Our front page investigation on the police trainees bribing instructors of the police training school at Valpoi, so that they are not over worked, harassed or perhaps tortured and get their regular supply of food, was met with mixed reactions.
While the shock at what was happening and the satisfaction that we reported it doesn’t need to be dealt with, what surely does is the other response which questioned whether this was the biggest act of corruption in our state for us to go to town. After all, these were young trainees who spent a little of their money to be comfortable during their training period so that they could complete their training and join the police force.
The tragedy is that the extent and seriousness of corruption is always measured by the amount of money given and received. The calamity lies at the source and the entry point. When it happens at the highest levels in government, it becomes a way of life. When it lies at the beginning of one’s career, there is still hope that it can be stymied. And if what goes on in the Police Training School at Valpoi cannot be stopped for good, we will continue to have a fresh bunch of police men entering the system where bribes have been paid at the very first level.
In such a situation, the first task at hand for the fresh constable will be to recover the amount he had to pay the training instructor and thus his first week and month begins with a search to get his first packet of bribes. And like drugs, or prostitution even murder, it’s just the first time which is difficult.
There is a need to be very worried because corruption is not just endemic to Goa’s administrative system, it has started making institutions of training rotten. And thus there is very little hope towards zero tolerance to corruption because zero tolerance is not shown where it will actually make a difference- at the entry point.
As far as the PTS is concerned, the entire batch of instructors should be removed and suspended. The government needs to appoint a fresh batch and have a system of monitoring trainers with surprise visits, video surveillance and so on.
Most importantly trainees should be instilled with confidence that if they are not looked after, ill treated or not given the basic facilities during their training, they have a complaint mechanism which would be whistle blower proof.
Additionally, the police force needs to look at training with new found respect and not treat the PTS as a dumping ground for inefficient policemen who are either facing an inquiry or are out of favour of the political dispensation. With the senior staff at PTS not really riding on a wave of high morale, they are not in a position to instill positivity in the new recruits.
Lastly the PTS needs to be brought under a revamped training department which will include all such bodies, and institutions which give training, teach the art of investigations and impart specialized skills to policemen, all under the ambit of training. This should also include training in investigation, cyber and white collar crime. This is needed to make training an intrinsic part of the life of a policeman in Goa and not just a limited period training flirtation before entering the force, ready to take bribes.
