Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Conscription For Police Forces in India


Police Reforms in India:

The National Police Commission (1977-81), Ribeiro Committee (1998-99), Padmanabhaiah Committee (2000), Soli Sorabjee Committee (2005) commissions, Supreme Court intervention (2006)  and various other luminaries have been clamouring for police reforms in India. The suggestions are for to insulate the police from political influence, separate the investigation arm from the law & order arm, making the police more sensitive to the common man.

All these reforms will go a long long way in making the Indian police a truly professional service and remove a lot of the pressures & strains on the policemen & policewomen. Yet, I think one area that has been missed by all of these reports, white papers and discussions.

India has one of the worst police to people ratio in the world. Even if all the vacancies are filled in the police force, the ratio will still not be up to the ratio that has been suggested as the ideal.

My suggestion is that all citizens of India should be made to serve in the police for a minimum of 3 years between the ages of 18 to 30 years. This will be a one-time continuous service period. 

The idea is neither novel nor original. Israel has compulsory service for all its citizens between the age of 18 to 24 yrs in its armed forces, with the option of continue after the compulsory 2 yrs. Switzerland has an citizen army with every able body person required to serve when called upon in times of distress. For a long time in human history, before the concept of modernized organized military forces came into being; during wartimes common people were called to augment the military.

Let me tell how the idea of compulsory police service will be beneficial.
In India, police are viewed with suspect and are often the subject to worst criticism coming next only to politicians. Sometimes, these criticisms are made without any understanding of the conditions under which the police have to work. Yes, I agree that sometimes the criticisms are warranted. Most of the criticisms are by the arm chair pundits who have never been on the field with the police working with all the pressures they face. By making people serve in the police, the issues, and the pressures and constrain faced by the police will be seen by all. It will make the people empathize with their fellow officers.

India has a huge problem of unemployment. So many talented people just waste away their lives because they simply do not get an opportunity to showcase their talent. Many are unemployed not because they do not want to work but because they do not get work. This large untapped workforce can be easily channeled to do good for the country.

There are reports that police forces have a myopic view of the minorities. Imagine what a load of good it will do by the infusion of the fresh blood into the police force? Imagine what it will do to improve the number of women personnel serving in the police force.

Why have I suggested that the compulsory service be done anytime between 18 and 30 yrs? Some people would be willing to join the Indian Armed forces or be taking the UPSC. Those people should be given the chance to join the service of their choice. If they make it, they will not be asked to do the compulsory service.

At the time of joining the people would be asked to choose between either compulsory service or voluntary service. The people choosing the voluntary service will obviously have better career progression and perks. However, the voluntary service personnel will have to do a minimum service of 10 years before they can leave the service.

I am sure there will be people who will say that suppose they do not want to do the 3 years compulsory service, what then? A suggestion would be for the people who opt to be placed on a higher tax bracket then people who do their service or that people who do their service will be put on a lower tax bracket.

There are of course, many irons to be worked out in this suggestion; and as the saying goes “the devil lies in the details” there will be many problems that need be solved before this suggestion can be implemented like what role the compulsory drafted people will play etc.

I only hope that the Indian police force become a professional police force that acts as an role model to the other forces in the world.




3 comments:

Divi said...

What abt u?? any plans to join police ah??

Pidog said...

Sorry Divi, i am intellectual i only ideate....

Yours truly said...

Very well written!! But too idealistic....