First IPS officer of India and currently Lieutnant Governor of Pondicherry, Kiran Bedi is seen as an epitome of women empowerment. She is known for her stringent actions and discipline. As a Lieutenant Governor of the union territory, she generally cycles to meet people and address their grievances. Recently, to check how far is Pondicherry safe for women, she went pillion riding on a scooter at night. With head covered by shawl, Kiran tried to conceal her identity. She informed about her assessment via micro blogging site Twitter, "Just back from a night round. Went pillion riding on a scooter camouflaged. Felt Pondicherry safe for women, even at night. Shall repeat.."
Her trip was in order to assess safety of the union territory and improve in the areas required. In a series of tweets, she went on to pour her conclusions. "Found Puducherry reasonably safe at night. But will be improved. Also urge people to connect with PCR,100/ & inform their concerns," she said in a tweet. She also posted a collage of her two pictures, one on a bicycle and the other on a scooter with the caption, "From a midnight incognito #Suraksha Round to the 6AM weekend #Swachh Round..." She also shared a video clip of her incognito night round.
However, when one of the media houses targeted her for not wearing helmet, she was quick to respond that it was by choice. "Not wearing helmet was a careful choice. Both wanted to appear vulnerable & wanted to see how we women driving a scooty at nite r looked at". Bedi took oath as Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry on 29 May, 2016 and since then due to her style of governance, she is being hailed as people's governor in the French colony.
