t-gana-cop-demands-proof-of-pregnancy-from-on-duty-journo

In a weird development reported from Telangana, a journalist was asked to show proof of her pregnancy during the course of her work.

 

The inquiry was made by a policeman who, too, was on duty.

 

The pregnant journalist had come to a temple to cover an event, where a cop from Telangana police was appointed, eyeing the temple’s security.

 

While the journalist tried to go near the sanctum sanctorum, the policeman denied entry.

 

She was asked to stand at a distance among other devotees. To this the woman replied, “I am here to fulfil my duty as a journalist. And owing to my pregnancy, I am feeling uneasy amidst the crowd.”

 

“Show me your pregnancy,” was the immediate reply from the policeman. To which the woman was taken aback.

 

One wonders why the woman on-duty was asked to give proof of her pregnancy.

 

While women in the workforce are often subjected to biasness, which mostly stems from deep-rooted prejudices, even women at times fail to take a stand for the cause of other women.

 

The female journalist narrated the incident to a woman politician, hoping to get some help from her.

 

But, the latter schooled her about taking care of oneself during pregnancy and advised the journalist to refrain from working during this period of time.

 

The politician, who should have taken a step for the journalist, as a means to address the plight of women professionals, chose to advise the journalist about how to be cautious during pregnancy.

 

The policeman must have been pressured by his higher-ups to ensure proper security at the temple event. Yet, this does not justify the manner in which he spoke to a woman, who was trying to fulfil her duties, keeping aside her medical condition.

 

Most women continue to work till the complications related to her pregnancy reach a stage where she needs to prioritise it over everything else. Thus, a woman knows better when to take a leave from work given her medical state. None can advise her on this.

 

It is time when we stop judging women for their choices and instead let them decide what is best for them. If one cannot make things easier for them, then one can at least choose to refrain from adding to their woes.