THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After a three-year gap, the Games Village at Menamkulam, which was constructed for the 35th National Games that the state had hosted, will bounce back to life. This time it won’t be sportspersons who will ooze life into the village that has largely been lying unattended since the Games concluded.
About 580 policewomen, all members of the women’s battalion, will reach the place by the first week of August. The Village has been decided as the headquarters of the newly-formed all-women battalion that will cater to the security of the women in the state.
The Police Department has readied about 92 cottages for the battalion members. All these cottages are pre-fabricated and had been used by the athletes during the National Games. The Police Department has completed required maintenance works of the cottages. Each cottage can accommodate a maximum of eight people. The work of the mess, drainage, compound wall and water storage have been completed.
Headquarters SP R Nishanthini, who is also the commandant of the women’s battalion, said all necessary arrangements have been made to accommodate the policewomen.
The passing out parade of the batch will be held on July 31 and the battalion is expected to reach here within 10 days, Nishanthini said. “Works were on for the last six months to repair the facility. All the mandatory requirements have been arranged,” she said.
The battalion headquarters will come up at 10 acres of land. Since the Games Village had an exclusive playground, the policewomen could use it for their drills and parades. In the meantime, more facilities like gymnasium will come up, Nishanthini said.
The women’s battalion is part of the government’s effort to enhance the representation of women in the force. The battalion members are currently undergoing their mandatory nine months training at the Police Academy in Thrissur.
Though Menamkulam has been fixed as the headquarters of the battalion, it’s not known where the women commandos will be stationed. Women commandos were trainees handpicked from the batch and were given sophisticated training in weapon handling. Nishanthini hinted they might be sent for further training.
“They might go for further training. But it’s the State Police Chief’s call,” she said. Meanwhile, police top sources said the commando unit, which has a strength of 44, will be kept at Menamkulam after training due to the proximity of the place with the city.