8-hour shift for cops under threat?

In absence of a GR and due to staff crunch, police force not sure about the fate of ex-CP’s idea.

The Mumbai Police Constabulary is not sure that the much applauded eight-hour shift – a brainchild of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar – stays as the government notification (GR) regarding the same is yet to be issued.

The cops’ apprehensions, it seems, are based on past experiences. Whenever a police chief takes over, he promotes ideas or projects dear to his heart, but once he leaves office, the new person may or may not pursue the ideas with the same zeal.

At present, nearly 90 of the 93 police stations in the city are following the eight-hour shift – a decision appreciated by the police force as it helped in reducing stress and anxiety caused by long working hours, often up to 14 hours a day.

Though initially launched on a trial basis in May 2016, the plan of eight-hour shift was gradually broadened, and now the cops work in three shifts in nearly 90 police stations.

“The eight-hour shift was the brainchild of Mumbai Police Commissioner DD Padsalgikar, who is now the director general of police (DGP) of the state. He worked on the plan to make it a success. But now with the coming of the new commissioner, and the staff crunch that the police stations face, we are sure one day the idea will just vanish,” said a constable, who requested anonymity.

Only a commissioner’s circular was issued in the matter on July 1, the day Padsalgikar left office. The notification from the state government is pending though a formal report was sent by the Mumbai Police in this regard on February 7, 2018.

“With no notification from the state government, the order of the commissioner can be withdrawn any day by the new commissioner. The only hope is that when Subodh Kumar Jaiswal who took over as the new police commissioner said that he will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor,” said a constable posted with one of the busiest police stations in the city.

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Several police commissioners in the past have been associated with the certain ideas or projects they initiated or pursued, but later, in most cases, the ideas were either shelved or made little progress. When Rakesh Maria was the Mumbai Police chief, he had come up with a helpline for women commuters wherein one could send a message while boarding an auto or taxi so that the taxi number is saved with the police. The helpline is no more working. Maria had also given bicycles to cops so that they could man the beaches with ease. The bicycles are no more in use.

Former Mumbai Police chief, Satypal Singh, had come up with the idea of complaint boxes. About 1,000 such boxes were installed at several places in the city, allowing Mumbaikars to put their complaint letters. The complaint boxes are not seen anywhere now. Singh had also started the practice of holding a Darbar every Saturday wherein senior officials to the level of additional commissioner of police could visit local police stations in their jurisdiction every Saturday and meet local public.

When D Sivanandan was the police commissioner he had come up with concepts like street policing wherein police personnel could walk on the streets showing their presence in the city.

He also introduced the concept of copconnect – a website meant to connect the youth with the police. Neither of the concepts lasted long. Similarly, Arup Patnaik had launched several gyms and canteens for the policemen and even tied up with noted dietician Rujuta Diwekar so that the cops get nutritious food and stay fit and healthy.

However, some of the initiatives have sustained, for instance, the idea of connecting with the people through social media. Former police chief Ahmed Javed introduced Mumbai Police to Twitter. He created a handle so that the common man could instantly get in touch with the police with their complaints. The Twitter is still active.