CONTRARIAN VIEWPOINT- On Delhi Safety Debate

There has been enough written and spoken about the Delhi gang rape incident followed by enormous discussions on the safety issue and/or measure by the learned folks representing all segments of society. Notwithstanding I have nothing much to add but while I was soaking in all what was being said, written on the topic, one thing was baffling me that all the blame was being bestowed upon Police, which is like blaming lack of DCT (Direct Cash Transfer) mechanism to poor for their plight and perhaps Mr. Nelikeni will have one stop solution to turn this country into RamRajya. Let’s get real and stop living in fool’s paradise.

Before some of you get red faced reading my perceived defense for our “culprit” Police above, decide to burn my effigies and shout slogans, let me say Police is at fault in this case and have trust deficit perhaps more than ever now. But unless we know the root cause, why they are the way they are, all this jingoism will not lead us anywhere. 

Allow me to park my views from other side of the table; I have 2 family members from Police community thus have seen it all from proximity. Disappointing your expectations, I am not amongst those privileged chaps who get a chance to sleep over the luxury of being a cop’s only son; I have been rather harassed by uniform clad like perhaps some of you. Therefore not putting this because I got needled having family members in Police and what transpired in Delhi case, but writing this after giving it a prolonged thought that perhaps we are not shooting in right direction.

Here is a job, which is 24*7, 7 Days a week, no leaves on festivals; rather one has to be right on his toes owing “Bandobasst” for the safety and security of our society. Well if this is the JD you want me to hire for? First thing I will say is “Don’t expect a good Samaritan” and where is work life balance here? And then if you still need someone you got to pay very handsome salary which perhaps compensate for other, rather “all” missing things.

Now let’s get back for reality check, my dad is a Cop and let me say this with full conviction the most honest one I know of, outside celluloid screen. He is BA, LLB of good old days, perhaps destined to land-up in this job thus can’t be look down as we normally do for his community tagging them as almost un-educated.

Albeit recalling hard, I do not remember a single celebration with my Dad wherein I cud fire cracker, play with colors with my father. Putting it other way, for the sake of society and safeguarding many other children like me and at the same time avoiding any mishappening,  he was on call of his duty.

Numerous times I have seen him going on duty call late nights, during election or VIP visits, he used to be out for 4-5 days on trot. 

Highlighting the tough to digest fact, that I still see the same number of police men in Police Stations (THANA) what I used to see as a kid, however population has grown many fold. In nutshell same number of people guarding the area what was there 2 decades back and this is perhaps the reason you heard/read public torching the Police Station stories getting repeated more often now.

My Dad has approximate 30+yrs experience, best possible CR amidst of the challenges above, being still designated as Assistance Sub Inspector, because not only he is honest but also belongs to General category (would have become Superintendent of Police by now if being part of Reservation quota as some of his peers), his remuneration is still less than a fresher hired for IT industry and will retire with status quo in 3years.  

The system has all the remedy to turn person into corrupt in this department, not only this one is expected to fight to AK47 with 303 first world war gun (you might remember the 26/11 scene” Police man was trying to fire on Kasab and gun got locked”), expected to be polite working 24*7, 7 days a week , 365days a year. Expected to guard quadruple number of people vis-e-vis for what he was being hired for 20-30 years back. And on top of all, get ready to be transferred every 1 year if you are honest and don’t comply with political boss’s desire.

Let’s do mirror mirror and confront the truth, someone has to look Human Right Violation of this community as well, isn’t it? Most of the Govt. departments has Union except this, all can go on strike asking for salary increase, better pension so on and so forth, this community has no voice what so ever. Therefore unless we apply our mind to improve illiteracy rate significantly, neither cash transfers and tokenism will erode the poverty nor the security will improve unless 1:360 odd ratio, 24.7 are been looked into and police reforms see the day of light instead rotting in ministry tables.