Police reforms and the making of Viksit Bharat

Changes in public perception of police would require a comprehensive effort by different segments of society, beginning with the force itself

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Addressing the conference of the DGPs and IGPs of the country in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) on November 30, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi exhorted the senior police officers to transform the public perception of the police, especially among the youth by enhancing professionalism, sensitivity and responsiveness. There could be no dispute about that. It is a great pity, however, that 78 years after Independence we are still saddled with a police force that was designed by the British administration to subserve their imperial interests. The PM wants to see India emerge as a Viksit Bharat, a laudable objective, no doubt, but an economic superstructure requires solid foundations of good law and order.

That said, the PM's timely call for change would require a comprehensive effort by different segments of society, beginning with the police force itself. The first and most crucial step is for the police to set their own house in order. Public trust cannot be commanded; it has to be earned. This requires a deep attitudinal transformation within the police, beginning with the way officers engage with ordinary citizens. Too often, interactions at police stations are marked by indifference or brusqueness. The common man has to be received with courtesy and respect. A service-oriented mindset must replace the vestiges of the colonial ruler-subject approach. A polite word, a patient hearing, a respectful explanation — these small gestures will go a long way in improving public perception of the police.