06-12-2011, 02:14 AM
The life of a police constable is a really hard life. Dressed in his rather ill-fitting uniform, he has to be on duty for long hours. As a rule he is on duty for full twenty-four hours during which he can be asked any moment to do some work. Normally, however , he serves from eight to ten hours daily. But even these eight to ten hours are very tiresome and often dull. His main function is to maintain law and order in his area. Although his post is petty but it is important. He is the most active agent of law that we come across almost everyday. We see him everywhere in the city standing guard at bus stops, banks and road crossings, during the day and ptrolling the streets at night. Sometimes, he is a traffic constable and movements of vehicles, or he is in charge of prisoners being taken to the court. At public meetings, his job is to prevent hooliganism . when processions are taken out or demonstrations are staged, he is there to ensure a calm and peaceful atmosphere. When some foreign president or premier visits the city, he plays his part as a security agent. Thus we see that the police constable has to perform many difficult duties. He has to work in sun and rain ,in winter and summer, mostly in the open. He has to meet all sorts of persons, good and bad, he has to make surprise raids on a places a chase criminals. But it is unfortunate that a police constable does not get proper reward for his invaluable services. He is too often forced to dirty work for the ruling class. He is a low paid government servant, at least in our country. With his meager pay he finds it impossible to support his family. As a result, some police constable are easily tempted to take bribes. This not only disgraces the police but also encourages law breakers, and so defeats the very purpose which the police are supposed to serve. The police constable dose not enjoy a respectable social status. He is held in low esteem in our country. Obviously, when is not respected, he cannot be expected to work devotedly. We should realize that the police can be made effective only by making it a respectable part of the community.23 for this purpose the salaries of the policemen must be increased. They should be properly trained and motivated .they should be expected to enforce the law and not to protect the personal and political interests of this or that group. They should be given a higher social status, as for example, the American and the British constables enjoy. It has been said that the British constables is one of the most honoured member of the society. The reason is that he is honest and the government and the people recognize his importance. If we are to learn something from the advanced countries. We must realize the importance of strengthening the arms that protect the law. The betterment of a constable, s life will ensure peace and order in our country.