And it keeps me going….

Before joining Police Service, I had never imagined that there exists a government department which works  so much. My parents and everyone else always told me that government jobs are better because of  less work or no work, no responsibility and accountability so less stress, plenty of leaves, 100% job security and so on. I too had similar notion before becoming a Police officer.

I could never appreciate good things of my job in private sector while I was there. Today I feel that it had everything which a job should have :- 5 days week, very good salary, flexible working hours, , centrally air conditioned office, fully computerized work process, all sorts of leaves and so on. I hardly remember days when I worked on weekends or on holidays.

So now when I compare all this with my present job, It sometimes makes me  feel that why I am doing a much harder job and that too with much lesser salary. Here there is no concept of working hours as it is always 24x7. No one cares if sometimes you are working continuously for 24 hours or more but everyone will question you if you are late in reaching to a crime scene even by few minutes. Here we are still struggling for issues such as RO systems for drinking water, comfortable offices, vehicles, computers etc.  Here anytime you might be suspended for something, you might even don’t know anything about that.  

But then  I have chosen this job and I like it. This job has something different as  It gives me a chance and authority to set many things right if I feel  that they are wrong. My sincere efforts solve problems of the people and provide them relief. It gives me a chance to bring smile on the faces of the people. People coming back to us just to say ‘thanks’ when we help them is a kind of motivation and reward which is unparalleled. It is much higher a motivation than comfort of luxury offices or better salary.

 And yes, not all but there are people who recognize our efforts. This job has given me moments when people have come to me and told that they will remember me for their whole life for what I have done for them. And thats more than enough for me.

And these are few moments which keeps me going……

Panchayat Elections : Was it worth putting all these efforts??

Recent experience of Panchayat elections made me rethink about what I had read about this form of ‘decentralised democracy’ during my civil services preparation. As I recall, this was thought as a mean to ensure democracy (government of the people, by the  people and for the people ) at the lowest level of the government. It was felt that only the people of the village can decide about their development, so they should be given both resources and authority. The purpose was that capable people of the village should be made part of the village government so they can use village resources in the best possible manner. The whole system was then constitutionalised also to make it more sacrosanct.

Having all this is mind, I was exited when I got an opportunity to witness these elections recently. But the experience disappointed me as what I saw did not resemble to what I had read. At most of the places, it was ‘this community’ Vs ‘that community’. Caste or community of the candidate was a major factor in determining  how much chances he/she has of winning the election. No one seemed to be talking about or discussing about work done by any of the candidates for the development of the village.

Another interesting thing was amount of money being spent by candidates for the election. At some places it went upto several lakhs. Most of the money was spent in distributing free food and liquor. And this also was seen a major factor in deciding the winning candidate. Village people considered this an good opportunity to enjoy delicious free food and store liquor for few months.

Things don’t end here. The elections are so keenly contested that heavy police deployment is to be done to ensure law and order. There has been history of fights and sometimes even firing during these elections in the past. There has been incidencts of disrupting the polling and counting process. The Election Commission has this time introduced system of counting at Panchayat Samiti if counting is not feasible in the village due to higher probablity of violence. And remember, this all nuisance is being created by the so called innocent village people.

So where are we going. The system was introduced to give equal opportunity to everyone to become part of government but in the end, we have only the influential people. My only hope is few cases where educated young people being elected as Panch & Sarpach. I hope that success story of these villages will inspire others also to follow the same.

In the end it forced me to think, Were all efforts of administration and police were worth to ensure smooth conduct of something where neither the process nor the result were as desired….

  

'Relief' is what She wants, but will She get it ??

A recent visit to Mahila police Thana which comes under my jurisdiction raised this question in my mind. It so happened that a lady was sitting there in the garden of the Thana campus. I casually asked her that why she is here and if she has given any complain/FIR here. In reply to this,  She started telling me her story,  “I am in great trouble mam. I am married for the past 20 years and have 3 children.  My husband consumes alcohol daily and beats me up. Whatever he earns, he spends on liquor. I work in the houses and thus get some money to feed my children but this money is not enough .  I waited all these years hoping that one day he will change but nothing has happened  so far. My husband is staying in village with his parents but I don’t go there as he beats me up there. Many a time, My inlaws also have tried to intervene but he doesn’t listen to them also. At last I have come to police to get some ‘relief’ . Today I have come with witnesses as asked by the investigating officer of my case. ”. I further asked her what kind of help she wants from police and does she want to send her husband to jail. To this she replied, “ aur kya Karen. Jail me hi theek hai. Main samajh loongi ki wo hai hi nhi”. I further inquired her that what about the money part and what about her children?  She said, “that is the main problem. I am illiterate so can’t earn more. If my husband gives me 5000 Rs. per month, than rest I can earn and take care of my children. ”.

I consoled her and assured her that we will try our best to help her and will update her about the status of her case. But than I started thinking that if police could really help her and provide her ‘relief’????

At most, police may propose chargesheet against her Husband  and  the case it will go to the court. This lady has no money to hire a lawyer to represent her case. And what about the money part? For this, She will have to file one more case for maintenance money separately  and  then court may order her husband to pay some monthly amount depending upon his financial condition. It again depends on her husband whether he gives maintenance money or not and what if he does not pay?

It’s a long process and long battle for her.

Will this illiterate lady having no money and having burden of 3 children will be able to fight through all this?

She has come to police as a last option to seek some ‘relief’ but will she get it?