“In the Army, the officer eats after his jawans, but in the police it is the opposite”, says Mr GK Pillai, the Union Home Secretary, while discussing the dismal state of the constabulary in India.
This and more on the subject alongwith comments by senior former police officers can be read by clicking here.
True words by Mr Pillai but are we doing anything about it ?. And before we start comparing the utter chaos in the rank and file of the police with the army, it must be pointed out that effective policing is the hallmark of all strong nations in the world today and it is the duty of all of us to make law enforcement more efficient in India in our own little ways as responsible citizens of the country.
A deeper insight on the issue was touched here on this blog via Abhinav Kumar’s response to a blog-post. Perhaps we need more out-of-the-box thinkers like him in the police today.
This and more on the subject alongwith comments by senior former police officers can be read by clicking here.
True words by Mr Pillai but are we doing anything about it ?. And before we start comparing the utter chaos in the rank and file of the police with the army, it must be pointed out that effective policing is the hallmark of all strong nations in the world today and it is the duty of all of us to make law enforcement more efficient in India in our own little ways as responsible citizens of the country.
A deeper insight on the issue was touched here on this blog via Abhinav Kumar’s response to a blog-post. Perhaps we need more out-of-the-box thinkers like him in the police today.
11 comments:
Yes, well, the current mess should be rectified. And additionally, police forces should be politely asked to change their badges of rank, because their current apeing of army ranks and accoutrements reeks of stolen valour, and fake glory.
Hi
Well said Mr Pillai, I retired fifteen years ago from the Army and the maximum I cherished and the taste of it still lingers in my mouth was a cup of cooked Dal from the Jawans langar. Its so simple ARMY MARCHES ON ITS SATISFIED FULL STOMACH( DEG TEG FATEH ) Why cant our colleagues in khaki learn such a simple doctrine to stay satisfied and keep the force efficient!!!!
Thats a wonderful observation by a Police Officer. But a world of caution for us faujis. Do preserve this quatity of loyalty to the Jawans or we go the police way.
Navdeep, Once again you have hit the right note. We in the Defence understand that defending the Borders will not help if the country is rotting inside. I have had two encounters with the Police (one when my Scooter was picked up and second when a Drunk Youngster crashed into my Car). Both times the Police on ground acquitted themselves very well, but I felt sad for the state of affairs there at the Police Station. And this was at Delhi. The disparity between Officialdom (note I do not use the word Officers) and the Constable on ground is telling. The difference between Army and Police, I cannot comment on. Perhaps it is because in the Army, we fight along with our Jawans. We understand their hopes and aspirations and live and interact daily with them. Their lives and our lives depend on each other. The Common enemy is within the Country (Babudom) and outside (the borders). Unfortunately, Public Dealing (police Jobs) is vastly different. Citizens come in all shapes and sizes, from the utterly dumb to the crafty. The IAS has a tough job, made tougher by Peer Pressure to make moolah while you can. And they have and had lost touch with "Public" and the Constabulary a long time back. The Police are underpaid, overworked, underfed and under equipped. The other day, I intercepted a scooterist on the road with a 3 SLRs (turned out to be a constable transporting rifles on his own vehicle to the Koth). Being an Officer I salute the Police and the Teachers of this country. Wonder why M/S Prags has nothing to say. I presume he is working to reduce the corruption in the Armed Forces.
THE CORRUPTION IN THE POLICE FORCES IS LEGENDARY. ENUF MOVIES HAVE BEEN MADE ON THEM AND ENUF HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THEM. EVEN MAKING COMPLAINTS TO THE POLICE IS SUCH A PAINFUL PROCESS THAT GOOD CITIZENS ABSTAIN FROM DOING SO.
JUST WHAT REFORMATION THE POLICY MAKERS IN THIS COUNTRY CAN DO REMAINS TO BE SEEN. BUT THE SADDENING FACTS ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE. PAN CHEWING BEAT COPS HARASSING THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SALAAMING THE GOONDAS AND WEALTHY INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE ETC ARE COMMONLY EXPERIENCED STUFF...WHEN WILL WE ACTUALLY SEE SOME REFORM???
Sir,
I presume that the Home Secretary has only said what the SPC has reflected. There can only be a comparison between the Defence forces and Police forces.
THE REAL QUESTION IS:
When can good leaders be defacto good administrators?
Maybe if we start the training from the rank of Lt Col in earnest. When will the Defence forces understand that we defend the nation of which defending the borders is its visible presence and not limiting presence. And defending the nation internally needs a larger measure of administrative leadership. Let the Armed forces Officer cadre train itself to provide such administrative leadership. Until then such statements will provide us the needed solace.
@Anonymous@1056PM:
The observation was by GK Pillai, IAS. He is the secretary in the Union Home Ministry. He is not a police officer, rather an officer of the IAS.
And I will say this, generally the boys of the Delhi police/Gurgaon police are good sorts, functioning as best they can, with supervision largely coming from the Non Gazetted Officer level (Inspector and Below).
Alas, the police system in our country, has become that someone takes an exam, and become laat sahab. It didnt use to be this way. The IPS police officers until, and after independence used to patrol with their men, and do routine police work. But with the Babu culture creeping in, they only sit in an AC office, and make generic pronouncements, while pretending to make "policy" and provide "oversight" and "supervision". It is very easy to go down this WRONG road. Thank god the army hasnt had it happen to them yet.
It is my personal opinion that quoting statements like this particular one trivialises the entire issue. We should not be in the business of scoring hits and should rather work hard at resolving all substantive issues as they affect the morale and fighting capabilities of the armed forces.
Such statements are sometimes a smokescreen put up to lull us into a false sense of complacency while a massive armoured thrust is built up elsewhere !!! They should not be teaching us tactics !!
Pray when does Mr GK Pillai eat?
Tad presumptuous to comment on something he and his ilk does so well - eat, and how! The cops would have nothing left to eat after Pillai has his fill.
The cops have enough on their hands than to brook homilies from such babus who lord over them without themselves going thru the paces. Its another matter that the police 'managers' themselves shy from going thru the paces.
Navdeep
seeing ur posts after a long haitus and i felt i havent missed much.
First things first:
(a) we fuajis always look for dog biscuts(ie. little bits of lip service said by high and mighty) and feel happy. this means we become very contented for a short time till some person insults us and we are back to our cribbing best.
(b) why do we make so much of what little our IAS offrs are saying? There is nothing new in his(pillai) saying and acknowledging, be it Services or the Police. If he or his ilk were serious then why were the reforms not implemented till date instead of only talk. the point is that the babooz dont walk the talk but only talk talk....
(c) the problem in the Police is it is very much offr centric wherein the offr get all the perks and previlages even though he is inefficient and constable gets a "Thenga". The constabulary are used as domestic help perhaps worser than our orderlies/sahayaks(i am dead against this sahayak system). I am sorry to state that though we look after our jawans theres lot more to be done on issues like getting rid of sahayak system, giving ACP to jawans akin to civlians, accelerated and timebound promotions upto naib subedar rank etc.
so there is nothing to rave about what pillai saheb has written. instead read it and carry on.
Navdeep i also happened to read a disturbing article in the week (feb 14 issue) about IDSA. I was aghast to see that the babboz have upsurped even that defence policy study centre. no wonder its lost its sheen. this is ample proof of the fact that whereever the IAS cadre goes the muck follows. I cannot understand the extent of greed of IAS offrs. Wherever they find a place that gives exposure and importance thay wanted to be heading that estt or posted there. There should defnitely be an end to this erratic spread of babudom atleast from the natl security aspects else god save this country.
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