The police story
I wanted to respond to Karthik’s comment. But I realized that I had pretty strong opinions about the police force in general and wanted to record that as well. This is a blend of my own observations, my experiences being at the receiving end with the police, versions from friends of friends who are in the police department, and readings in the main stream media. Yes, the police story is a story of bad guys in the eyes of the public, but there is lot of apathy and tragedy underneath the obvious.
While I am a vociferous critic of the functioning of the police - be it traffic as well as law and order, I am almost certain that had I joined the police force, I would have been as corrupt a police officer as there are any now. I don’t remember when was the last time the police department got a salary hike. They cannot complain, they cannot protest, and they cannot go on strike. Politicians treat them like shit, the media sees them as jokers, and the public despise them.
I think it would be good starting point to compare the salary a cop draws in US, relative to other professions to what a cop earns as a salary in India. In India, its almost like their ‘mamool’ is factored into their official CTG (Cost to government). Not just the police of course, this holds good for any general state government employee too. But the kind of torture a police man goes through is unbelievable. He is paid a pittance for enduring all the suffering. Which means the society (includes me) expects him to beg, borrow or take bribe to make ends meet. With little legitimate money but with lot of clout, what will one do? Exchange clout for money. Thats precisely what’s happening.
A traffic police constable who stands in searing heat from morning till evening would probably make less than a post man. Check out this article.
What years of state neglect had done to their morale is that now a decent number of them have turned themselves into entrepreneurs out of corrupt money. I personally know one police constable who owns a water tanker lorry. I know because our flat association gets water from him. His monthly salary would be like six thousand rupees IMO. I am guessing that but if a DGP would make around 70K per month, how much a constable would make? Can he run a family, much less a water tanker lorry with six thousand rupees in chennai city?
It’s one thing to read this as condoning whatever they do. On the other hand, I think it would be wrong to just condemn what they do and preach about virtues like honesty, integrity and so on without addressing the underlying issues.
If I had any power, probably I would enhance their pay checks substantially, study how the police function in other countries, revisit the fundamental philosophy of the way a police department should operate in the post-independent India, look for ways and means to infuse professionalism and THEN expect better performance from them. I say about post-independent India, because I feel the Indian bureaucracy in general still suffer from British Raj hangover, in the way they treat their political masters.
I have been taken to police station for wrongs I did not do, and from which I escaped because of my network. I have given ‘mamool’ for the traffic offences I did and did not commit. I loathe them. But to paraphrase a dialogue in Hey Ram, ‘Oru police a ninnu partha dhaan avanga nyayam puriyum’.
Till the state home minister, who is also usually the state chief minister does something fundamental to change the police DNA, its better not to get caught by a police man. Or, have a hundred rupee note handy. If you are a non-tamil, better have a 500 rupee note in hand.
100 Hyundai Accents are good but not sufficient to fundamentally change the police DNA. Without the needed change in the DNA, Hyundai Accents have replaced Willeys jeeps and Ambassadors in dropping school children.
As an after thought, If you know about any good police man, please write, talk about him. Do some word of mouth publicity. That’s the least we can do. It’s not easy to be good and honest in such an environment.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:20 am
absolutely….on the dot….i can never say you have written a better post than this….:)..i know a few really genuine totally not bribed police man…who got a promotion to be a SI after 35 years of service…which even his family members are surprised ..as you know you dont get promoted if you dont bribe…:))
his son is my collegue …he and his bro tease his father that some one with the same name would have bribed and it has been given wrongly :))…..
Corruption has to be dealt at a different level as you say….
July 17th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Hyundai Accents were given so that no case is booked against Hyundai for using NH4 as their parking lot?
July 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
karthik
Thanks da.. avarukku oru maalaye podalaam thappille!
July 17th, 2008 at 10:42 am
F e r r a r i
Apdiya? But seems a bit out of place.. too much of a one time deal.
July 17th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
enna machi, playing the devil’s advocate eh? :-P… but yes, agree with you completely!
reminds me of an idiot traffic policeman/constable stopping me right around the corner of Shanthi Theatre years ago. I was rushing to watch a movie at the Devi, and I had no idea that the left turn back onto Mount Road, wasn’t a free turn… (coming from the road which connects mt.road and beach rd.)… Both of us had our backpacks, drafters, etc. as we cut adichified college… I don’t know what came over me, and I blurted something out to the effect of “saar saar…. oorukku pudhusu… college fees kattardhu bank poganum saar…adhan avasarama poitrukom…” or something like that.. He noted down my moped number in a little scrap pad, which looked worse than ass-wipe. and surprise, he let me go, saying he would send a notice home for a fine or something. That was the only time I actually escaped police without mamool.
