In Monsoon Romance is in Air!

Romance is a reflection of peace of mind, happiness, love, affection, fun and, anticipation and vow for bright coming days.

In India Monsoon is lifeline. It brings respite from scorching heat, lush green surroundings, promises agriculture produce and salvages from water scarcity. It is a ray of hope for all, agricultural rural india, which constitutes more than seventy percent of population and administrative urban India, which survives on rural India's performance.

The most romantic music of India, the reflection of blissful proximity sport (swings: Jhula) and carefree playful expression of childhood in water puddle is dedicated to monsoon (sawan). There are many other expressions of love and fun attributed to rainy season in India.

It won't surprise me if there is some logical explanation to worship of Shiv-Ling (representation of coitus) in Monsoon (Sawan) across the country. This represents historically the culmination of man-woman loving relationship. Traditionally, thus Monsoon  represents the time to plan for family progress when future is secured. Certainly, Monsoon promises secured future to millions.

Welcome MONSOON! But, please be soft and loving, not catastrophic. Let us romance, spread love and have fun. 

Book on human trafficking

Finally my edited book 'Human Trafficking: Stakeholders Perspective' is published by Sage publications. The best practitioners, activists, intellectuals, academicians and Non profit organizations have contributed. It gives a chance to look at human trafficking from different lenses and motivates the agencies to sharpen their combating arsenal.

http://www.sagepub.com/books/Book241087/toc

http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flipkart.com%2Fm%2Fhuman-trafficking-stakeholders-perspective%2Fp%2Fitmdkw4s8d3vzukz%3Fpid%3D9788132110477%26fromSearch%3Dtrue%26otracker%3Dsearch&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFbYisrITJfZMlMfEEhwJFQKs74Qg

Pathetic treatment of child sex trafficked victims

Watched a very interesting investigative documentary by CNN on child sex trafficking- "Selling the Girl Next Door". I congratulate the documentary film maker for bringing out the visuals out of detention center in US. It was pathetic and horrifying to see the girl victims of sex trafficking, as young as 12 years, being chained. They were chained at multiple places, Belly chains, handcuffs and foot chains.

Interestingly, rather than being remorseful the government authorities had absurd justification to it. Shackling this victims was for their safety. I totally disagree with the justification of keeping the girl trafficked in detention center shackled like a heinous crime offender for safety. They wanted to justify shackling a 'victim' child in chains within 'four walls' to protect. That was disgusting. It reflected that they do not even trust their own security system and anticipate a 12 year old child 'victim' to be a threat to others or may escape. 

What sort of protection are we talking about. These child trafficked victims have already gone through enough of physical and psychological trauma. More than physical, it is the psychological damage, which needs to be repaired and protected from further harm. Through this insensitive act in juvenile detention homes, the state agencies caused more harm than healing. 

Nowhere in the picture I sensed that they were treated as victims. Something has to be done immediately to check this malpractice across US (the film categorically mentions that it is a practice prevalent in almost all states). This is certainly violation of child rights. 

The reason for the child trafficked victim being kept in detention centers, instead of safe houses is lack of infrastructure and the State governments unwillingness to disburse money for running it (if a structure is created through Public Private Partnership). We cannot wait for the governments to release funds for new safe homes. Why not customize a section of detention center and make it child friendly. Why not tap the potential of NGOs, philanthropic foundations and other donors. 

Coming back to the core issue of discussion, in my opinion chaining any child below 18 years, for whatever crime they commit, is like treating them as adults. Then why the farce of showing it to the world that children (as per UN Convention, any person below 18 years) are treated different.

US is gearing up to combat human trafficking. It is the only country coming out with TIP report, evaluating the efforts of 185 countries (rest are the reports of UN agencies). US has always been rating themselves in Tier 1 list. The credibility of its evaluation will be questioned if they do not manage their own backyard. 

My book, Community Policing: Misnomer or Fact? (Sage Publications 2011), discusses the philosophy of community policing, its governing schools of thoughts, and its strengths and weaknesses. The volume also deals with conceptual variances of community policing, the factors that impede smooth collaboration between police and public, and the organizational principles that have been neglected by police organizations and others. Concepts like Police Syndrome, Conceptual Literacy, Person Steered Initiatives (PSI), Precision Policing Technique (PPT), Tracking Participation Footprint (TPF), Image Dating or Image Mapping (ID/IM), intuitive approach, and many more are explained and discussed. I have used case studies to elucidate the practical applicability of these concepts. I negotiate with the idea of allowing civilian participation to become one of the legitimate means of improving efficiency and effectiveness of police. I believe that compliance of law must go hand in hand with protecting basic rights of people. Unless this is done, the foundation of liberal democratic society is betrayed.

Importance of Research in Police

How important is research in shaping our work?
OR
Is research too theoretical to have any relevance in field operations?

All through my police career, I have found my colleagues questioning the importance and relevance of research in their work. The popular  critical comments are, "Every day is a new day for us", "No two situations are same" and the worst critiques would be "Researchers have no clue about the field dynamics", and "We being in field and facing situations, handling crisis know much more than any researcher would tell us through on and off superficial visits".

No doubt, each one of those comments come from experience and they are meaningful, but over-rating oneself and underestimating others is the cause of our clinging to colonial work culture. We have shielded ourselves from the changing need of the service seekers, eventually widening the gap between the two.

All the countries, which have changed their work culture, keeping in pace with the changed socio-cultural, political and economic dynamics, have learned from research inputs. External and internal agencies research contribute in analyzing the current practices, figuring out the need of the community served, suggest relevant changes and help in customizing and adjusting to desired change.

We lack in having fair and enriching research contribution in policing. And whatever valuable research is done remains often a paper work as an ornament in the shelves. Transferring research into action is a challenge, particularly when there is insurmountable inertia in appreciating good work done.

It is high time that countries facing a transition should appreciate and encourage good research to guide and assist them in reframing and restructuring their organization and operations. 

Human Trafficking: An ongoing challenge

The problem of Human Trafficking is omnipresent, across the globe. Native Indians in USA, African girls in war torn countries, East European girls trafficked to Western part, Philippine, Thai and south east Asian girls to Australia, Mexican and other South American girls in USA and Canada, African girls to UK.. the story goes on and on and on.... There is no end to these guresome stories.

How do we combat that? Where do we strike- 'Supply' or 'demand' side? whom do we focus on 'victims' or 'offenders'? Debate is on.. 

Human Trafficking is Humans exploiting Humans. So, solution lies in spreading awareness about amongst Humans, all, irrespective of age, creed, colour, race, religion and nationality. 

To start with, Youth is the best target for spreading awareness. They are the potential victims, prospective exploiters, traffickers and the best ears and eyes of the society. Their involvement can expedite the process of fight against trafficking manifold. 

To be more effective it is necessary to take up this as a mission at policy level and by civil society organizations, together.