What Plagues Indian Police?

Police in any country is the interface between the government and the citizens. By its very role the police needs to ensure the safety of the citizens and ensure their rights as granted by the constitution of the country.

Even a casual encounter by Indian police evokes fear, skepticism, nepotism, corruption and lot worse depending on which part of the country are you in. The accountability standards as compared to westernized world simply don’t exist barring a few major cities. A similar such encounter with a westernized nation police force evokes security, courtesy, reading of your rights, fair and equitable treatment. What is then the reason of this deep chasm in behavior?

The modern day Indian police have its root in the colonial era when Britain occupied India. The oppressive regime that British built with the help of police to silence the citizens in many ways continue even today. The modern day police institutions and policy still sadly reflects lots of colonial practices.

There are a lot of issues that plagues the police notably:

1. The rank and file of Indian Police still have very low level of education. Most of the policemen below the role of Sub-Inspector barely have school degrees
2. Too much interference and abuse by the political system. This is probably the single most contributing factor for the Indian police to be seen the way the citizens see it today
3. The police force is a reflection of the society in general, the gender bias, oppression towards the weaker section of the society, tolerance towards child labor practices and all such heinous crimes that could bring severe punishment in the westernized world goes almost unchecked in India
4. Hardly any accountability to the citizens.
5. Police job pays considerably less than the corresponding jobs in other industries that do not allow the police jobs to be considered as career options by our youths. 95% of the police jobs are taken by youths who have failed to achieve other career objectives
6. Extreme corruption – This is not just an internal police issue but sadly reflects the society in general
7. police density (no. of policeman/1000 citizens) is considerably less than other developed countries)
8. Lack of citizens and police friendly legislations that allows reporting of crime to police without the fear of harassment
9. Lack of judicial reforms resulting in delayed justice putting even more pressure on fragile police systems
10. Lack of community policing that does not allow the citizens to get involved in helping police

I am more than willing to help develop a strategic plan to make Indian police ready for a new India in which the citizens need not fear to interact provided I am given the right authority with no interference from the political system. Will you help me?

Indian Railways : Ready for India 2020?

Though it’s a little late but I was reading the last Indian Railway (IR) budget presented in February 2010. While the budget did rattle off some operations metrics and few thoughts on generating employment by way of putting some ancillary industries catering to Indian Railways, what was sorely missing was a strategic direction of what will happen 5 years, 10 years, and 20 years hence.

The IR of 2020 will be considerably different from IR of today, however, sadly, our politicians have failed to outline the vision, if not anything else as to how the railways will operate in future. I see in US that when they plan for new tracks and introduce new connectivity they look at 20-30 years in future and in many instances even more than that. That’s how the master plan should look like. The high speed rail corridor between San Francisco and Los Angeles is being worked out keeping the traffic situation in 2035.

Indians are no less capable but lacks the discipline and dedication to commit to a vision. Between urgent and important work, urgent always takes precedence and then we lose sight of long term planning. Railways connect India like no one else does. But, beyond a point the Railways need to move from being a mere basic services provider to being a high tech, passenger focused, industry oriented unit. The India of 2020 is going to be substantially different from the India of today. Are the Railways prepared for that time? Did the Railway Budget of 2010 in any way articulate the vision and lay out the plan for making Indian Railways an organization that will smoothly fit in with the Indian landscape in 2020?

A golden opportunity to play a strategic infrastructure facilitator role via the budget has been lost as its silent on Dedicated Freight corridors as well as Modernization of the exiting Infrastructure. There is no mention on accountability on service standards in this budget as the same would have substantially improved revenues in return

Here are a few things that I consider the IR need to pay attention in case it can hope to become the preferred mode of seeing India, otherwise roads and air traffic will surely dominate a system that is one of a kind in the world in its reach and breadth

1. Dedicated Golden Quadrilateral Freight Corridor that is absolutely separate from the passenger lines
2. High Speed and same day return connection amongst Tier I, Tier II and Tier III cities
3. Satellite stations in the far flung areas connecting to the main stations like a hub and spoke model. Minimum one train station for every 50 Kms across the length and breadth of India
4. Best of the class infrastructure like collapsible coaches for passenger comfort
5. Impeccable safety consciousness
6. Improved passenger amenities like the ones available in developed countries including access for disabled
7. Zero security breach tolerance;trains & stations needs to become the safest place in India
8. Green Train to dramatically (as close to zero) reduce carbon footprint
9. All trains and stations to have internet connectivity
10. Help develop the last mile connectivity

Pls. feel free to add to my list to help Indian Railways cater to India 2020 and beyond.