‘True potential can be realised when cops are happy in their jobs’
S. Vasudeva Rao, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Welfare and Estate, talks to
We have seen many instances in which police officers have gone to the extent of taking their own lives. How are you dealing with such issues as head of the Welfare branch of the Delhi Police? A: Every death is an unfortunate incident and it is more unfortunate when we have to lose our people due to such incidents. Suicides within the Delhi Police have, however, come down, but yes, we have seen such cases emerging from our force as well and sometimes some are beyond our control. We have ensured that de-stress activities are conducted by every police district and unit across the Capital. We have also started a yoga programme in every district to de-stress our personnel. In this regard, we have also trained over 100 yoga trainers to train the personnel. We have also released a DVD on yoga and will also launch a YouTube channel on the same soon. Apart from this, the DCPs have also been instructed to meet their officers from time to time and listen to their grievances or any personal problem they face which they want to share and help them with counselling, if needed. A personal interaction with DCPs and ACPs is also conducted so that they get to know each and every person in his/her district and help them or assist them even in their personal issues. We have ensured a personal touch with every personnel in the force. Q: A delay in the disbursement of pensions and grants within the police force has been a major problem. Have you been able to address that? A: Yes, since I have taken over, I have ensured speedy settlement of all pension cases. Earlier, it used to take months and months for settlement of any pension case, but now it is done in less than a month. I personally oversee that it is done in less than a month, unless any legality is involved in the case.
We have also been able to achieve pension pendency cases from 182 earlier to less than 100 at all times now. Not only this, in cases of death, we send a condolence letter to the family of the personnel, which is delivered by an officer physically after which an officer is deputed to coordinate with the family for all the paper work related to the release of grants and all other welfare services due to the family and a grant of Rs 5 lakh is given for immediate relief to the family.
The Sunday Guardian.