GENDERED PERSPECTIVES ON WORK-LIFE BALANCE OF POLICE PERSONNEL: A STUDY IN BALAGHAT DISTRICT, MADHYA PRADESH

This paper explores the gendered dimensions of work-life balance among police personnel, particularly focusing onthe challenges faced in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh. Policing is an intense profession, demanding longhours, emotional labor, and a strict organizational hierarchy, which collectively strain the personal lives of officers.These challenges are significantly magnified for female officers due to traditional gender roles, limited institutionalsupport, and deep-rooted societal expectations. Based on a review of existing literature, the paper identifies criticalissues such as organizational rigidity, the masculine nature of police culture, the absence of gender-sensitivepolicies, and the underreporting of work-life challenges by male officers. It also highlights the disparity betweenurban and rural policing contexts. The study concludes with practical recommendations for policy reforms,advocating for gender-sensitive support systems, mental health services, flexible schedules, and a shift inorganizational culture. Addressing these issues is essential not only for the well-being of the police force but also forimproving service delivery and public trust.