Women first

Women cops are creating waves in India. Some are taking initiatives while others are being pushed ahead by their seniors. The sum total: there is a humane face to the much derided and much defamed police force known more for its brutality than compassion. In fact, the mere mention of a cop sends shivers down the spine; and seeing him flag charges is nothing sort of a visit to hell and back if one is lucky. 

 But of late there is an attempt to change this. The concept of women police stations is not new. It  was introduced keeping in mind that the cops and what they stand for need a make-over. It was considered important to rip off the definition of brutality and notoriety and replace it with a human face. The all-women police stations were a step in that direction but they were a drop in the ocean given that the police force is largely male dominated and the police station a place that is best avoided. Simply put, the measure was limited in scope and was seen as  tokenism than a concrete step towards improving things. 
In a renewed attempt, the Delhi Police has hit upon another idea. Dubbed as the brainchild of the newly appointed Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, it has been decided to use women as the first point of contact with those who visit police stations. To be called Public Facilitation Officers, these women would help visitors handle their complaints and tell them how to go about registering an FIR in case it is warranted. To make it less intimidating, the women officers would not be in uniform but dressed in civilian clothes. 
The idea is to give a level playing field and a sense of comfort to the visitor who has a psychological disadvantage at the very thought of going to a police station. After that, to meet a grumpy, unfriendly cop is an experience one would not wish one’s enemies. Therefore, a gender switch, as it were, would go a long way in making it easier for the victim or complainant to visit a cop station and file a complaint or seek help from the person in uniform. 
Of course this would be a measure introduced in phases. In the first round, 60 women sub-inspectors in 20 police stations will be deployed. The women cops, before being posted at specific police stations, were intensively trained to handle complaints sensitively. The focus is threefold:  to make police's interaction with the public more empathetic, responsive and effective. Whether that would happen or this step also meet the fate of several others taken in the past remains to be seen but a beginning has been made and if pursued in earnest could work wonders with a force that has got more flak than praise. 
For starters, three public facilitation officers will work at the facilitation desk round-the-clock in three shifts. Till now, it was the duty officer of the police station who interacted with visitors and handled or mishandled complaints. In fact, this was not on his priority list, given that he has other jobs to do including assigning duties to station staff and taking care of day to day activities in the police station he is put charge of.  Consequently, the complainant does not figure anywhere in his scheme of things. That apart, often the concerned investigating officer would not be available and the complainant would run from pillar to post without any concrete results. Dedicated public facilitation officers, it is hoped, would help change this. 
As of now, the police have zeroed in on elite areas of the city. These are mainly where the rich, famous or the powerful live. There is a middle class segment too as there are professionals in some areas where these police stations have jurisdiction. In one sense it could be a good idea to make a beginning here but a flip side is that these people from privileged backgrounds have enough influence and if intimidated by rowdy policemen would not let it pass. They also have the wherewithal to bring insolence to book and therefore a cop, duty officer or any other would tread cautiously. Therefore, it would be judicious to post facilitation officers  at police stations frequented by the poor and the ignorant. It would help if someone would show the way to a complainant who is illiterate and unable to even sign his or her name leave alone understand the contents or nitty gritty of the complaint that is filed. 
In another encouraging step, the government of Bihar has come forward to address the basic needs of its trainee officers. Following a  recruitment of  nearly 4,000 women constables, the Bihar Police has directed all superintendents of police in the state to ensure that two toilets  are constructed at each police station in the state within three months. This is a step that will go down well with the young women recruits who will be ready for field postings within the next three months. 
There are around 850 police stations in the state of Bihar and hence construction of toilets would go a long way.   In yet another northern Indian state of Haryana, an innovative step has been taken. It has shifted focus from complainants and criminals to kids. This is not about providing crèche like facilities or having a full fledged crèche in operation in a police station but about having children-friendly areas exclusively for kids. 
In the upscale city of Gurgaon, that flanks Delhi, a women’s police station has decided to spare kids from ugly spats and murky surroundings. Given that kids often accompany parents to police stations, they are exposed to quarrelling families, wailing parents and injured victims. 
This police station has specially created a two-room ‘Phulwari’ complete with toys, puzzles and a nanny to ensure children do not get adversely affected by surroundings that are not conducive to their sensitivities. They need to be spared the trauma, particularly when kids themselves are victims.  
The play area has a two-fold purpose: to help child victims feel comfortable so that they are able to relax and speak frankly. To those accompanying their parents, the play area  would help disengage them from ugly exchanges between parents. Given that Phulwari has a separate entrance from the main police station, would save kids from seeing grim realities. 
The rooms, which were once the office of a senior official, have been painted with colourful motifs and stocked with story books, art and craft material, puzzles and toys. 
At an average about  8-10 children walk into the station daily with couples facing marital discord
Phulwari will also double up as a crèche for children of police personnel. Gurgaon police personnel, who are on 24-hour duty, will be able to use this place for their children up to seven years of age. Kids of police officials can also stay here and even spend a few days if the parent is on duty. They would also be provided food. Such initiatives bring us to a key question: does this have something to do with gender? Does keeping women in the forefront help tackle problems that don’t even cross minds of men? Is sensitivity and empathy the USP of women? And more importantly how ever well meaning men may be ultimately is it only women who cross the threshold and reach out? Therefore, if one wants to inculcate compassion and give public service and dealings a humane touch one must begin with putting women in the forefront. The tagline: Women First.

