IMPHAL, March 19: The Centre for Organisation Research and Education while welcoming the statement of the Home Minister of Manipur, Gaikhangam that his first priority is to develop a people-friendly police force in the state of Manipur has provided suggestions to the new Home Minister.
Consenting to the assurance from the minister, a statement of the organisation has stated that providing a secure environment and taking up confidence building measures requires two priorities, first and foremost, the issue of making the police a disciplined force.
It has stated that there are many serious shortcomings in the recruitment, training, deployment and supervision of the force by competent, honest and dedicated senior police officers that need to be seriously revised. Furthermore, there is widespread and regular interference in the work of police while conducting their duties from politicians and other authorities. Such interference not only hampers police work but also discourages and undermines their morale, status and role in society, the statement added.
The Centre for Organisation Research and Education therefore, urges the Home Minister to take a serious view of these priority issues while taking up his plan of action.
It has further stated that it is a matter of grave concern to the public that important key posts in the police department have been left unfilled and added that one of the key objectives of the police reform is to ensure the police department is appropriately and fully staffed so that it can function as a well-disciplined arm of the government,
It has also added that it would be wise for the minister to consider the fact that a disciplined policeman is a friendly policeman.
On the presence of women in the force, the statement has stated that a modern police force today is characterised by the presence of women in the force.
Welcoming the recruitment of women among its file by the state police department in an act of modernising the department, the CORE statement has stated that the women police personnel must be given adequate exposure and training to conduct their challenging duty in the service of the people.
The Minister also reportedly said that in order to provide a secure environment in the state, confidence building measures need to be taken up so that the general public could feel secure when they see policemen in the street and in their homes.
It has further referred the need to develop wide and meaningful participation of different sections of our society, such as women, elderly, NGOs and human rights defenders, academics, youths and students, civil society, etc while taking up confidence building measures.
While stating that the police have multiple roles and functions, it has added that confidence building measures must address the different roles that the police have, such as, maintaining law and order, investigation of crime, controlling the traffic, providing security to state property and high functionaries, public awareness of law, etc.
“To be a people-friendly department every police person must first became an exemplary citizen and member of society. Our police stations and out-posts, police pickets and manned barricades, police guard posts, etc. are to be the face of our society. The staff and personnel officiating and conducting their duties at these important points of interface with the public are required to exhibit the highest level of discipline and polite behaviour”.
No citizen, young and old, male and female should approach our police with fear, shame or uncertainty about how they will be received and treated by the police personnel.
A people-friendly police force is a dignified police force. The public cannot expect and tolerate a police force that has no dignity. Police personnel must be adequately supported and paid salaries commensurate with their special role, the statement added.
It has further appreciated the assurance of the minister that the present strength of the police force is adequate and vacancies in the police department will be filled and he will be focusing on police reforms. The responsibilities and tasks of the Home Minister of Manipur are extremely challenging, the statement added.