Police Lack Managerial Strategy: Kiran Bedi
Loved by millions in India and abroad, first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949 in Amritsar, Punjab. Today she is a role model for every Indian woman. The Magsaysay award winner for social work and reform, is now, the Director General in the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. Kiran Bedi spoke her heart out in an exclusive interview with Headlinesindia.
Tihar no longer remains your dream ‘Correctional Home', rather it is again back to its basic as another typical jail. There have been reports of the inmates dying everyday. What is your reaction?
Kiran Bedi: As far as Tihar Correctional Home is concerned, it is partly reformed. It is because of the absence of managerial strategy. ‘The 9 am walk' was regularly carried out in my tenure, which helped in direct communication with inmates. I had commenced certain programmes of vocational training, counsellings and meditation. The school, which was opened for juvenile prisoners, has been inoperative. I feel sorry about the state of prisoners in Tihar.
It has been quite sometime since you took charge of Director General Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. Is this more challenging than your previous profiles?
Kiran Bedi: Public relations bring transparency and it makes your duty more challenging. In this case, the contribution from the people pays equal dividends. The voice, which I raised in Tihar, cannot be raised here. But, we are doing our bit with the use of modern technology, we are reaching out to the people with our programmes and research works. It is the first time that one could enjoy listening to the sound of the bugles and the drum drill. About half a million overseas people have viewed our website and appreciated it. Its a different approach. We also have approached various universities to join hands and include the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) in the curriculum at graduation and post-graduation levels.
Even after 60 years of Independence people are not comfortable and compatible with the police. Do you think police failed to infuse confidence among the masses?
Kiran Bedi: Yes. It is a matter of deep concern that even after 60 years of Independence, the police have failed to gain the good faith of the countrymen. The reasons, however, are many. Terrorism and naxalism are the menace to the society, as they disrupt the economic and social fabric of the nation. Such anti social ideologies do not warrant an economically developed area, so that it may remain under their control. But, we, the civic society can bounce back through education and building up the character of the people.
Pay packages and additional facilities for the police officials still remain a matter of concern, especially on basic levels. Why has nothing been done on it?
Kiran Bedi: True. That cannot be ruled out but it can be resolved. Again the managerial strategy, which I was talking about earlier that requires in getting the matter solved. On the other hand every individual should add on his or her own spirit and it has to be volunteer service. Things like sniffing your own fault can to some extent change the system to a certain extent. The petition boxes should come to its place to get feedbacks and complaints. Let the public write to the Director General directly regarding anything related to the functioning of the department. We will put all efforts to rectify it.
This time we are going for a woman candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. Can Pratibha Patil, if elected, really become a symbol of women power in India?
Kiran Bedi: It is too early to comment. It is not a question of gender of the President but the sanctity of the post and performance of the person holding it. If she performs well, it will not only speak for her rather for Indian women in general. That is the risk factor. For men, holding a post and his performance while holding the same is not a question of image but it invariably becomes a matter of image making or breaking for women.
For more news, information updates, and articles from India log on to www.headlinesindia.com
Tihar no longer remains your dream ‘Correctional Home', rather it is again back to its basic as another typical jail. There have been reports of the inmates dying everyday. What is your reaction?
Kiran Bedi: As far as Tihar Correctional Home is concerned, it is partly reformed. It is because of the absence of managerial strategy. ‘The 9 am walk' was regularly carried out in my tenure, which helped in direct communication with inmates. I had commenced certain programmes of vocational training, counsellings and meditation. The school, which was opened for juvenile prisoners, has been inoperative. I feel sorry about the state of prisoners in Tihar.
It has been quite sometime since you took charge of Director General Bureau of Police Research and Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. Is this more challenging than your previous profiles?
Kiran Bedi: Public relations bring transparency and it makes your duty more challenging. In this case, the contribution from the people pays equal dividends. The voice, which I raised in Tihar, cannot be raised here. But, we are doing our bit with the use of modern technology, we are reaching out to the people with our programmes and research works. It is the first time that one could enjoy listening to the sound of the bugles and the drum drill. About half a million overseas people have viewed our website and appreciated it. Its a different approach. We also have approached various universities to join hands and include the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPRD) in the curriculum at graduation and post-graduation levels.
Even after 60 years of Independence people are not comfortable and compatible with the police. Do you think police failed to infuse confidence among the masses?
Kiran Bedi: Yes. It is a matter of deep concern that even after 60 years of Independence, the police have failed to gain the good faith of the countrymen. The reasons, however, are many. Terrorism and naxalism are the menace to the society, as they disrupt the economic and social fabric of the nation. Such anti social ideologies do not warrant an economically developed area, so that it may remain under their control. But, we, the civic society can bounce back through education and building up the character of the people.
Pay packages and additional facilities for the police officials still remain a matter of concern, especially on basic levels. Why has nothing been done on it?
Kiran Bedi: True. That cannot be ruled out but it can be resolved. Again the managerial strategy, which I was talking about earlier that requires in getting the matter solved. On the other hand every individual should add on his or her own spirit and it has to be volunteer service. Things like sniffing your own fault can to some extent change the system to a certain extent. The petition boxes should come to its place to get feedbacks and complaints. Let the public write to the Director General directly regarding anything related to the functioning of the department. We will put all efforts to rectify it.
This time we are going for a woman candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. Can Pratibha Patil, if elected, really become a symbol of women power in India?
Kiran Bedi: It is too early to comment. It is not a question of gender of the President but the sanctity of the post and performance of the person holding it. If she performs well, it will not only speak for her rather for Indian women in general. That is the risk factor. For men, holding a post and his performance while holding the same is not a question of image but it invariably becomes a matter of image making or breaking for women.
For more news, information updates, and articles from India log on to www.headlinesindia.com
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