2012-2015. Handled very sensitive issues of Prison security of over fifty prisons in the state; personally supervised capital punishment of two terrorists (Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon) as per the orders of the Supreme Court of India. Various initiatives for reformation and re-integration of prison inmates undertaken. Special attention to skills upgradation of prisoners especially women prison inmates.

? Was the Commissioner of Police Pune City from 2010-2012, first ever woman Commissioner of Police in the state of Maharashtra. Emphasized the importance of citizen’s participation in Police. Initiated Student’s internship program through ‘Pune Police Vidyarathi Abhiyan’. Involved citizens in policing through ‘Pune Police Chowky Sabalikarn’ program. Special efforts to prevent human trafficking by sealing twenty-two brothels u/s 18 of Immoral traffic Prevention Act (ITPA) though the special powers vested with the Commissioner of Police and exercised for the first time at this scale in the city of Pune. Due to personal intervention thirty six (36) minors and ninety one (91) major girls were rescued and 97 criminal cases were registered against the traffickers. Ten of them filed writ petitions in the Bombay High Court dragging the Commissioner into litigation but could not deter her from her crusade against human trafficking where her focus was on rescue especially of the minor girls.

? Revived ‘Mahila Dakshata Samities’ in all police stations of Pune to encourage participation of women in policing especially for pursuing investigation of offenses against women. Organized state-level 25th anniversary of ‘Mahila Dakshata Samities’ with participation of women from all districts where their performance was reviewed, and new initiatives exchanged.

? Served two terms in State Crime Investigation Department 1993- 1996 as the Superintendent and 2007 to 2010 as the Inspector General of Police State Crime Investigation Department. Supervised investigation of serious crime in the state of Maharashtra including the infamous Jalgaon sex scandal where about hundred girls reported exploitation by politically powerful local leaders. Not only supervised investigation but pursued the successful trial of the criminal cases. The accused involved in the exploitation of young girls filed personal cases against her to demoralize and defame her. However, came out clean with courts appreciating her dedication for the cause of women.

? Worked as Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mumbai from 2004 to 2007. First ever woman to head the Crime Branch Mumbai that deals with organized crime syndicates and national/international crime. As head of the Social Security Branch that forms part of the Crime Branch, initiated systematic action against human traffickers applying Maharashtra Control Of Organized Crime (MCOC) Act against them. Established two new Social Security Cells for looking to the cases of women in the Eastern and Western suburbs of Mumbai to reduce their travel woes.

? Headed the Centre for Good Governance at Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Developmental Administration (YASHADA) Pune and trained officers of different departments of Maharashtra with special emphasis on Citizen’s participation in Governance, Human Rights and Gender Justice.

? Worked in the Central Bureau of Investigation from 1999 to 2002 as Deputy Inspector General, Economic Offences Wing Mumbai and Deputy Inspector General, Anti-Corruption Bureau New Delhi. Also pursued investigation of drug offences.

? Worked as the Superintendent of Police, Satara District from 1996-1999 and Superintendent of Police Aurangabad District from 1990-1992. The first ever Woman District Police Chief of Maharashtra.

Encouraged citizens participation in maintaining communal harmony in the very sensitive district of Aurangabad. It has a history of clashes between different religious communities. As the Superintendent of Police Satara District, initiated citizens-police collaboration for preventing highway robberies of passengers especially women travelling by night luxury buses. Paid special attention to the training of police personnel by introducing Mobile Training van. Involved women in policing by establishing ‘Mahila Dakshata Samities’ at Police station levels where they would review and pursue investigation of criminal offences against women. Women of both the districts gave overwhelming response to the initiative.

? Worked in Mumbai Commissionerate from 1987-89 as Deputy Commissioner of Police Port and Zone IV. As The deputy Commissioner of Police Port brought down notorious port thefts due to rationalization of the working hours of the police personnel and intensive patrolling leading by example. As Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone iv, maintained communal harmony between various religious groups of Dharavi and Mahim. Paid special attention to the women issues in Dharavi, the biggest slum in the world.

? Served two terms as the Secretary of Police Research Center Pune, (1993-1996 & 2007-2009) encouraged training of police personnel and research on police related subjects. As a personal initiative conducted an intensive research on ‘Gender friendliness of Maharashtra Police for its Uniformed women Police officers’. (2015-2016) Sample of the study was the whole state. The study is being extensively quoted including for academic research.