Kerala - Kochi   

KPA expects changes in police force

Staff Reporter

23rd State conference begins

CREATIVE PURSUITS: K.T. Jaleel, MLA, releasing a collection of short-stories by a policeman at the Kerala Police Association State conference by handing over the first copy to B. Sandhya, DIG (Thrissur Range), in the city on Tuesday. - Photo: Mahes h Harilal

KOCHI: The 23rd State conference of the Kerala Police Association (KPA) began here on Tuesday amid expectations of changes in the force with the change of guard in the State.

Demands like reintroducing the 8-hour work schedule and repealing the decision to post sentries in front of police stations will be taken up for discussion during the three-day meeting. The Association represents the constabulary in the force.

The decisions on regulating working time and putting up a proper reception at police stations were implemented by the LDF-led Government in 1997, but was reverted by the succeeding UDF-led Government in 2001, said Association office-bearers.

Another important demand to be discussed during the meeting will be considering the 9-month training period of constables as part of the service. "Many policemen could not avail of the benefits of the revised wage scheme as the training period is not considered as service," said C.R. Biju, Association district president.

The theme for this year's meeting is to give a public friendly face to the force. But this is possible only if the colonial legacy of the force is left behind and it is prepared more to serve a democratic society, he said.

The Association had been taking up many public interactive programmes, like distribution of drinking water at the recently held State Schools Youth Festival and medical camp at Chellanam in connection with the State meeting. But these steps have only limited impact in bettering the image of the policemen in the public eyes. There need to be a comprehensive change in the system, said Mr. Biju.

The meeting, being held at Maria Park here, began with the State executive committee meeting. In the afternoon, eight former office- bearers of the Association were honoured. Inspector General of Police, KSEB Vigilance, Rishi Raj Singh inaugurated the meeting.

Martin K. Mathew, Superintendent of Police, Crime Branch, presented the mementos. This was followed by a cultural meeting, which was inaugurated by K.T. Jaleel, MLA.

In his inaugural address, Mr. Jaleel said that a cultural rot is setting in our society. The present society's crisis is absence of role models. "We are forced to look to the past for them."

Development does not mean increasing number or quality of concrete buildings, but it is the increasing welfare of the public. Accumulation of wealth by a minority could not be termed as development of the country, he said.

B. Sandhya, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Thrissur Range, and Sunil P. Elayidom, writer, spoke. Mr. Jaleel also released a collection of short stories written by P. Selvaraj, a havildar at Mangattuparambu Training Camp of Kerala Police, by handing over the first copy to Ms. Sandhya.

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