Anti-eve teasing helpline not helpful enough

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

The anti-eve teasing helpline started by the Delhi police last year did not benefit the victims as promised due to lack of immediate effect required in such cases. Girls calling on this specific number do not receive a favourable response from the authorities and are kept waiting for an answer to the complaint.

Rama Khanna (name changed), a 20-year-old college student called up at 1091 last month, after she was constantly harassed by an anonymous caller. She was instead asked to call on some “direct” numbers which either did not get answered or were diverted to other numbers. She said, “I got four other landline numbers and eventually someone picked up to take down my complaint. But the voice was too lethargic and uninterested so I did not expect a decent reaction. I realised it was a waste of time.”

Khanna then sent an e-mail to the Commissioner of Police referring to the same concern and within the next few weeks received a call from a police official who claimed that the anonymous caller was caught and now it is her discretion to go ahead with the complaint or let the man apologise and leave. She decided to let it go as this was the first time she had received such obnoxious calls and never received them after it. She said, “The police official gave me his personal number in case of an emergency and that kept me reassured.”

However, not all victims have an option of writing e-mails and most of them, even after registered complaints, are unaware of the proceedings. PRO Delhi Police, Rajan Bhagat, said, “There can be some isolated incidents but most often the service works well and the feedback for recently launched anti-stalking help line is also positive.”

Nonetheless, in most cases the victims said that the anonymous calls stopped after they lodged the complaint with the helpline but would like the representatives to be more considerate towards the harassed victims.

- as published in The Sunday Guardian -

Disabled players raise stink after CGF bars gold winner

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

Sportspersons belonging to the disabled category are disheartened over the Commonwealth Games Federation's policy that has stopped Indian athletes from participating in events such as wheelchair races, short put and 100 m race, even while the international contingent will be competing in these disciplines. The affected sportsmen have been protesting over the past one month demanding equality from the authorities, who in turn, claim that lack of facilities has hampered the inclusion of these events.

Javed Abidi, director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People says, "It is strange as to how the Ministry does not realise the value of such mistakes which they can clearly take charge for. Not including wheelchair races, where we already boast of so many medals, is to risk our country's dignity in an important international event. The overall medal tally will be drastically affected by such decisions." Abidi finds it disturbing that such decisions were taken due to lack of facilities as few ministry officials have claimed. He asks about the whereabouts of Rs 13 crore allocated for disabled sports, a small part of which could have easily provided all basic equipments and training to these athletes. Union Sports Minister M.S. Gill finally called them for a meeting after they staged a dharna in front of his office. The minister is expected to respond in a week to the demands.

While they linger on to some hope, Rajkumar — born with an orthopaedic handicap and a national level archery player — got a rude shock when the sports ministry told him that no disabled participant will be included in the main event. Participants in the main event of Archery have to follow international norms, and Rajkumar's handicap rules him out of the event. Rajkumar and his fellow players are clueless as to which authority they need to approach for redressal.

He laments. "It was extremely discouraging to remain a spectator in the selection procedure of my 'able' friends, when I knew I was at par with them to compete. If only I am provided with a stadium and equipment to practice, in a month, I will be ready for the competition." For the record, he won Gold in the 2009-10 National Games.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian on 16 May 2010—

China spurns Tibetan relief

Pooja Shali

Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh

Relief material collected by Tibetans in India for the victims of the 14 April earthquake in China has not found its way to the victims. The earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the Kyigudo (Chinese: Yushu) district of Tibet and reportedly killed around 2,000 people, and injured around 1, 000.

Lobsang Choedak, the press officer of the Department of Information and International Relations of Tibet's Government-in-exile says, “The Chinese Government has kept the transfer request on hold without a valid reason. We are now planning to open some other channel to transfer the collected relief.” The money is being collected by the 4-14 Yushu Earthquake Charity Committee formed by the youngsters from Kyigudo, now residing in Dharamsala.

Earlier, the Dalai Lama, speaking to a congregation at a monastery had said, “The Tibetan community in exile would like to offer whatever support and assistance it can towards the relief work. We hope to be able to do this through the proper and appropriate channels as soon as possible. I am eager to go there myself to offer them comfort.”

Kunga, a member of the Yushu Charity committee sait that they were in touch with the Chinese embassy in New Delhi and the moment they replied in affirmative they would head to Tibet to help the people in distress.

Refugee children settled in McLeodganj are anxious to know if their parents back home survived the disaster. Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) provides shelter to 2, 000 refugees, most of whom are orphans. Others left their parents at home when they were forced to cross the mountains in search of a more respectable life. The majority of these children belong to Kyigudo district.

Phuntsok Namgyal, director of TCV, is in a dilemma about informing the children in case someone's parents do not make it out of the rubble. Direct contact like a phone call is a luxury as the Chinese Government is keeping a close watch on such conversations. The disaster has left TCV visible quiet. Konchok (name changed), a 12- year old student is unable to hold back her tears. She yearns for her parents and refuses to accept that there is a slight chance of never meeting them again.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian on 16 May 2010 —

Constable's job not good enough for city

Pooja Shali

New Delhi

The national recruitment drive that Delhi Police organises from May every year sees the lowest number of applicants from the national capital. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh dominate the applications. Out of the 21, 944 candidates recruited since 2004, only a few hundred were from Delhi.

According to Rajan Bhagat, the Delhi police PRO, the city offers several lucrative private jobs and that are big attractions. “Apart from transparent examinations, police recruits are provided a reasonable salary, but still the post of a constable does not feature as a career option for many Delhi residents,” he said.

A constable gets anything between Rs 14, 000 and Rs 17, 000 but in a city where egos run deep, the tag of a call-centre employee is preferred over that of a mere constable.

Abhishek Kumar, a 20-year old applying for the post of a constable has studied up to class XII. He feels it is a matter of honour to wear the police uniform but is sceptical about sustaining his family with his salary in an expensive city like Delhi. Kumar adds that if he was a graduate he would not want to become a constable or even a sub-inspector, as his family would expect more from him.

The increasing cases of corruption in the police is another factor that is failing to attract the youth, but Bhagat believes that the organisation often holds exercises within and outside the force to maintain its respectable standard.

— as published in The Sunday Guardian —