| Loved by millions in India and abroad, first | | | | universities to join hands and include the |
| woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi was born on June | | | | Bureau of Police Research and Development |
| 9, 1949 in Amritsar, Punjab. Today she is a | | | | (BPRD) in the curriculum at graduation and |
| role model for every Indian woman. The | | | | post-graduation levels. |
| Magsaysay award winner for social work and | | | | |
| reform, is now, the Director General in the | | | | Even after 60 years of Independence people |
| Bureau of Police Research and Development, | | | | are not comfortable and compatible with the |
| Ministry of Home Affairs. Kiran Bedi spoke | | | | police. Do you think police failed to infuse |
| her heart out in an exclusive interview with | | | | confidence among the masses? |
| Headlinesindia. | | | | |
| | | | Kiran Bedi: Yes. It is a matter of deep |
| Tihar no longer remains your dream | | | | concern that even after 60 years of |
| 'Correctional Home', rather it is again back | | | | Independence, the police have failed to gain |
| to its basic as another typical jail. There | | | | the good faith of the countrymen. The |
| have been reports of the inmates dying | | | | reasons, however, are many. Terrorism and |
| everyday. What is your reaction? | | | | naxalism are the menace to the society, as |
| | | | they disrupt the economic and social fabric |
| Kiran Bedi: As far as Tihar Correctional Home | | | | of the nation. Such anti social ideologies do |
| is concerned, it is partly reformed. It is | | | | not warrant an economically developed area, |
| because of the absence of managerial | | | | so that it may remain under their control. |
| strategy. 'The 9 am walk' was regularly | | | | But, we, the civic society can bounce back |
| carried out in my tenure, which helped in | | | | through education and building up the |
| direct communication with inmates. I had | | | | character of the people. |
| commenced certain programmes of vocational | | | | |
| training, counsellings and meditation. The | | | | Pay packages and additional facilities for |
| school, which was opened for juvenile | | | | the police officials still remain a matter of |
| prisoners, has been inoperative. I feel sorry | | | | concern, especially on basic levels. Why has |
| about the state of prisoners in Tihar. | | | | nothing been done on it? |
| | | | |
| It has been quite sometime since you took | | | | Kiran Bedi: True. That cannot be ruled out |
| charge of Director General Bureau of Police | | | | but it can be resolved. Again the managerial |
| Research and Development, Ministry of Home | | | | strategy, which I was talking about earlier |
| Affairs. Is this more challenging than your | | | | that requires in getting the matter solved. |
| previous profiles? | | | | On the other hand every individual should add |
| | | | on his or her own spirit and it has to be |
| Kiran Bedi: Public relations bring | | | | volunteer service. Things like sniffing your |
| transparency and it makes your duty more | | | | own fault can to some extent change the |
| challenging. In this case, the contribution | | | | system to a certain extent. The petition |
| from the people pays equal dividends. The | | | | boxes should come to its place to get |
| voice, which I raised in Tihar, cannot be | | | | feedbacks and complaints. Let the public |
| raised here. But, we are doing our bit with | | | | write to the Director General directly |
| the use of modern technology, we are reaching | | | | regarding anything related to the functioning |
| out to the people with our programmes and | | | | of the department. We will put all efforts to |
| research works. It is the first time that one | | | | rectify it. |
| could enjoy listening to the sound of the | | | | |
| bugles and the drum drill. About half a | | | | This time we are going for a woman candidate |
| million overseas people have viewed our | | | | in the forthcoming presidential election. Can |
| website and appreciated it. Its a different | | | | Pratibha Patil, if elected, really become a |
| approach. We also have approached various | | | | symbol of women power in India? |