HAMARA POLICEWALA

(A Policewala Inspecting Bomb blast site in Mumbai amidst heavy rains)

This post is dedicated to Policewalas who face all our wrath whenever something goes wrong in our lives. We  as a responsible find solace in abusing police for whatever goes wrong around us. I had a chance to meet a Police officer while going to Gorakhpur a long time back. I would like to share his experiences during duty days and his complaints to the Society. We have always expected more than what they can really do . Here are some instances:-

1. Lets start , suppose there are floods . Who is expected to save us at the first instances---Police. If he fails which is most likely given the infrastructure and training they recieve, Army has to step in.

2.An Unclaimed Deadbody:- If there is a dead body lying in our vicinty we will simply inform police and sleep calmly. Imagine the policewala has to protect the deadbody in Thana for somedays. Find the claimant and if not found perform the last rites of the deadbody according to the religion of deadbody(if it can be established). Imagine what pains the whole Thana has to go for during these days.

3. One of my friends ran away from his house due to huge debts. His family found the simplest way of complaining to police and pressurise the police for finding him , though they knew he was running away from creditors. All hell break loose and state machinery interfered for finding the chap. When Police really got activated they established that there was no kidnapping , and finally he was found in a distant district enjoying himself. Imagine the pressure which police sustained during these days due to frivolous complaint (which family had chosen just to dodge the creditors and nothing else).

4. In  a remote village even if the Master sahab is not discharging his duties and not teaching the children complaints go to thana only since the villagers know only one machinery to call for.complaint.Cant the education department be more responsible?

5. Suppose love birds(an adult boy and girl) runaway? Whom the families approach for settling all allegations----Police? Who is at fault---Police? For what wrong did the police do---nothing?---They are abused for being inactice!

6.If the Policewala catches someone for investigating a Crime. The whole Thana may be gheraoed even if the person caught is guilty and must be brought to books. If the culprit is connected he will escape and who gets accused---Police!

The State of Policewalas (Economic  and working condition) as compared to others:-

1. They normally get the same salary which a normall babu gets in State Govt. department except some allowances. The Normal  Teachers of villages get far more salary (Teachers dont even report for half of the year in villages) and get paid much higher. 

2. They get around Rs. 2000/- per year for Uniform  Maintenance . In todays world is it sufficent?

3. Imagine the working hours (At least 12-18 hrs and that too on the move). Which officer in the state deptt. works so hard?

4. Whom do they deal with---Goons, ploiticians,thiefs and all bad elements of society!(They shud get special allowance for this)

5 . They are humans but they completely miss their family life (No time for family).And we conviniently say---"Policewale ka beta hai bigadega hii?" As if policewala was a born bigdaa...and its in his genes..

If we really get into the mental state of Policewalas we can very well imagine their plights. With limited resources, no life of their own , no modern ammunitions, no good salary, they disharge their functions.

In such conditions can we really believe that there would be upright policewala( believe me there are many).! They are really risking everything for us.

We need to treat them in a lot more noble way perhaps!!!

Higher Education vis-a-vis India

Was privileged to attend a seminar on higher education in India. The distinguished speaker was President of University at Buffalo, Shri Satish K. Tripathi. He made some really good suggestions while comparing Indian Higher education with the U.S. It would be great if we could use some of these methods;-

1. There should be more thrust on research work. I wonder how many patents are filed together in India?. In U.S. around 20-30 patents are filed by a single university every year. I am sure the no.s in India would be much less.

2. One aspect of discussion was that Universities in U.S. take care of local population for sure . Apart from generation of employment Universities get local support for many projects because they are able to convince the locales how the university and projects would be beneficial to them ? This ensures funding for university and also interest in education as well. Even royalty is shared by universities and this is how the whole society is transformed.

 The condition  of Universities in India can be very well thought of . Apart from giving degrees they are not interested in anything else. Some of them are able to award Ph.D where the guide would have written the whole thing and submitted . The student would be Dr. .....after that. How can such system give a beautifull society?

3. It was saddening to hear that only 8-10 % of our school passouts are able to go to next stage of higher education. For a good society it shud be at least 30%. Just imagine the infrastructure needed. This would be really possible when everybody including teachers do their Job well and encourage education rather than degrees.

Universities do need funds but they can be arranged only when the whole society contributes.

4. One more thing which was really good to observe was that some academicians were opposed  to the idea of  imparting vocational training after school. There is an idea that such tender age is too tender to decide  what aptitude the youngster has and what field he should choose. It also discourages higher education.

Really something to think about for Mr. Sibbal....

Anna Ji Aur Unka Lokpal Bill ---Media making him hero

Lot of Hue and Cry for Lokpal Bill and Media making a false representation that they are the representatives of Civil Society. I have my questions for him to answer:-

1. How can three or four people be called "Civil Society" in our country of 120 crores? Who gave them these powers? Perhaps media creation!

2. Do these people really have expertise in drafting Bills for great country like ours? This power is vested in "Executive" of our Constitution. Are they really capable enough to deal in complex matters such as Bills/ Lokpal?

3. Have they really come out with data and machinery which Lokpal will require for really implementing this Act? It is unwise to think Lokpal will solve all our problems when the system in place has really failed in this Country in 64 years?

4. Just see the pendency in Judiciary, its effectiveness? CBI , its effectiveness? RTI? what will Lokpal do?

5. You are talking about PM being under Lokpal? What purpose will it serve except destablising our country?
How many of the Legislatures/MPs/MLAs  been brought to Justice when we have well placed system already? We really need to change mindsets first...

6.How will you make Lokpal machinery financially independent and effective ? When Independent machinery such as Supreme Courts have failed (needless to mention CG Balakrishnan)

Change the Mindset Annaji if you really want to serve...