Sending the Right Signals
"Starbucks, embroiled in controversy over perceived racial profiling, will close more than 8,000 company-owned US stores for a day in May to conduct racial-bias training." This is a recent headline I came across, which set me thinking. The original incident happened in Philadelphia, where two black men were asked to leave the store. After the men—who had yet to buy anything and said they were waiting for a friend—refused to leave, a manager called the police, and the men were arrested for trespassing. This led to a furore, prompting the Starbucks management to respond to the event within a week. Part of the response was the decision to train 1,75,000 employees (at the cost of lost business). This showed some skill in appreciating the developing situation, but also a commitment to universal values of equality and customer-centricity.
The police departments in India come under such scrutiny, from time to time, the latest one being non-registration of FIRs under the influence of local power structures, and involvement of police personnel in child rape. The response of the police leadership to such incident has been disappointing. There is either silence or wishy-washy replies. While it is difficult to envisage the police departments being shut down for training in cases of FIRs not being registered in rape cases, there can at least be some time-bound plan to train all front-line, field police officers, on the behaviour the heads of police departments want to see them display.
For sure, the problem of free registration of crimes can only be fully solved by amending section 154 of Code of Criminal Procedure (which makes going to police station mandatory for the complainant), and giving police the authority to dynamically set thresholds for investigation of property crime (thereby matching resources with work load), but to wait for the perfect circumstances is not the right strategy. A beginning has to be made. The onus is on the police chiefs. If they show better accountability to the people rather than the bureaucracy and the political leaders, much can be achieved. Win-win options do lurk out of sight, and should be tapped through innovation.
Having a structured programme to run Crime Victimisation Surveys to independently ascertain the actual level of crime, its reporting and registration, would also help correct the unaccountable behaviour currently shown by the Police Stations. Currently, no police department in the country has adopted this approach, despite two pilots done in India, by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and IDFC Institute.
In Signalling Theory, costly signals are seen as honest messages. A peacock (India’s national bird) having a magnificent tail conveys its excellent health. It is time the police leadership heeds the natural logic (as Starbucks seems to have done) of costly signalling, and demonstrates its commitment to overhaul their dysfunctional structures, to serve the people of India well.
(Views are personal.)
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6 年Spot on sir ??????
The reason why the supreme sacrifice of a martyr like Bhagat Singh still resonates today, is that the cost of that signal was the highest he could have paid - and did pay so willingly. With India becoming independent in 1947, and a republic in 1950, governed by its own people and accountable for its own destiny, the need for martyrs who inspire, was replaced by the need for heroes who deliver. Heroes who will display the courage of conviction, the vision to create a just and prosperous society they want their countrymen and future generations to live in, and the skill to bring the vision to reality. We need such leadership, willing to pay the cost for upholding their views and values.
Chairman, CXO, Defence, IT
6 年An excellent insightful article. Hearty congratulations. regards, anand khandekar, Pune.
Risk & Banking Specialist
6 年Good note, Sir. There is much to be done in various areas and especially in government run bodies where accountability is ignored. In India, law making & law enforcement are weak and delays & denial are more the rule than an exception. Your article is timely & appreciable. Sincerely
Professor, Mechanical Department, IIT Delhi
6 年very insightful and piercing perspective . Thanks for sharing