The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected])  

 

Women first

Women cops are creating waves in India. Some are taking initiatives while others are being pushed ahead by their seniors. The sum total: there is a humane face to the much derided and much defamed police force known more for its brutality than compassion. In fact, the mere mention of a cop sends shivers down the spine; and seeing him flag charges is nothing sort of a visit to hell and back if one is lucky. But of late there is an attempt to change this. The concept of women police stations is not new. It was introduced keeping in mind that the cops and what they stand for need a make-over. It was considered important to rip off the definition of brutality and notoriety and replace it with a human face. The all-women police stations were a step in that direction but they were a drop in the ocean given that the police force is largely male dominated and the police station a place that is best avoided. Simply put, the measure was limited in scope and was seen as tokenism than a concrete step towards improving things. In a renewed attempt, the Delhi Police has hit upon another idea. Dubbed as the brainchild of the newly appointed Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, it has been decided to use women as the first point of contact with those who visit police stations. To be called Public Facilitation Officers, these women would help visitors handle their complaints and tell them how to go about registering an FIR in case it is warranted. To make it less intimidating, the women officers would not be in uniform but dressed in civilian clothes. The idea is to give a level playing field and a sense of comfort to the visitor who has a psychological disadvantage at the very thought of going to a police station. After that, to meet a grumpy, unfriendly cop is an experience one would not wish ones enemies. Therefore, a gender switch, as it were, would go a long way in making it easier for the victim or complainant to visit a cop station and file a complaint or seek help from the person in uniform. Of course this would be a measure introduced in phases. In the first round, 60 women sub-inspectors in 20 police stations will be deployed. The women cops, before being posted at specific police stations, were intensively trained to handle complaints sensitively. The focus is threefold: to make polices interaction with the public more empathetic, responsive and effective. Whether that would happen or this step also meet the fate of several others taken in the past remains to be seen but a beginning has been made and if pursued in earnest could work wonders with a force that has got more flak than praise. For starters, three public facilitation officers will work at the facilitation desk round-the-clock in three shifts. Till now, it was the duty officer of the police station who interacted with visitors and handled or mishandled complaints. In fact, this was not on his priority list, given that he has other jobs to do including assigning duties to station staff and taking care of day to day activities in the police station he is put charge of. Consequently, the complainant does not figure anywhere in his scheme of things. That apart, often the concerned investigating officer would not be available and the complainant would run from pillar to post without any concrete results. Dedicated public facilitation officers, it is hoped, would help change this. As of now, the police have zeroed in on elite areas of the city. These are mainly where the rich, famous or the powerful live. There is a middle class segment too as there are professionals in some areas where these police stations have jurisdiction. In one sense it could be a good idea to make a beginning here but a flip side is that these people from privileged backgrounds have enough influence and if intimidated by rowdy policemen would not let it pass. They also have the wherewithal to bring insolence to book and therefore a cop, duty officer or any other would tread cautiously. Therefore, it would be judicious to post facilitation officers at police stations frequented by the poor and the ignorant. It would help if someone would show the way to a complainant who is illiterate and unable to even sign his or her name leave alone understand the contents or nitty gritty of the complaint that is filed. In another encouraging step, the government of Bihar has come forward to address the basic needs of its trainee officers. Following a recruitment of nearly 4,000 women constables, the Bihar Police has directed all superintendents of police in the state to ensure that two toilets are constructed at each police station in the state within three months. This is a step that will go down well with the young women recruits who will be ready for field postings within the next three months. There are around 850 police stations in the state of Bihar and hence construction of toilets would go a long way. In yet another northern Indian state of Haryana, an innovative step has been taken. It has shifted focus from complainants and criminals to kids. This is not about providing crche like facilities or having a full fledged crche in operation in a police station but about having children-friendly areas exclusively for kids. In the upscale city of Gurgaon, that flanks Delhi, a womens police station has decided to spare kids from ugly spats and murky surroundings. Given that kids often accompany parents to police stations, they are exposed to quarrelling families, wailing parents and injured victims. This police station has specially created a two-room Phulwari complete with toys, puzzles and a nanny to ensure children do not get adversely affected by surroundings that are not conducive to their sensitivities. They need to be spared the trauma, particularly when kids themselves are victims. The play area has a two-fold purpose: to help child victims feel comfortable so that they are able to relax and speak frankly. To those accompanying their parents, the play area would help disengage them from ugly exchanges between parents. Given that Phulwari has a separate entrance from the main police station, would save kids from seeing grim realities. The rooms, which were once the office of a senior official, have been painted with colourful motifs and stocked with story books, art and craft material, puzzles and toys. At an average about 8-10 children walk into the station daily with couples facing marital discord Phulwari will also double up as a crche for children of police personnel. Gurgaon police personnel, who are on 24-hour duty, will be able to use this place for their children up to seven years of age. Kids of police officials can also stay here and even spend a few days if the parent is on duty. They would also be provided food. Such initiatives bring us to a key question: does this have something to do with gender? Does keeping women in the forefront help tackle problems that dont even cross minds of men? Is sensitivity and empathy the USP of women? And more importantly how ever well meaning men may be ultimately is it only women who cross the threshold and reach out? Therefore, if one wants to inculcate compassion and give public service and dealings a humane touch one must begin with putting women in the forefront. The tagline: Women First. The writer is a senior Indian journalist, political commentator and columnist of The Independent. She can be reached at: ([email protected])