Bismi Jaseera, the first woman Excise Inspector of Alappuzha, is filled with joy at having realised a dream she once believed would never come true. Her happiness doubled when her first posting turned out to be in her home district. Bismi, a Harippad native, opens up about her journey to donning the Excise uniform.

A special fondness for uniform since childhood

“I’ve had a special fondness for uniforms since childhood,” says Bismi. “But I couldn’t apply for the Sub-Inspector post as I didn’t meet the minimum height requirement.” It was in this backdrop that the notification for the post of Women Excise Officer came out in 2019. “I had the required height for this post, even more than what was specified. This job is not only the fulfilment of a dream but also a chance to serve society.”

Inspired by mother

Her mother Beegam Tahira, a former Deputy Collector in the Revenue Service, is Bismi’s role model and the person behind her success. “She was an excellent Tehsildar who handled every situation with remarkable grace. I inherited my desire to help others and my sense of social responsibility from her,” Bismi says.

An opportunity to reach out to the next generation

“This is a profession that offers a chance to reach out to children. Compared to many other forces, the Excise Department plays a slightly bigger role in shaping the younger generation. That’s one of the major reasons that drew me to this profession.”

Loneliness can be a villain for children

“Often, it’s loneliness that pushes children towards substance use. To prevent this, they must be encouraged to socialise from a young age. Open conversations at home are also essential in guiding them onto the right path,” she adds.

Family is strength

It was Bismi’s son, Mohammad Rihaan, then in Class 8, who firmly insisted that his mother choose a uniformed job. “Even when other job opportunities came my way, he was the one who said no to them. He said he wouldn’t mind if I had to work far away, as long as I wore a uniform,” Bismi recalls.

Her husband Hasheer Muhammed, father Basheer, and the rest of the family have always stood by her, she says.