Citizens' Participation for fighting crimes

A SUGGESTION FOR FIGHTING CRIMES

One of the best and effective methods of bringing down the crime rate is to generate the participation of the common citizens and seek their active support and involvement in maintaining law and order in the society. It would be worth considering introducing a permanent Beat System for the nights, which could be under the charge of the Respective Area Police Station. Interested, social-minded volunteers could be drawn from the public and active citizens who could work in close coordination along with the PSI. These volunteers can be provided with Police Identity Cards and can become a kind of a Para-Police Force, similar to Para-medical teams or Para-military teams. Such teams can also help in establishing rapport with the police personnel, who are otherwise looked at with skewed eyes by the common man, who fear to approach the police departments. A customer-friendly and healthy relationshipIt is an accepted fact that the public have a lot of inertia, reservation and apprehension to cooperate with the police or provide them with any clues. Once the team is established, they can be given a term of 3 to 5 years and the posts can be made rotational. It should be ensured that there are no political overtones in the selection of these teams and they should be fully devoid of any political influence. These volunteers could form small core groups, either small complex-wise or street-wise and can be given short shifts of 2 to 3 hours, depending on the convenience of the volunteers.

K.R.PRITHVI RAJ

PADMA AWARDS-OLYMPIC MEDAL WINNERS IGNORED

UNEQUAL TREATMENT TO SPORTS

This refers to the news item in FPJ of date (Last Word) about Padma Award not being considered for our Olympic Medal winners. This unsavory and needless controversy could have been avoided if the panel of selectors had exercised a little more care and consideration. It is indeed very glaringly obvious that some sports are more equal than others. Cricket is, in fact being given the blue-eyed boy treatment, compared to the individual performances of our boxers and wrestlers. Will the authorities please set right the situation immediately and be more alert in their selections? While we are very quick in giving brickbats, why are we not equally smart in offering bouquets? It will go a long way in boosting the morale of our sportsmen.

‘SLUMDOG CHILD ACTORS

EXPLOITATION OF POOR CHILD ARTISTS

The news item in FPJ of date about the gross underpayment of the child artists of ‘Slumdog’ made poignant reading. If the report is true and the producers have really paid them so measly, then it is definitely a matter of crying shame. While millions have been made by the producers and all others connected with the movie, it is a pity that they have thought it fit to ignore the tender children. It is but natural for the families of the child artists to expect a better deal.

Will the concerned groups take immediate steps to undo this wrong and unfair treatment to the underprivileged class who do not even know the kind of bonanza that has been struck by the elite producers? Can we expect a clarification and show of transparency by the concerned groups?

K.R.Prithvi Raj