A fine editorial piece, rarely seen in the desi-press. It is good
start. Hope it will be followed by other related issues and
discussions of effective ways to counter the rot.
One very important point made here is the importance of
reforms from the TOP. As it stands, it is not possible, without
radical reforms in the political system and processes.
cm
Police-Public
Relations
O n April 30, Assam Police Headquarters organized a meeting of some leading citizens of Guwahati to elicit their views on the perceived public image of police and the ideal image desired by the average citizen. Unlike in some past exercises, there was no interaction as such between the group of citizens and the police officers present. The leading citizens were requested to speak their mind freely and the senior officers including the Director General of Police listened. This is a novel effort and if what has been expressed by the invitees in the meeting register well with the listeners it should give valuable inputs to the police administration in building up a healthy police -public interface. Whether this happens or not will get reflected in the manner an average policeman behaves in public in future. The citizens were assured that the inputs received will be analysed and used after an in-house discussion amongst the police officers and men. This is welcome. One only hopes that pious wishes do not flounder on the rock of administrative indifference or find impediments created by political masters. From the opinions expressed by the leading citizens, two very negative aspects of the image of police surfaced. One was concerning policemen's behaviour and the other was rampant corruption at all levels of policing. Many invitees stated that rude behaviour and abusive language had become ingrained in police culture. As soon as a policeman dons his uniform his personality undergoes a dramatic change, he presumes himself to be all powerful and uses his stick uniformly on the innocent and the guilty. Unless some basic change is made in the training methodology, this behavioural pattern is not likely to go. An obsolete nineteenth century Police Act and some similarly obsolete police manuals give a police person the perception that he is a crime-buster and he maintains order (not so much an enforcer of law since he becomes a law unto himself), but he is not given the perception that he is also a service provider. His one important role is to enhance the quality of life of the people by ensuring peace in the locality he serves. His role is not against criminals alone but mainly for the benefit of the people. Unless this ingredient of service to the people is incorporated in the training methodology in the training institutes as well as in field situations, the behavioural pattern inherited from the colonial days is not likely to change. Here lies the importance of training that was organized under the 'Project Aashwas' which appears to have been given up by the Assam police Administration.
Corruption in police cannot be viewed in isolation. Police is a part of a fabric which is already very rotten. Corruption is so rampant in all realms of administration that the average citizen has started accepting some forms of corruption as routine practices e.g. 'push money' and 'hush money'. In a government department nothing moves unless money passes hands. There are no two opinions that with a few exceptions all police men take bribe and strangely, they often believe that it is their due. But a police officer does not take bribe for himself alone; he takes bribe for his superiors and for political masters.Though it may sound strange it is a fact that professional efficiency of a police officer is judged by his efficiency in collecting fund for the political masters who need many for themselves as well as for their party. Some of the posts are lucrative because there is more money in such posts and only the good collectors of fund are considered for these posts.Politicians do not want a police officer whose motto is to serve the people.They want policemen who are subsevient to them.They do not want a police officer who wants to enforce law in letter and spirit,because they like to use law to suit their purpose.They will also like police to interpret law that would serve their selfish design. For rooting out corruption in police, the action has to start at the top and that top is adorned by politicians. When rot starts at the head, the other limbs cannot but be affected.
O n April 30, Assam Police Headquarters organized a meeting of some leading citizens of Guwahati to elicit their views on the perceived public image of police and the ideal image desired by the average citizen. Unlike in some past exercises, there was no interaction as such between the group of citizens and the police officers present. The leading citizens were requested to speak their mind freely and the senior officers including the Director General of Police listened. This is a novel effort and if what has been expressed by the invitees in the meeting register well with the listeners it should give valuable inputs to the police administration in building up a healthy police -public interface. Whether this happens or not will get reflected in the manner an average policeman behaves in public in future. The citizens were assured that the inputs received will be analysed and used after an in-house discussion amongst the police officers and men. This is welcome. One only hopes that pious wishes do not flounder on the rock of administrative indifference or find impediments created by political masters. From the opinions expressed by the leading citizens, two very negative aspects of the image of police surfaced. One was concerning policemen's behaviour and the other was rampant corruption at all levels of policing. Many invitees stated that rude behaviour and abusive language had become ingrained in police culture. As soon as a policeman dons his uniform his personality undergoes a dramatic change, he presumes himself to be all powerful and uses his stick uniformly on the innocent and the guilty. Unless some basic change is made in the training methodology, this behavioural pattern is not likely to go. An obsolete nineteenth century Police Act and some similarly obsolete police manuals give a police person the perception that he is a crime-buster and he maintains order (not so much an enforcer of law since he becomes a law unto himself), but he is not given the perception that he is also a service provider. His one important role is to enhance the quality of life of the people by ensuring peace in the locality he serves. His role is not against criminals alone but mainly for the benefit of the people. Unless this ingredient of service to the people is incorporated in the training methodology in the training institutes as well as in field situations, the behavioural pattern inherited from the colonial days is not likely to change. Here lies the importance of training that was organized under the 'Project Aashwas' which appears to have been given up by the Assam police Administration.
Corruption in police cannot be viewed in isolation. Police is a part of a fabric which is already very rotten. Corruption is so rampant in all realms of administration that the average citizen has started accepting some forms of corruption as routine practices e.g. 'push money' and 'hush money'. In a government department nothing moves unless money passes hands. There are no two opinions that with a few exceptions all police men take bribe and strangely, they often believe that it is their due. But a police officer does not take bribe for himself alone; he takes bribe for his superiors and for political masters.Though it may sound strange it is a fact that professional efficiency of a police officer is judged by his efficiency in collecting fund for the political masters who need many for themselves as well as for their party. Some of the posts are lucrative because there is more money in such posts and only the good collectors of fund are considered for these posts.Politicians do not want a police officer whose motto is to serve the people.They want policemen who are subsevient to them.They do not want a police officer who wants to enforce law in letter and spirit,because they like to use law to suit their purpose.They will also like police to interpret law that would serve their selfish design. For rooting out corruption in police, the action has to start at the top and that top is adorned by politicians. When rot starts at the head, the other limbs cannot but be affected.
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