B. Sandhya facts for kids

B. Sandhya (born May 25, 1963) is a retired officer from the Indian Police Service (IPS). This is a special service for top police officers in India. She used to be the Director General of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services, Home Guard, and Civil Defence.

Besides her police work, she is also a talented writer. She has won many awards for her books, including the Edasseri Award in 2007. She retired from her police duties on May 31, 2023, with the high rank of Director General of Police.

About Her Life

Sandhya was born in Palai, a town in the Kottayam district of Kerala. Her parents are S. Bharathadas and V. L. Karthyayani Amma. She is married to K. Madhukumar, who used to be in charge of exams at the University of Kerala. They have one daughter named Hyma.

Her Education

Sandhya studied Zoology and earned a Master of Science degree from Alphonsa College, Pala. She also trained in Human Resources Management at Wollongong University in Australia. Later, she got a postgraduate diploma from Pondicherry University.

She completed her PhD from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. Her special research was about how easy it is for women to use the justice system and how police treat women.

Her Police Career

Sandhya started her career working at Matsyafed, a fisheries organization in Kerala. In 1988, she joined the Indian Police Service after passing a tough national exam.

She held many important positions in the police force. She served as Assistant Superintendent of Police in Shornur and Joint Superintendent of Police in Alathur. She was also the Superintendent of Police in places like Kannur, Kollam, and Thrissur.

Later, she became the Deputy Inspector General of Police for Crime Investigation in the Southern Range. She also served as Inspector General of Police for the Central Zone in Ernakulam. From 2013, she held the post of Additional Director General of Police.

Key Police Roles

Here are some of the important roles B. Sandhya held during her police career:

Insignia	Designation	Unit Name
	Director-General	Kerala Fire and Rescue Services (January, 2021-May, 2023 )
	ADGP (Training) & Director, KEPA	Kerala Police Academy (2018-2020)
	ADGP	South Zone (2016-2017)
	ADGP	Modernisation (2015)
	ADGP	Armed Police Battalions (2013-2015)
	IG	CBCID EOW CSO (2012)
	IG	Thrissur Range (2011)
	IG	Ernakulam Range (2010)
	IG	Traffic (2009)
	DIG	Thrissur Range (2005-2006)
	DIG	CBCID (2001-2005)
	SP	Kollam (1994-1995) & (1998-1999)
	SP	Thrissur (1996-1998)
	ASP & JSP	Alathur (1992-1993)

Important Contributions

B. Sandhya has made many important contributions to policing in Kerala:

• She helped write the Kerala Police Act in 2011. This law guides how the police work.
• She was the first officer to lead the successful Community Policing Project of Kerala. This project is called Janamaithri Suraksha Project. It helps police and communities work together.
• As a senior police officer, she started programs like the Women Helpline and Pink Patrol. These programs help keep law and order and build trust with the public.
• She successfully investigated many important cases, including those involving crimes against women.
• As the first Traffic Inspector General of Kerala, she introduced many new ideas for managing traffic.
• She helped create the Commando Wing of Kerala Police. She also trained the first Women Battalion, including women commandos.
• She organized big events for the Kerala Police, like the first Police Science Congress.
• She worked as a special officer for the government in tribal areas of northern districts.
• She introduced a system to train police officers better. She made sure almost all police personnel in Kerala received training in 2018 and cyber training in 2019.

Awards and Honors

B. Sandhya has received many awards for her excellent service and literary work:

• In 1997, she won the Best Police District Award from the Chief Minister of Kerala for her work in Thrissur District.
• She received the President of India’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2006.
• In 2010, the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) gave her an award. This was for her great work in community policing and helping women who were victims of crime.
• She received the President of India's Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2014.
• She helped the Janamaithri Police of Kerala State win a Guinness World Record. This was for taking part in an environmental program in 2017.
• She also received another Guinness World Record for participating in the largest physical self-defense lesson in 2017.
• Her novel Neelakoduveliyude Kavalkkari won the Edasseri Award in 2007.
• Her children's book Attakkilikunnile Athbhudangal won the Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award in 2012.
• She has also received other literary awards like the Gopalakrishnan Kolazhi Award (2001) and the Kunjunni Puraskaram (2013).

Literary Works

B. Sandhya has written many books and research papers. She also edited Impressions, a Short History of Kerala Police. She even helped create a website about Kerala Police History.

Children's Books (Malayalam)

• Tharatthu (The Lullabies) – 1999
• Balavadi (The Nursery) – 2001 (Won the Kolazhi Gopalakrishna Panikker memorial children's literature award)
• Kattarente Koottukari (Forest river my friend) – 2007
• Ethra Nalla Ammu (Ammu, how nice she is) – (Won Kunjunni Puraskaram 2013)
• Attakkilikunnile Athbhudangal (The Wonders in the Sparrow Hill) – 2009 (Won Abu Dhabi Sakthi Award – 2012)

Poetry Collections

• Ranthal Vilakku (The lantern) – 2002
• Neermaruthile Uppan (Greater coucal on the tree of Neermaruth) – 2004
• Chempakam Nee Madangippokalle (Oh ! Chempa tree, Do not Return) -2013
• Selected Poems of B.Sandhya – 2013
• Sakthi Seetha - 2020

Novels

• Neelakkoduvelitude Kavalkkari (The Protectress of Neelakkoduveli) – 2006
• Ithihasathinte Ithalukal (Petals of the Epic) – 2015

Articles

• Oru Punchiri Mattullavarkkayi (Collection of articles) - 2021
• Mahapralayam (A study on the Kerala Police's rescue efforts during the unprecedented floods in Kerala) - 2022