| Loved by millions in India and abroad, first woman IPS | | | | include the Bureau of Police Research and |
| officer Kiran Bedi was born on June 9, 1949 in | | | | Development (BPRD) in the curriculum at graduation |
| Amritsar, Punjab. Today she is a role model for every | | | | and post-graduation levels. |
| Indian woman. The Magsaysay award winner for | | | | Even after 60 years of Independence people are not |
| social work and reform, is now, the Director General | | | | comfortable and compatible with the police. Do you |
| in the Bureau of Police Research and Development, | | | | think police failed to infuse confidence among the |
| Ministry of Home Affairs. Kiran Bedi spoke her heart | | | | masses? |
| out in an exclusive interview with Headlinesindia. | | | | Kiran Bedi: Yes. It is a matter of deep concern that |
| Tihar no longer remains your dream ‘Correctional | | | | even after 60 years of Independence, the police |
| Home’, rather it is again back to its basic as | | | | have failed to gain the good faith of the countrymen. |
| another typical jail. There have been reports of the | | | | The reasons, however, are many. Terrorism and |
| inmates dying everyday. What is your reaction? | | | | naxalism are the menace to the society, as they |
| Kiran Bedi: As far as Tihar Correctional Home is | | | | disrupt the economic and social fabric of the nation. |
| concerned, it is partly reformed. It is because of the | | | | Such anti social ideologies do not warrant an |
| absence of managerial strategy. ‘The 9 am | | | | economically developed area, so that it may remain |
| walk’ was regularly carried out in my tenure, | | | | under their control. But, we, the civic society can |
| which helped in direct communication with inmates. I | | | | bounce back through education and building up the |
| had commenced certain programmes of vocational | | | | character of the people. |
| training, counsellings and meditation. The school, which | | | | Pay packages and additional facilities for the police |
| was opened for juvenile prisoners, has been | | | | officials still remain a matter of concern, especially on |
| inoperative. I feel sorry about the state of prisoners | | | | basic levels. Why has nothing been done on it? |
| in Tihar. | | | | Kiran Bedi: True. That cannot be ruled out but it can |
| It has been quite sometime since you took charge of | | | | be resolved. Again the managerial strategy, which I |
| Director General Bureau of Police Research and | | | | was talking about earlier that requires in getting the |
| Development, Ministry of Home Affairs. Is this more | | | | matter solved. On the other hand every individual |
| challenging than your previous profiles? | | | | should add on his or her own spirit and it has to be |
| Kiran Bedi: Public relations bring transparency and it | | | | volunteer service. Things like sniffing your own fault |
| makes your duty more challenging. In this case, the | | | | can to some extent change the system to a certain |
| contribution from the people pays equal dividends. | | | | extent. The petition boxes should come to its place |
| The voice, which I raised in Tihar, cannot be raised | | | | to get feedbacks and complaints. Let the public write |
| here. But, we are doing our bit with the use of | | | | to the Director General directly regarding anything |
| modern technology, we are reaching out to the | | | | related to the functioning of the department. We will |
| people with our programmes and research works. It | | | | put all efforts to rectify it. |
| is the first time that one could enjoy listening to the | | | | This time we are going for a woman candidate in the |
| sound of the bugles and the drum drill. About half a | | | | forthcoming presidential election. Can Pratibha Patil, if |
| million overseas people have viewed our website and | | | | elected, really become a symbol of women power in |
| appreciated it. Its a different approach. We also have | | | | India? |
| approached various universities to join hands and | | | | |