I also hate the police/traffic police guys, but then I’ve always wondered about why they are always frustrated and mean. And your post describes it very well…
July 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Some of the recent movies have glorified the role of police like ‘kaka kaka’, VV, etc. Though the gross reality is different from what is portrayed on the silver screen.
Couple of years back met a person who had joined the police force as a PC. The only good part of the job was that they were provided with a quarters apart from that i heard it was tough to make ends meet with their salary.
Another interesting thing to note: Was watching the B&W movies shown on Sun TV as part of 75 years of Tamil Cinema celebration - in most of the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s movies the police fraternity were shown as very sincere and not so corrupt officials. Only during the early 80’s we started having scripts that had corrupt police officials and dishonest leaders as prominent mainstay characters!!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
As I write this comment, VV starting song is playing in the background, the only place where you can see honest, corrupt - free police officers and politicians are in movies!!!
Fresh from college in late 2000, i was offered a freelance design project for an upcoming mineral water company promoted by a Police Commissioner. The project was in his wife’s name. We came to know later that this was just one of his business ventures in his 15 years of service!! He didn’t need the police job any longer, but used it’s power to run his businesses.
I guess many officials in the higher level who can actually do something about the system are busy running their private businesses and cannot actually concentrate on their job!!!
July 17th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
PK, Great post. Looking forward to read more of these.
“I think it would be good starting point to compare the salary a cop draws in US, relative to other professions to what a cop earns as a salary in India”
=> It is one of the low paying jobs in the US.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
pk (A) ttm
Thanks! apdiya? interesting coz i did not expect it to be. US la truck drivers make lot of money (relatively) nu kelvi patrukken.. i thought the same would apply here as well.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Malesh
you are spot on about the private business part
July 17th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
zep
nandri ba!
July 17th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Why only accent? Bolero’s and Qualis were also given.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:24 am
PK: As much as I sympathize with whatever you say, I still find it difficult to accept whatever these police ‘mama’s do. Now if we go by ‘most crimes are born of necessity than of desire’, where will it lead us. This is not coming from a moral high ground; rather a belief that if I am let to do whatever I want (because of the situation), everyone would want that position and then it produces chaos and violence. We can extend this argument to govt employees, petrol station fellows and even to politicians. They will all find an argument suitable to evoke sympathy. (in fact all of us will find one!)
Take example of our own industry. How often we come across a person who knows to play games and move coins at the correct time; dishonest with bills and get richer and go higher; whereas a honest, hard-working fellow in the next cabin remains in the same post for many appraisal cycle.
Recently I read somewhere that Chennai cops were behind beggars for ‘mamool’!
Is anything ok in the way of making money?
July 18th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Joseph
My whole point is not to derive sympathy for the police man. Ayyo paavam nu solli onnum agaporadhillai.
Without a formal grievance redressal system, unless we address some of their untold issues, things are going to be the same. This is the carrot component of the carrot and stick. This attitude is required along with the ’stick’ IMO
Assume you, are expected to work for 5000 Rs. for as many hours as your PM asks you to, plus you need to drop your PM;s kids in school; get ration items for your PM’s house wife; stand in rain for that VVIp who will cross in the next four hours; give company to an anaadhai ponam till things are sorted out; you will have your food expenses taken care from your own pocket till your PM ‘ayya’ approves your bill.
Tell me how honest and sincere you’ll be? I will be either out of that job in a day or be as corrupt as they are now, if i don’t go mad that is.
I am not saying what they are doing is right. I am saying if we do not address certain things, and keep on protesting their corruption, things will remain the same as they are now, which is not great to say the least.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Idhile innoru vishayamum irukku. The indian society is inherently programmed to look for short cuts, to cut corners, etc.
I think we learn this because of the huge population factor and the intense competition we face right from getting a bus seat to an LKG admission.
We blame the police, but i am sure at least a good percentage of the society would resent a straight forward cop as we do a corrupt one.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
“The indian society is inherently programmed to look for short cuts, to cut corners”
PK, this is one disease that is part of the DNA.
I wonder if you have visited the Number One Desi Grocery store in Bay Area
It is after all the store preferred ahead of some 20-30 other Indian stores, that that speaks something.
The modus operandi in that store is as soon as you step in, you stand in the queue(which goes round as a circumferential line around the store). Nobody bothers to go shop in the aisles since the queue anyway snakes through the entire store. So while the men hold the place in queue, the womenfolk go around picking stuff and returning to their husbs to drop.
God save you if you decide to explore the aisles…by the time you join the queue every single desi is ahead of you!!!!
