ALAPPUZHA: Bismi Jaseera, the first woman Excise Inspector of Alappuzha, is living a dream she once thought impossible. A native of Harippad, her joy was amplified when her first posting brought her back to serve in her own district.

Her journey began with a childhood fascination for uniforms, but an initial setback came when she couldn’t meet the height requirement for the Sub-Inspector post. “That dream felt out of reach,” she recalls. However, when the Excise Department invited applications for women officers in 2019, Bismi found her window of opportunity—and she exceeded the height criteria this time.

For Bismi, the job isn’t just about donning a uniform. “It’s a chance to serve society,” she says. Her biggest inspiration has been her mother, Beegam Tahira, a respected former Deputy Collector. “She handled her duties with grace and compassion. My sense of responsibility and desire to help others comes from her,” Bismi reflects.

The Excise Department’s direct role in shaping young minds is what attracted Bismi most to the post. She highlights how loneliness often drives children toward substance abuse. “We need to encourage early social interaction and ensure open family conversations to protect our youth,” she advises.

Her strength lies in her supportive family. It was her son Mohammad Rihaan, then in Class 8, who urged her to pursue a uniformed job—even over other offers. “He told me it didn’t matter if I worked far away, as long as I wore the uniform,” she smiles. Her husband Hasheer, father Basheer, and extended family have been pillars of encouragement throughout.