The Hindu : Constabulary may graduate to better policing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Constabulary may graduate to better policing

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI July 16. The general levels of educational qualification among entrants to the police constabulary in the State are on the increase, but questions have also cropped up whether the highly-qualified will be convinced about the career, given the vagaries of the force.

Authorities hope that graduates, postgraduates and technically qualified persons at the cutting edge will enhance the image of the force, as the recruits can ensure a better interface between the police and the public.

Though standard X has been prescribed as the minimum qualification for Grade II constables, official sources say, several graduates and postgraduates have been joining the force for the past few years. In the latest batch of 3,500 recruits, who have completed five months of training, about 1,200 are graduates and postgraduates. In Chennai, out of nearly 300 recruits, one is an engineering graduate, six have completed M.A. and two M.Com. and one has finished M.Sc.; there are three BBA-qualified hands and one each in Diploma in Civil Engineering and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. About 20 candidates know Hindi, besides English and Tamil, and 19 know Telugu.

While it is common for graduates to apply, what makes postgraduates and diploma and degree holders in engineering too join the constable post? The reasons are not far to seek, says a senior officer. While an inclination to join the force may impel a negligible few, the prospects of getting employment, a reasonably good pay for constables, compared to the past, and job guarantee lure even the highly-qualified. The starting pay for a constable now is Rs. 4,200, plus allowances. Further, thanks to the Government's policy reducing weightage for physical efficiency tests and viva voce and increasing it correspondingly for the written test, those with higher educational qualifications stand a better chance in the written examination.

A major advantage in the entry of the highly-qualified is that the quality of policing will go up, it is expected. The new recruits will appreciate and respond better to complainants' grievances — the urgent need of the hour. With additional subjects such as juvenile justice, human rights and special laws imparted during training, the quality of investigation and conduct of enquiries is likely to go improve. Above all, inter-personnel relationships will improve considerably.

However, those with more qualifications will be disappointed if timely promotions and encouragement are not forthcoming.

``Friction between them and those with lesser qualifications can arise even during the training period,'' points out a Superintendent of Police. Besides ensuring timely promotions and incentives, the lack of which is the bane of the force, care should be taken by the authorities in treatment of the highly-qualified even during training, lest frustration will set in early, the sources say.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

`Education for every child by 2010'

MDMK will oppose linking POTA to ban on LTTE

Bandobust scheme for CM's Ramnad visit

`Q' Branch may arrest a few more

Transport workers plan Statewide stir

Constabulary may graduate to better policing

Govt. denies food denial charge

Liquor vending provision repeal stayed

Station masters defer stir