Hoarding food is ok…but hoarding queue slots?!?!?
July 18th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
TTM,
I am curious to know about this grocery store
July 18th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Seriya sonneenga boss, regardless of how corrupt they are their conditions need improvement. But, I think the real reason for their current status is politics within the government between various lobbies, IPS vs IAS, etc. Raise the pay after putting in checks to make sure they don’t run share auto/auto business etc. Most middle class cynics will point out most mamas are doing some business on the side and they don’t need a raise. I disagree.
Avanga rightsa yaarum madhikaadha podhu adhuthavanga rights eppadi madhipaanga ? One of the consequences of the sorry state of police jobs is that this is the last resort for the people entering the work force. That inevitably means that only people from certain classes/sections enter the workforce. Now how does this matter ? For instance beating women or just getting physical might be easier for these folks. They never seem to be trained in basic etiquette or dealing with common citizens, whereas IPS officers get trained in some kulu-kulu hill station or even abroad for extended periods.
Army pay at lower levels are not great either, but because of the relatively cleaner reputation and better benefits a wider cross section of the people join the army. Compare the state of police quarters with typical army quarters.barracks - the latter tend to be extremely clean.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:28 am
BNB
I agree 100%
July 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
PK,
nicely written. Anyway, if any one has not pointed out, cops in US too are lowly paid. They take up this job for passion. In us people take pride in their profession and do it honestly. Recently we had our baby girl delivered. My mother in law who came to hospital impressed with them said they did not look like working for money, they were enjoying what they do. It is true for a hotel bearer, cop or software engineer here. Desi engineer majoriy including me work as s.w. eng because they gave me this position. People in india be it any profession (mostly) lack any pride.
Secondly people are so enslaved for money. Most of our country men ready to lick richmen’s ass. General mentality is as long as you make big money you are great. Can you commit murders in the process of making money and gaining power? yes, absolutely, as long as you have enough muscle to escape from clutches of another powerfull rowdy politician.
Pudhupettai movie explains most of the things i wanted to convey.
My point is it is just not the police. It is the sick, slave weak society.
Again coming back to police. Kazhagaatchi made sure no one respects police department. It is just their duty to serve murderers, scoundrals,yeah politicians. They made sure good people leave/don’t join the force. A person joins policeforce by bribing. What good can we expect from him except only if he is aaru saami.
Another reason is poicemen live with criminals. They know they have better clout than them. (Kurudhi punal, mahanadi etc). They need fresh air, breaks now and then.
Sorry for big post. Your post provoked me so much. I wish to see great india soon as well. BUt dont know how to make that happen :((((.
July 19th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
PB
Many congratulations on becoming a father
Coming to the post.
Nandri. Neenga solradhu ellam unmai dhaan. Othukaren…
TTM had said that policing is a low paid job in US.
Oru vishayathula rembo clear a irukken.. this state of affairs.. Aug 15th 1947 la irundhu one night la varalai..
Adhey madhiri improvement um kandippa oru night la varaadhu…idhu enna bangalore to madras a oru night la vara.. ?
where to begin seems to be the million dollar question.
strategically speaking, at home, with children should be a good stating point… IMO Education, legal forms are mandatory…
government edhuku ellam budget la priority kudukanumo adhai panna maaatengudhu… ippo irukaradhai vida courts , police force ku autonomy, universities neraya varanum…
Narasimha Rao + Manmohan singh combo madhiri (I am not saying Manmohan singh + PC combo)…Hyderabad la Chandrababu Naidu madhiri yaaravadhu low profile PM vandhu sathamilllama konjam fundamental level la velai pannu vaanga.. enakku nambikkai irukku… another 50 years is a decent time frame…
South tamil nadu la neraya development projects varudhu.. again ippodaiku ellame adi dhadi + jaadhi la decide agara madhiri irundhaalum..
In say 15 years, the attitude of the people will change…the children of these people will start from a level much different from the times of MK azhagiri…
July 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
PK,
Just an info…IAS officers are badly paid as well, compared to IT youth. here’s the deal:
Salary Grade Range of Salaries
Junior Officers Rs. 8000-275-13500
Senior Officers Rs. 10650-325-15200
Junior Administrative Grade Rs. 12,750-375-16,500
Selection Grade Rs. 15,100-400-18,300
Additional Secretary Rs. 22400-525-24500
Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Rs. 26,000/30,000
I am really not sure how many of them will not want to be corrupt
July 21st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
TTM
Fully agree. But here’s why IAS officers’ plight are slightly better:
- They have an asssociation to represent their woes i think
- They have more respect in the society
- Their work timings are again slightly better than the average police guy