THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 30: Man of the match. Man of the series. And similar such awards one has heard of umpteen times.
But never in the police set-up of Jharkhand has one heard of Policeman of the Week!
It’s the brainchild of the Simdega SP Md Arshi, who is known for offbeat and non-stereotyped things.
A police man gets coverage when he is mobbed, stoned, chased by the angry crowd or when his house is burgled or his pocket picked or worse of all, line close, an euphemism of his being shunted to the police line.
Never in the annals of the police set up there has ever been a reward or appreciation for a Policeman of the Week.
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Aimed at inspiring and de-stressing the force
Simdega SP Arshi has shown the way. This correspondent spoke about it to some of the cops here in Palamu who wished, “There should be an entry of ‘Policeman of the Week’ in the service book of the cop.”
About the Policeman of the Week Arshi told this correspondent, “It fosters healthy competition. It inspires and motivates others to grab it.”
The job of a police man is a drudgery, a kind of routine thing, a monotonous job like running after thieves and lumpen elements, keeping people right and left, shouting at the top of the voice and in sheer frustration, blurting out rarest of the rare brand of filthy abuses!
One cop here said, “I believe this Policeman of the Week will help de-stress the cop. There will be a new surge of energy and zeal in them. It will usher in a new sense of commitment to the job and task both.”
Criteria for selection: punctuality, turnout, vigilance
On being asked as to how a cop upto the rank of the Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) or Sahayak police karmee or a Home Guard jawan qualifies for Policeman of the Week, pat came the reply from Arshi, “A cop’s uniform is his badge of honour and dignity. But many just fail to understand its decency. Turnout matters most in police. It is counted and valued for vying for Policeman of the Week.”
“To be in time and vigilant is another trait that one looks for Policeman of the Week. Punctuality thy name is success. Unfortunately, many in Khakhee just don’t know that a respect for time wins respect for the cop,” told Arshi.
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Selection process and growing popularity
There is a committee headed by SDPO/ Dy SP to select the Policeman of the Week.
Sources in Simdega said, “It’s quite a popular thing there in Simdega, which lives under the shadow of Gumla. Recognition and appreciation are wished by everyone, but few get it.
Simdega police have opened a new vista to the policemen to grab the headline.
